King Charles III ascended to the throne following the death of his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, on September 8, 2022. After 70 years of the same monarch, the United Kingdom is undergoing a historical transition. Naturally, this has sparked questions about what changes the new king might make, including whether he will wear the famous Imperial State Crown at his coronation.
What is the Imperial State Crown?
The Imperial State Crown is the crown worn by British monarchs at their coronation and certain other state occasions. It was made in 1937 for the coronation of King George VI, Queen Elizabeth II’s father. The crown incorporates jewels and precious metals from earlier crowns dating back centuries.
Some key features of the Imperial State Crown include:
- 2868 diamonds, 17 sapphires, 11 emeralds, and 269 pearls
- Large diamond known as the Cullinan II, cut from the largest diamond ever found
- Ruby that belonged to Edward the Black Prince in the 14th century
- Gold, silver, and platinum construction
It is both a heavily jeweled crown and also steeped in British history, making it a powerful symbol of the British monarchy.
Will King Charles III wear the same Imperial State Crown?
It is expected that King Charles III will wear the Imperial State Crown at his coronation, just as his mother Queen Elizabeth II did at her coronation in 1953. This crown has been used by British monarchs for over 80 years.
King Charles III indicated his intent to be crowned with the same crown in a speech to the Accession Council on September 10, 2022:
“In carrying out the heavy task that has been laid upon me, and to which I now dedicate what remains to me of my life, I pray for the guidance and help of Almighty God.”
Referring to his “life remaining” suggests King Charles expects to be crowned with the same crown his mother wore throughout her reign.
The Imperial State Crown has incredibly important symbolic value, which is why British monarchs have used it consistently. Wearing this crown connects the new king to the heritage of the British monarchy. It represents continuity and stability for the royal family and the United Kingdom.
Reasons why King Charles III will likely use the Imperial State Crown:
- Strong symbolic and historical significance
- Upholds tradition and conveys continuity
- Avoid risks and costs of creating new crown
- Public expectation for monarch to wear the Imperial State Crown
For these reasons, it is expected that the Imperial State Crown will be worn by King Charles III at his coronation in 2023, just as it has for previous monarchs’ coronations since 1937.
When will the next British coronation be held?
King Charles III’s coronation is scheduled to be held on Saturday, May 6, 2023 at Westminster Abbey in London.
Queen Elizabeth II’s coronation was also held at this location on June 2, 1953. The Archbishop of Canterbury will conduct the service, which will be attended by royalty and dignitaries from around the world.
Planning the coronation will be months in the making, involving extensive preparation and rehearsals. However, it is expected to follow the same general order of service as previous coronations.
Key events will include:
- The king processes through the abbey to the coronation theater
- He takes the coronation oath swearing to uphold law and religion
- The archbishop anoints the new monarch with oil
- The orb, scepters, ring and other regalia are presented
- The archbishop places St. Edward’s Crown on the king’s head
- Trumpets sound and guns are fired as he is proclaimed monarch
Assuming traditions are followed, one of the climactic moments will be the newest British monarch being crowned with the Imperial State Crown.
Has any British monarch not worn the Imperial State Crown?
Queen Elizabeth II is the only monarch in modern history who has worn the Imperial State Crown for her coronation. Her predecessors King George VI and King Edward VIII would have worn the same crown, as it was made in 1937.
To find British monarchs crowned without the Imperial State Crown, we have to go back much further in history.
King Edward VIII abdicated the throne in 1936 before he had a coronation, so neither he nor his brother King George VI ever wore the Imperial State Crown. However, they would have worn it if they had been crowned after 1937 when it was created.
Earlier monarchs were crowned with different crowns depending on the time period:
- King George V wore the Tudor Crown in 1911.
- King Edward VII wore the Imperial Crown of India in 1902.
- Queen Victoria wore a new small diamond crown in 1838.
- King William IV wore the Crown of George IV in 1831.
In fact, a new crown was often made for coronations prior to 1937. The Imperial State Crown was designed to be a crown that could be consistently reused, upholding symbolic importance.
So in summary, Queen Elizabeth II in 1953 has been the only monarch yet to wear the Imperial State Crown at her coronation. But King Charles III is expected to be the second.
Conclusion
Based on tradition and King Charles’ own remarks, there is a very high probability that the new British monarch will wear the Imperial State Crown at his coronation in May 2023. This would uphold the consistency seen over the past 80 years since the crown was first used in 1937.
The Imperial State Crown is a powerful royal symbol deeply connected to British history and culture. King Charles III wearing this crown aligns with expectations that his reign will emphasize continuity with the past. The British public can anticipate seeing their new monarch crowned with the same Imperial State Crown that sat atop Queen Elizabeth II’s head at her historic 1953 coronation.