The Coronation of King Charles III

Country Life's 100-page Coronation souvenir issue: What's inside and how to order a copy

Our 100-page special edition of Country Life is in the shops now.

The official Coronation Portraits of King Charles III

The Coronation of King Charles III: Best pictures from the day

Enjoy some of the defining images from a truly historic day: the Coronation of King Charles III at Westminster Abbey on 6 May, 2023.

The full text of the Coronation Oath of King Charles III

Read the full text of the Coronation Oaths being sworn by King Charles III.

The Timetable for the Coronation of King Charles III, including the order of service and The Oath

Eleanor Doughty takes a look at what's happening over coronation weekend — and explains the changes in the roles of dukes and duchesses, hitherto so important in the ceremony.

St Edward's Crown: The tale of the crown being used at the Coronation of King Charles III

It is to the Crown that we owe allegiance. Matthew Dennison considers the history of this most familiar attribute of royalty, which he finds as laden with the hopes of a nation as it is with glittering gold and precious jewels.

King Charles III, by those who know him best: 'He has already changed the world'

Few realise the breadth and depth of Charles III’s interests and influence; fewer still can offer a meaningful answer to the question 'what is the King really like?'. But here, 10 friends of Country Life — all people who know and have worked with The King — predict he will be a magnificent and much-loved monarch.

It shouldn't happen at a coronation: A brief history of crowning day disasters

Things don’t always go to plan at a coronation, from stumbling peers to muddled clergy, dripping candles and even earthquakes, reveals Carla Passino.

What is was like to be there when George VI was crowned at Westminster Abbey, by eye-witness Dorothy Wells

George VI’s coronation was lavish, with sparkling diamond coronets, clergy wrapped in spectacular copes, foreign notables in pearl-encrusted caps and the young King and Queen in their gleaming crowns, as Dorothy Wells's record reveals.

The Coronation oath: 'This is no empty display. It is the foundation stone of our system of government'

The Queen’s Coronation saw her take an oath which is crucial to our system of Government.

Perfect Coronation street party recipes, from Mary Berry's ultimate scones to Tom Parker Bowles' irresistible coronation chicken

Emma Hughes collects the best Platinum Jubilee street party recipes from some of Britain's best-loved chefs and food writers.

Westminster Abbey: 1,000 years of coronations, from King Harold and William the Conqueror to Elizabeth II and Charles III

The setting of Charles III’s crowning in Westminster Abbey in London lends grandeur and history to this great ceremony. John Goodall considers the evolution of this remarkable building and its role in celebrating the authority and antiquity of the monarchy.

Coronation memorabilia: Future heirlooms, or future charity shop tat?

Love it or loathe it, royal memorabilia is big business. Huon Mallalieu takes a look at the commemorative souvenirs of the past and considers if they ever really make an investment for the future.

What the Charles III coronation invitations look like  — and why they'll likely be worth a fortune one day

Invitations to coronations have always been highly prized. Since the 18th century, they have also been designed to reflect the solemnity and splendour of the occasion, as John Goodall discovers.

Jason Goodwin: How to be a saint (you'll need some tongs and a furnace)

Ancient kings became saints by popular acclaim, says Jason Goodwin — and that is ‘the kind of sainthood worth achieving if you are a modern king, whose life through thick and thin is devoted to helping the less fortunate, upholding faith and caring for the planet.’

Camilla, the Queen Consort: The 'best listener in the world' and the King's secret weapon

Whether she’s highlighting domestic abuse, championing literacy, dining with pensioners or quietly supporting her husband, our new Queen is excelling in her royal role, says Jane Wheatley.

Sir John Major on King Charles III: 'The King was so far ahead of received wisdom that he had to wait for it to catch up'

Ahead of the curve, diligent and gifted with an empathy that allows him to connect with all people, Charles III will be a great and much-cherished monarch, says the former prime minister John Major.

All the King's gardens, by Alan Titchmarsh

Alan Titchmarsh considers the new monarch’s extraordinary contribution to British gardening, which is always underpinned by organic methods and a strong belief in husbandry and stewardship.

Westminster Abbey: How the nation's coronation church has touched our lives for 1,000 years

In anticipation of The Queen’s Jubilee Year, Country Life had the opportunity to photograph the majestic interiors of Westminster Abbey, our coronation church, amid the quiet of lockdown. In the first of two articles, John Goodall explains how, in this building, events from the deep past continue to touch our lives today. Photographs by Will Pryce for the Country Life Picture Library.

What it's like to have a prime seat at a Royal Coronation by John Betjeman, who reported for Country Life in 1953

The late, great Poet Laureate John Betjeman was among the congregation when Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II was crowned in 1953 — and he wrote about it for Country Life. We're very proud to reproduce that article now — The Queen's Coronation: In The Abbey by John Betjeman.