When Will Charles Be King?

Charles is now king of the United Kingdom, following the passing of his mother, Elizabeth II, after her seven decade reign as Queen - the longest in monarch history. 

When does Charles become king?

Technically speaking, Charles became king the moment his mother died. This will officially be acknowledged by the government at the meeting of the Accession Council, which only happens after the death of a monarch.

The meeting will formally confirm an accession, meaning the event of a new sovereign succeeding to the throne. Charles will meet with the council the day after the Queen’s death in St James’ Palace, where he will officially be proclaimed king.

When is the coronation ceremony?

Traditionally, there will be some time before officially coronating a new monarch. When Elizabeth II became Queen, after her father’s death in February 1952, her coronation ceremony wasn’t held until well over a year later. 

A mourning period will be granted before Charles's coronation ceremony takes place. It is unknown when the ceremony will be, but a date will be announced in due course.

What happens at the coronation ceremony?

Senior members of the government and the Church of England will attend the coronation ceremony, alongside the Prime Minister and other leading members of the Commonwealth.

Traditionally, for the past 1000 years, the ceremony will be conducted by the Archbishop of Canterbury, and it will take place in London’s Westminster Abbey. The Archbishop will confirm Charles’s acceptance of becoming king by reading the coronation oath.

Charles will be asked if he will govern the United Kingdom and other nations of the Commonwealth, if he will do so with law and justice, and if he will maintain Christianity in the nation. King Charles will hold the sovereign’s sceptre and rod, to represent control of the nation, and the sovereign’s orb, to represent the Christian world. 

Charles will be anointed, blessed and consecrated by the Archbishop, who will then place the crown of St Edward on Charles’s head.

Will I be able to watch the coronation?

The coronation ceremony of King Charles will be televised nationally by the BBC, along with many other channels, both in the UK and internationally. The coronation will also be heavily featured across social media. 

Will Camilla be crowned Queen?

Charles's wife, Camilla, will be crowned during the ceremony as well, becoming the Queen Consort. A queen consort usually shares her spouse's social rank and status. She holds the feminine equivalent of the king's monarchical titles, and may be crowned and anointed, but historically, she does not formally share the regnant's political and military powers, unless on occasion acting as regent.

The Queen said it was her “sincere wish” that Camilla would be known as Queen Consort when the time came.

If Charles dies before Camilla, then she will not become queen. The next in line, Prince William, will become king. 

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