Good news, sufferers of Corrie Naish withdrawals! The event that gave us a three-day-weekend, coronation quiche, anti-monarchy protests, memes galore and, of course, a new King, isn’t quite over yet. King Charles III’s ‘second’ coronation is happening up in Scotland this week.
The coronation in Scotland is aimed to symbolise the bond between the royals and the Scottish people. It is part of the annual Holyrood Week – aka Royal Week – when the reigning monarch travels to the country to celebrate its culture and communities.
Prince William and Kate will be joining Charles and Camilla in Edinburgh where a bunch of festivities are lined up to rival May’s Westminster event. Here is your full guide, from the coronation itself to how you can watch.
When is King Charles’s Scottish Coronation?
Charles’s Scottish coronation is due to take place tomorrow, on Wednesday, July 5 2023.
Where is it being held?
It’s all happening in Edinburgh, along the famous Royal Mile.
What will happen at the Edinburgh Coronation?
After a series of processions on the Royal Mile, the King will be presented with the Honours of Scotland at St Giles’s Cathedral.
The Honours of Scotland are stored at Edinburgh Castle and are made up of the Crown of Scotland, the Sceptre and the Sword of State (aka Papal sword) made of gold, silver and precious gems. Fun fact: they’re the oldest crown jewels in Britain.
The sword is now considered too old and fragile to be used in the ceremony, so a newer sword will be used in its place.
A royal procession back down the Royal Mile will follow and the ceremony will close with a display from the Red Arrows.
What are the royal event timings?
1.15pm People’s procession leaves Edinburgh Castle to walk down Royal Mile.
1.30pm People’s procession arrives at West Parliament Square.
1.40pm The Honours of Scotland leave the castle under military and police escort. Military bands and Household Cavalry Mounted Regiments depart from the Palace of Holyroodhouse to West Parliament Square.
1.50pm The Honours arrive at West Parliament Square.
2.05pm Royal procession leaves the Palace of Holyroodhouse.
2.10pm Royal procession arrives at St Giles’s Cathedral.
2.15pm National service of thanksgiving and dedication begins.
3.15pm Service ends.
3.20pm King and Queen exit St Giles’s. Royal gun salute from Edinburgh Castle.
3.40pm RAF Red Arrows flypast.
Why is King Charles having another Coronation?
The occasion will mark Charles as the King of Great Britain, not just England. The tradition began in the seventeenth century when King Charles I was crowned at Westminster Abbey in 1625 and the Scottish Parliament requested that he also have a ceremony up north and he was crowned at Holyrood in 1633.
The tradition paused from a while from 1822 until Queen Elizabeth II honoured it in 1953.
How can I watch the second coronation?
The processions and ceremony will be broadcast live on BBC One. If you happen to be in Edinburgh, you can join the crowds lining the Royal Mile to catch a glimpse of the proceedings.
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