What Time Does The Coronation Begin? King Charles III Coronation Schedule and More

While Elizabeth’s coronation was the first to be televised, Charles’ big day will also incorporate the additional factors of social media and streaming

• The coronation of King Charles III and his wife, Queen Consort Camilla, will take place alongside a host of events Saturday, May 6 at London’s Westminster Abbey.

• Their coronation — the first the U.K. has seen in 70 years — is expected to draw large crowds of royal fans for the event itself along with other parades, street parties and more.

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Charles will have various members of his family by his side for the coronation, including son Prince William and his wife Kate Middleton, whose eldest son Prince George, 9, will participate in the ceremony as a Page of Honour.

And official events are finished, the royals will enjoy a concert May 7 with performances by Lionel Richie, Katy Perry, Take That and Andrea Bocelli.

Here’s more on when the Coronation takes place, and more.

What Time is Is King Charles III’s Coronation?

The King’s Procession, where Charles and Camilla will began their route to Westminster Abbey in a horse-drawn Diamond Jubilee State Coach, will begin at 10:20 a.m. local time, or 4:20 a.m. CT, according to the U.K government.

• The actual coronation service begins at 11 a.m., or 5 a.m. CT. Coronation coverage will air on NBC 5, beginning at 4 a.m. CT.

Entrance to the ceremony is by invitation only, and will be limited to some 2,000 family, friends, heads of state and VIPs. 

What Is King Charles III’s Coronation Schedule?

• After the coronation services, which the U.K. government estimates will end around 1 p.m. local time, or 7 a.m. CT. At that time, the king and queen will embark on the “coronation procession,” which will take them from the Abbey to Buckingham Palace.

• At Buckingham, Charles and Camilla—as well as other members of the royal family—will wave to the crowd from the palace’s iconic balcony.

• But the celebrations don’t end there.

• Lionel Richie, Katy Perry, Take That and Andrea Bocelli will take to the stage May 7 at Windsor Castle for musical performances.

The events culminate in a public holiday on Monday, May 8.

Who is attending the coronation from the U.S.?

• First lady Jill Biden will attend King Charles’ crowning, though President Joe Biden will not — no U.S. president has attended a coronation. Biden did attend Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral in September.

• Laura Beers, a professor of British history at American University, said historically, it was logistically hard for a president to travel overseas to a coronation. Beers also said that U.S. presidents didn’t attend events such as coronations as a result of the country’s independence from the rule of the United Kingdom.

• “It wasn’t really a place for the U.S. president. And I think Biden is keeping with that tradition,” Beers said. “It doesn’t have anything to do about U.S. foreign policies towards Britain, about the nature of the special relationship or anything. It’s just this is a British and Commonwealth affair.”

• The U.S. delegation, led by Jill Biden, will also include special climate envoy John Kerry, who has worked with Charles on climate initiatives.