Operation Gold Orb, the secret codename for the coronation of her son Charles, will be activated in the aftermath of the death of Queen Elizabeth II.
When Elizabeth was crowned in June 1953, the elaborate ceremony provided a much-needed morale boost to a nation hungry of spectacle due to the war.
However, seventy years later, the impending coronation of King Charles III is scheduled to be a somewhat scaled-down spectacle at Westminster Abbey that will solidify his wife’s historical significance.
The service is not likely to occur until next spring, which is far sooner than the Queen’s 16-month wait following her accession to the throne.
The coronation will reflect the religious and cultural diversity of modern Britain and mark a substantial difference from the coronation of his mother in 1953, which reflected the nation and empire of the time.
The coronation will reflect the religious and cultural diversity of modern Britain and mark a substantial difference from the coronation of his mother in 1953, which reflected the nation and empire of the time.
And it is expected to be far shorter and less expensive than in the past, setting the tone for Charles’ rule.
The 1953 coronation is believed to have cost £1.57 million, approximately £46 million today.
Sources indicate that his coronation service will reflect the King’s stated preference for a leaner, more modern monarchy. With the nation suffering a recession and increased pressure on the public purse, his desire for a dramatically streamlined service is likely to have widespread support.
However, planning will be rigorous, with every element taken into account. The coronation is rich in religious significance; it is a solemn and sacred ceremony in which the new ruler is anointed and swears allegiance to God and the nation.
The preparations for Charles’ coronation were leaked to The Mail on Sunday in February, after the Queen expressed her “sincere wish” that Camilla will be known as queen consort when her son succeeds her “in due time.” According to a source, it would be “shorter, sooner, smaller, less expensive, and more representative of various community groups and religions.” In the next months, the date of the event, which will occur on a holiday, will be determined.
The coronation will reflect the religious and cultural diversity of the country and mark a substantial difference from the coronation of his mother in 1953, which symbolized the nation and empire of the time.
As a male consort, Prince Philip was ineligible to be crowned, but he knelt before his wife during her coronation and vowed to be her “liege man of life and limb.”
The previous time a queen consort was crowned was in 1937, when the Queen’s mother Elizabeth sat alongside George VI. For the coronation of Elizabeth II, carriages conveyed over 8,000 dignitaries to Westminster Abbey, where many sat on temporary benches. More than 45,000 soldiers participated in the procession.
The first televised ceremony lasted longer than three hours.
Seven decades later, however, the number of attendees in Westminster Abbey is scheduled to be limited to 2,000, and the service would be “far shorter due to Charles’s age,” according to a source. By the time of his expected coronation, the next King will be 74 years old and his wife will be close to 76.
Aspects of the service will be revised to reflect “contemporary Britain,” but it will continue to be an Anglican service, with the vows remaining unchanged.
Not only will there be a quarter fewer visitors than in 1953, but there will also be fewer members of the Royal Family.