The coronation of King Charles III

Welcome to HistoryExtra's coronation hub. As Britain's prepares for the crowning the new monarch, discover the history behind the occasion with experts insights from leading historians and curated highlights from our archive.

Start with these essential reads

Tracy Borman

Tracy Borman on the coronation of Charles III. This is a premium piece of content available to subscribed users.

A view of Queen Elizabeth II’s coronation ceremony from the rafters of Westminster Abbey, 2 June 1953 (Photo by Central Press/Getty Images)

Staging a coronation: 5 dos (and 5 don'ts) for crowning a new monarch. This is a premium piece of content available to subscribed users.

Charles III, whose coronation on 6 May “will be significant for the kind of king that emerges”, says Alice Hunt (Photo by Hannah McKay / POOL / AFP via Getty Images)

CoronationsThe soft power of royal pomp and pageantry. This is a premium piece of content available to subscribed users.

The life of Charles III

Charles III, whose coronation on 6 May “will be significant for the kind of king that emerges”, says Alice Hunt (Photo by Hannah McKay / POOL / AFP via Getty Images)

Charles III: your guide to the reigning King of England

Prince Charles, aged 4, driving a toy car in the grounds of Balmoral Castle in Aberdeenshire, Scotland.

King Charles III: a life in pictures

Coronations: the historical context

Queen Elizabeth II processes down the nave of Westminster Abbey during her coronation on 2 June 1953 (Photo by Chronicle / Alamy Stock Photo)

CoronationA-Z of royal coronations in Britain. This is a premium piece of content available to subscribed users.

Low angle view of the Westminster Abbey

Why are British monarchs traditionally crowned in Westminster Abbey?. This is a premium piece of content available to subscribed users.

Michael Wood on the coronation of Charles III"The symbolism of the royal promise still means something today". This is a premium piece of content available to subscribed users.

The Imperial State Crown, which alone has 2,868 diamonds, 273 pearls, 17 sapphires, 11 emeralds and 5 rubies is a priceless symbol of the British monarchy (Picture by Getty)

General History

6 things you (probably) didn’t know about the Crown Jewels

What makes a good coronation? Tracy Borman answers

General History

What makes a good coronation?

Which British monarch had the most successful coronation?

Which British monarch had the most successful coronation?. This is a premium piece of content available to subscribed users.

Professor David Carpenter discusses the history of Westminster Abbey

Video podcast | David Carpenter on history of Westminster Abbey. This is a premium piece of content available to subscribed users.

On the HistoryExtra podcast

How (and how not) to stage a coronation. This is a premium piece of content available to subscribed users.

Pomp & power: royal ceremonies through the centuries. This is a premium piece of content available to subscribed users.

Westminster Abbey: everything you wanted to know. This is a premium piece of content available to subscribed users.

HistoryExtra's Monarchy Masterclass with Tracy Borman

Watch now | The Monarchy, a masterclass with Tracy Borman

In this video masterclass series, popular historian Tracy Borman charts the changing fortunes of the monarchy, the evolution of the crown and reveals the secrets behind its remarkable survival.

Watch all five episiodes now

Historic coronations

Explore three of the most momentous royal ceremonies in British history

William the Conqueror was the second king of England to be crowned in 1066

The coronation of William of Normandy on Christmas Day in 1066

Queen Victoria receives the sacrament as part of her five-hour coronation service, in a 19th-century painting by Charles Robert Leslie (Photo by The History Collection / Alamy Stock Photo)

Extravagance, crowds and blunders: the coronation of Queen Victoria

Elizabeth is borne from Westminster Abbey in a gold coach first used for the state opening of parliament by George III in 1762. (Getty Images)

Becoming Queen: Elizabeth II’s coronation

The Royal Family

Everything you need to know about the Royal Family and its lineage, from the record-breaking reign of Elizabeth II to why they chose the name 'Windsor'

General History

Monarchy timelineFrom Hastings to the Windsors in 122 moments

Emerald Fennell plays Camilla Parker Bowles (then Shand) in 'The Crown'

In profile: Queen Consort Camilla

Queen Elizabeth II in a garden with one of her dogs, March 1953. (Photo by Bettmann via Getty Images)

Elizabeth II: the queen who saved the royals. This is a premium piece of content available to subscribed users.

Portrait of Prince Philip

Prince Philip: the loyal consort. This is a premium piece of content available to subscribed users.

Queen Elizabeth and the Duke of Edinburgh wave from the famous balcony at Buckingham Palace after the Queen's coronation on 2 June 1953. (Keystone-France/Gamma-Keystone via Getty Images)

7 memorable moments in the history of Buckingham Palace

Members of the royal family: Prince Louis; Prince George; Prince William, Duke of Cambridge; Princess Charlotte; Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge; Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall; Prince Charles, Prince of Wales; Princess Anne, Princess Royal; and Queen Elizabeth II during the Queen's annual birthday parade on 8 June 2019 in London, England. (Photo by Chris Jackson/Getty Images)

Q&AHow did the royals choose 'Windsor'?