The coronation of King Charles III will be celebrated with a public holiday, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak stated on Sunday.
Sunak said the bank holiday would fall on Monday, May 8, following the coronation two days earlier.
When his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, passed away in September, Charles, 73, automatically became the monarch. In a ceremony held at St. James’ Palace a few days later, Charles was solemnly installed as the new King of the United Kingdom.
Families and communities across the United Kingdom would get a chance to join together to celebrate King’s coronation
In a statement, the British government claimed that the action was consistent with the bank holiday that followed the late Queen’s coronation in 1953. Families and communities across the United Kingdom would get a chance to join together to celebrate on the day off, it was noted.
The Coronation of a new monarch is a special occasion for our nation, according to Sunak. “I am pleased to announce an additional bank holiday for the entire United Kingdom next year in honor of this momentous occasion.
“I look forward to seeing people come together to celebrate and pay tribute to King Charles III by taking part in local and national events across the country in his honor.”
Charles’ coronation will be a much more low-key occasion than his mother’s
The King will be crowned on May 6 at Westminster Abbey in London, the site of every coronation since 1066, as Buckingham Palace revealed last month. Since William the Conqueror, all kings and queens—except for two—have been installed there. Edward VIII abdicated after Edward V passed away before he could be crowned.
According to a statement from the palace, the event will be more contemporary than previous royal coronations and “look towards the future.” The event will still be “based in long-standing traditions and pageantry,” it was stated. In a comparable but lesser event, the Queen Consort will also be crowned on this date.
According to experts, Charles’ coronation will be a much more low-key occasion than his mother’s, with plans being affected by the UK’s continuing cost-of-living issue. Around royal occasions, the government frequently declares bank holidays. Brits have been given two extra days this year, one for the late monarch’s funeral on September 19 and the other for her Platinum Jubilee celebration in June.