Coronation 2023; what to expect when the King and Queen enter Westminster Abbey after the royal procession?

Well today is indeed the day - after months of planning and speculation who will be there and who won’t, a new King and Queen will be crowned. King Charles III and Queen Camilla are set to ride along the procession to Westminster Abbey before the official ascension ceremony begins. 

But after they’ve passed through the route and entered the abbey (which as of 7:30am has opened its doors for the many guests attending the hallowed ceremony), what happens next? How will the coronation unfold when the pair finally arrive?

Changing Guard have given a complete rundown of what to expect when the formal proceedings begin, with the ceremony itself being broken down into six different moments to look out for during the traditional proceedings inside Westminster Abbey.

The recognition

While standing beside the Coronation Chair, the monarch will be presented to those gathered in the Abbey by the Archbishop of Canterbury. The congregation will shout, "God Save the King!" and trumpets will sound.

The oath: 

The sovereign then swears to uphold the law and the Church of England. The coronation oath has been a fundamental component of the ceremony since mediaeval times.

It is of such significance that the remainder of the rite cannot proceed unless it has been sworn. Why? The oath is the essential counterpart to the recognition and acclamation. The recognition is the moment at the beginning of the ceremony when the monarch is presented to the people for approval. The acclamation is the moment in which the people accept the new monarch.

Together, these three acts establish a contractual relationship between sovereign and peoples. By public commitment to the promises and values enshrined in the oath, the monarch is forming a bond to the largely uncodified constitution (the UK’s constitution has never been assembled into a single written document).

The anointing: 

The King's ceremonial robe will be removed and he will be seated in the Coronation Chair. A canopy made of cloth of gold will be held over the chair to conceal the King from view. The Archbishop anoints the King's hands, breast and head with holy oil made to a secret recipe, but known to contain ambergris, orange flowers, roses, jasmine and cinnamon.

The anointing will take place behind a screen during the ceremony, as the anointing is a very personal, spiritual moment and a brief moment between King Charles III and his beliefs is no doubt a welcome respite as the eyes of the world focus all their attention on him.

The investiture: 

The sovereign will then return to the Coronation Chair to be presented with items including the Royal Orb, representing religious and moral authority, and the Sovereign's Sceptre - a rod of gold topped with a white enamelled dove, a symbol of justice and mercy. Finally, the Archbishop will place St Edward's Crown on the King's head.

The enthronement and homage: 

The King will leave the Coronation Chair and move to the throne. Peers will then kneel before the monarch to pay homage to him. The Queen Consort will then be anointed in the same way and crowned. They will then leave Westminster Abbey to make their way back through the procession route on their way to Buckingham Palace - and that all important shot on the balcony.