The coronation is to take place on Saturday 6 May
The coronation of Charles III, the former Prince of Wales and eldest son of Queen Elizabeth II, is set to take place on Saturday, May 6. King Charles, 74, will assume the throne in September 2022 following the death of his mother, Queen Elizabeth II. Countrywide celebrations will be held during the coronation weekend, including a parade, during which the 74-year-old monarch will be officially crowned in a grand ceremony.
However, the ceremony is attracting a lot of criticism for several reasons. Here are five of them.
1. Extravagant cost of the ceremony
Critics have questioned the cost of such a grand event which comes at a difficult time for the country. The Operation Golden Orb committee, which is in charge of planning the coronation ceremony, estimates that the event could cost around £100 million (over ₹1021.5 crore). As it is a state event, the coronation will be paid for by the British government using taxpayers’ money. One poll suggested that more than half of Britons do not think it should be funded by the government.
The coronation is also marked as a bank holiday, which brings its own costs. According to a previous report by the Center for Economics and Business Research, each UK bank holiday costs the country around £2.3 billion.
2. Prince Harry to attend coronation without Meghan Markle
Amid speculation over whether the Duke and Duchess of Sussex will attend the event, Buckingham Palace has confirmed that Prince Harry will attend the coronation – alone. Meghan Markle will remain in the United States with the couple’s children. It will be the first time Prince Harry has been seen with the royal family since the publication of his memoir ‘Spare’ in January.
In addition, she will be seated 10 rows behind other members of the royal family at the coronation. Furthermore, he will be flying back to the US just two hours after the ceremony, so that he can celebrate his son Archie’s birthday.
3. No Kohinoor for Queen consort Camilla
Queen consort Camilla will not be Wearing the controversial colonial era Kohinoor Diamond in the coronation. According to the BBC, “there were concerns about a diplomatic dispute with India if it had been used” as India has demanded its return. Instead she will modify Queen Mary’s crown using diamonds from Queen Elizabeth II’s private collection.
4. The public was invited to swear allegiance to King Charles
Organizers of the event said people watching the coronation would be invited to join “a crowd of millions” to swear allegiance to the king and his successors. According to GuardianPeople around the UK and abroad would be invited to say “I swear that I will bear true allegiance to your majesty, and to your heirs and successors according to law. So help me, God.”
Many have labeled it an “insulting and tone-deaf gesture”, with many saying it is just another example of “how out-of-date the monarchy is”.
5. Anti-monarchy group plans to protest on Coronation Day
Protests against the British monarchy have been planned around the United Kingdom on the day of King Charles III’s coronation ceremony, according to CBS News. In particular, the anti-monarchy group Republic wants the king to be replaced as the official head of state by an elected official.
“Hereditary public office goes against every democratic principle. And because we can’t hold the King and his family to account at the ballot box, we can’t stop them from abusing their privilege, abusing their influence or simply wasting our money.” Nothing for,” Republic said on its website.