Why King Charles won’t face the Royal Family during the coronation service
King Charles won’t face the Royal Family or any other attendees during the coronation service in May which ‘emphasizes’ key focus...
King Charles won’t face the Royal Family during the coronation service as it “emphasizes” an important aspect.
- His Majesty will be sitting in the centuries-old Coronation Chair on May 6 and he’s set to face away from the congregation.
- Instead the Chair will be played facing the High Altar of Westminster Abbey to “emphasize” a certain aspect of the service.
- This royal news comes as a new book claimed Kate Middleton and Prince William's marriage is “not all sweetness” and they have “terrible rows” and “throw things at each other”.
King Charles’ coronation day is drawing ever closer and many details like Queen Camilla’s coronation crown and the planned procession to Buckingham Palace have been confirmed. Although the Palace has previously declared the service will “reflect the monarch’s role today and look towards the future”, there will also be plenty of traditions upheld too. One of these focuses on the Coronation Chair and taking to social media, Westminster Abbey gave fans a unique insight into its centuries-old history, from its elaborate original decorations to its symbolism.
Curator Dr Susan Jenkins also revealed that King Charles won’t face the Royal Family during the coronation service on May 6 as the two-meter high chair will be positioned the other way!
A post shared by Westminster Abbey (@westminsterabbeylondon)
A photo posted by on
“During the service itself the chair is placed on the Cosmati Pavement, facing the High Altar,” she explained. “The monarch sits with their back to the congregation. This emphasizes the religious nature of the coronation service.”
So it seems King Charles won’t face the Royal Family or any other attendees during this part of his coronation day. In pictures taken at Queen Elizabeth’s coronation she appears sitting on the Coronation Chair facing the altar with the guests behind her.
To her right were her Maids of Honor and in banks of seats higher up above them look to be where the Queen Mother, Princess Margaret and 4-year-old King Charles sat. Even they weren’t in her immediate eye-line during this part of the day.
The chair is made of Baltic Oak and was originally decorated with gold and colored glass, with some bird and foliage designs still visible. On the back is a painting of a King which is all that many members of the congregation see during the service.
Sign up for the woman&home newsletter
Sign up to our free daily email for the latest royal and entertainment news, interesting opinion, expert advice on styling and beauty trends, and no-nonsense guides to the health and wellness questions you want answered.
It seems incredibly likely that this tradition will be upheld at King Charles’ coronation service too, especially as he is Head of the Church of England, taking religious services incredibly seriously. Just which immediate and extended Royal Family members will be left looking at King Charles’ back or side profile during this part of the coronation remains a matter of intense speculation.
Although Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s coronation invite has been confirmed their answer remains unknown. Even if they do attend, it’s been claimed recently that Meghan and Prince Harry’s children aren’t invited.
Meanwhile, it’s expected that the Prince and Princess of Wales will be there and that Prince George, who is second in the royal line of succession, could play a role.
Speaking to True Royalty TV’s The Royal Beat, The Sunday Times’ Royal Editor Roya Nikkhah explained that his education could limit this role to being more “low-key”, though.
"They are very keen, but if George does have an official role, it will be quite low-key. They are very conscious that he will return to school on the Tuesday, and they do not want him to be overwhelmed by the attention.”
Emma is a Royal Editor with eight years experience working in publishing. Her specialist areas include the British Royal Family, ranging from protocol to outfits. Alongside putting her royal knowledge to good use, Emma knows all there is to know about the latest TV shows on the BBC, ITV and more. When she’s not writing about the next unmissable show to add to your to-watch list or delving into royal protocol, Emma enjoys cooking, long walks and watching yet more crime dramas!
-
Who is Ronnie in The Diplomat and what happened to Jess Chanliau's character in season 2?
Ronnie's life was left in the balance in The Diplomat season 1 finale and heading into season 2 the character's fate was finally revealed
By Emma Shacklock Published
-
Netflix's Martha: Why did Martha Stewart go to prison?
Netflix's deep dive documentary into the life of Martha Stewart has raised some questions that viewers want to know more about, particularly why the businesswoman spent time in jail.
By Lucy Wigley Published
-
Princess Anne’s husband was granted special privilege by Queen Elizabeth after major family change - and only one other adult royal got it too
Princess Anne's husband Sir Timothy Laurence was one of two royal adults who had an exception made for them by Queen Elizabeth
By Emma Shacklock Published
-
Princess Anne 'the best Queen we never had' and 'carrying' Queen Elizabeth’s 'mantle', royal expert claims
Princess Anne has been described by former royal butler Paul Burrell as 'carrying her mother's mantle' with her dedication to her royal role
By Emma Shacklock Published
-
King Charles's 'constant battle' with Queen Camilla that he 'usually wins'
King Charles and Queen Camilla have been described by her sister as 'polar opposites' and this apparently leads to a lot of 'banter' at home
By Emma Shacklock Published
-
Queen Camilla’s got the right idea when it comes to sweet summer treats and we’re craving her last supper dessert right now
Queen Camilla's last supper dessert sounds decadent and refreshing all in one go and we want a huge bowl of it in this heatwave
By Emma Shacklock Published
-
Queen Elizabeth’s hilarious suggestion to Tom Daley is something Princess Charlotte would’ve loved to see happen
Queen Elizabeth made a witty remark to British diver Tom Daley and was apparently 'fully game' for getting involved in a surprising sport
By Emma Shacklock Published
-
Queen Camilla and King Charles’s ‘competition’ at home is remarkably unroyal and it really kicks off this time of year
Queen Camilla once revealed that she and King Charles get 'competitive' over a hobby that many fans might not imagine them doing
By Emma Shacklock Published
-
32 fascinating facts about Buckingham Palace that you may not know
It's one of the most famous properties in the world, and there's plenty of surprising facts about Buckingham Palace
By Jack Slater Published
-
32 candid photos of Queen Elizabeth II that showcase the late monarch's less serious side
The late Queen had lots of serious duties, but she was never afraid to show her funnier, more light-hearted side
By Amy Hunt Published