King Charles's Coronation

King Charles III's Coronation is taking place on 6 May 2023. Watch this video to find out more about it.

Help

  • Do the preparation activity to help you with words from the video.
  • Watch the video, then play the games to check your understanding.
  • You can also print the worksheet for more practice.
  • Remember to read our discussion question and leave a comment!

Transcript

Let's start with the crown. It's the centrepiece of the Coronation, and there's even an emoji of it. The St Edward's Crown was made in 1661 for another Charles, King Charles II, but, FYI, it's a copy of an older crown, thought to have been used since the 11th century. What happened to that one? Well, it got melted down. 

Second, the venue. Westminster Abbey is one of the most historically important buildings in the UK. It saw William the Conqueror crowned in 1066 and it has been used to crown every king and queen since. It's also been the place of funerals. The Queen's took place here. And weddings. Prince William and Catherine married here too. It's the final resting place of many kings and queens and famous people, including Charles Dickens. 

Third, the guest list. About 2,000 people are expected to attend the coronation. Sorry, it is invite only. Among them will be the Royal Family, kings, queens and presidents from around the world. But, there will be some people missing. US President, Joe Biden, won't be there, although his wife Jill will, and while Prince Harry is coming, Meghan and their kids, Lilibet and Archie, aren't.

Fourth, the transport. One of the big moments in the day will be the processions. For the journey to the Coronation, King Charles will be in this very fancy carriage, the Diamond State Jubilee Coach. It comes with heaters, air con and electric windows. But the journey home will be in the still fancy, but less luxury, Gold State Coach. Queen Elizabeth called it horrible. Oh dear.

Last up, the Crown Jewels. The orb is a golden ball with a dual cross on it. It's designed to say that the new monarch's power comes from God. The sceptres look like big golden sticks, covered in jewels. They're meant to represent the King's power and rule. The orb and sceptres are part of the Crown Jewels, kept guarded in the Tower of London, so if you were thinking of borrowing them, then you can forget it!

© BBC

Documents

Worksheet114.63 KB

Discussion

Do you know any other famous kings or queens? Tell us about them!

Average: 3.5 (10 votes)

English courses for children aged 6–17

Learn more

Sign up to our newsletter for free learning tips and resources

We will process your data to send you our newsletter and updates based on your consent. You can unsubscribe at any time by clicking the "unsubscribe" link at the bottom of every email. Read our privacy policy for more information.