King Charles’ coronation could ‘never’ compare to Queen Elizabeth’s ‘absolute perfection’ says former lady-in-waiting

King Charles’ coronation could “never” compare to that of his Queen Elizabeth, according to a former lady-in-waiting, who described the 1953 event as “absolute perfection”.  

• Lady Anne Glenconner has shared her belief that there’ll “never be another coronation” like the Queen’s “ever”.   
• Remarking upon rumors that King Charles is planning a shorter, scaled-back coronation next year she expressed her belief that it “has to be”. 
• This royal news comes as Mike Tindall’s adorably casual nickname for wife Zara was revealed - and it mirrors Meghan Markle’s for Prince Harry!  

With many months still to go until King Charles’ coronation day in May 2023, it’s hard not to look back at Queen Elizabeth’s as an indication of what this momentous occasion might look like. Taking place in 1953 with crowds lining the streets and watching at home, the Queen was accompanied by six maids of honor to assist her on the day. Lady Anne Coke, now Lady Glenconner, was one of them and later went on to be a Lady-in-Waiting to the late Princess Margaret until her death in 2002. 

Now Lady Glenconner has opened up about the coronation, describing it as “absolute perfection”. So splendid was it, that she reportedly suggested that no coronation could ever compare to the likes of this again…

She and the other maids of honor were interviewed and photographed amid the fascination and huge excitement surrounding the coronation of Britain’s first Queen Regnant since Queen Victoria. Speaking to The Times, she dubbed it “tiptop” as she disclosed how it will likely never be matched again. 

“We were a sort of harbinger of the girl bands,” she said. “There’ll never be another coronation like that, ever. It was really tip top.”

The King’s coronation will take place on May 6th 2023 and an extra bank holiday for King Charles’ coronation has now been confirmed. Although the exact plans for the ceremony, where Queen Consort Camilla will also be crowned, remains unknown, reports have suggested that His Majesty would prefer a shorter and scaled-back occasion compared to his beloved mother’s rather glamorous coronation. 

“I think it has to be,” commented Lady Glenconner, discussing these intriguing rumors. “And anyway, I’m so fond of King Charles but, you know, he’s not young. The Queen was so beautiful, so glamorous, and look at the Duke of Edinburgh. He was to die for. People were madly in love with him.”

Ultimately, Princess Margaret’s former Lady-In-Waiting declared that Queen Elizabeth’s coronation was “absolute perfection”. It’s certainly hard to improve upon “perfection”, however His Majesty looks to be seeking not to replicate, but forge his own path with his coronation.

As reported by the BBC, the Palace has already indicated that the ceremony will be “rooted in long standing traditions and pageantry” like the Queen’s was, but will “reflect the monarch’s role today and look towards the future”.

As two distinct monarchs, King Charles’ coronation will likely be equally distinct from that of Queen Elizabeth which, after all, took place a full seven decades earlier. Though it seems like the ceremony will still be honoring tradition in its own way and will take place at Westminster Abbey, just like the Queen’s did. It’s also said that he will be crowned with the solid gold 17th century St Edward’s Crown that Queen Elizabeth wore just once, also for her coronation.