King Charles III ‘plans for slimmed down coronation ceremony and working monarchy’ amid cost of living crisis

King Charles III is reportedly planning a “less expensive” coronation ceremony than his mother’s and a “slimmed down” working monarchy as an acknowledgement of Britain’s cost of living crisis.

A royal source quoted in The Daily Mirror said the new monarch’s coronation would be “shorter, smaller and less expensive” than the Queen’s ceremony in 1953. A date for King Charles’ coronation has not yet been announced, but May and June 2023 are possibilities.

The source said: “The King is very aware of the struggles felt by modern Britons so will see his wishes carried through that although his coronation ceremony should stay right and true to the long held traditions of the past, it should also be representative of a monarchy in a modern world.”

“He has already spoken of his wish to continue his mother’s legacy and this includes continuing to recognise what the people are experiencing day by day.”

The paper was also told Charles had “long been an advocate of a streamlined or slimmed down monarchy” and may reduce the number of working royals. The Express reported the number of working royals could be cut to seven, which it said would likely be the King, Queen Consort, Duke and Duchess of Cornwall and Cambridge, the Princess Royal, and the Earl and Countess of Wessex.

What do the public think?

The move has strong public support, according to a poll commissioned by the Daily Express. Some 65% of survey participants backed the idea, with only 7% opposed.

The paper’s survey of 2,351 Britons also found that reducing the cost of the monarchy was the public’s second biggest royal priority, after giving support to environmental issues.

What are the King’s upcoming plans?

The King is believed to have flown to Scotland on Tuesday (20 September) with the Queen Consort to grieve privately, as the royal family continues its period of mourning for the late monarch.

According to a report in The Daily Telegraph, plans for his first diplomatic trip outside the UK as King are focusing on France rather than Commonwealth countries. The paper reports no plan has been finalised, but writes that a trip across the Channel has been considered as an opportunity to build relations with Europe.

The Queen was laid to rest together with the Duke of Edinburgh on Monday evening (19 September) in a private service attended by the King and the royal family. This followed her state funeral at Westminster Abbey and committal service in Windsor.

Buckingham Palace said the inscription on the ledger stone in the George VI Memorial Chapel now has the names of the Queen, her parents and Philip, along with their years of birth and death.

The stone contains, in list form, “George VI 1895-1952” and “Elizabeth 1900-2002” followed by a metal Garter Star, and then “Elizabeth II 1926-2022” and “Philip 1921-2021”.