THE CONTROVERSY OF KING CHARLES
CORONATION
God save the king? As King Charles III prepared for his coronation, the monarch
faced backlash for a variety of reasons — many of which were pegged to his special
day.
Charles, 74, took over the throne in September 2022 after the death of his mother,
Queen Elizabeth II. The late monarch and longest reigning ruler in British history
was 96 when she passed.
While the queen’s eldest son already began overseeing the U.K. and the
Commonwealth, his official coronation took place on Saturday, May 6. The
ceremony was held at Westminster Abbey and the king will later take his place on
the Buckingham Palace balcony alongside his family to mark the beginning of his
reign.
The next day, there will be a Coronation Concert and the Coronation Big Lunch,
which consists of communities sharing a meal “in a nationwide act of celebration
and friendship,” per Buckingham Palace.
The nation will cap off the weekend with a Bank Holiday on Monday, May 8. That
day will also be known as the Big Help Out, which will highlight volunteer work
across the U.K. organized by The Together Coalition.
Although the event is meant to be one of unity and honor, Charles’ family drama
has overshadowed the coronation. In the wake of Prince Harry’s book release
earlier this year, the royals have been feuding with Harry, 38, and his wife,
Meghan Markle, for their harsh accusations of how The Firm has treated them in
the past.
Queen Consort Camilla’s Crown
When Queen Consort Camilla is crowned during the coronation, she will wear
Queen Mary’s 1911 Coronation headpiece. While the crown is stunning it also has a
controversial past as the Koh-i-noor diamond was set at the center of the cross on
the top area.
The Koh-i-noor jewel was seized by the East India Company in 1849 and was then
presented to Queen Victoria and made part of the Crown Jewels. India, however,
has launched a campaign asking for the U.K. to return the diamond, claiming it
"brings back painful memories of the colonial past.” Afghanistan and Pakistan have
also laid claim to the diamond.
The Palace announced in February that Queen Mary’s crown will be modified for
the ceremony and the Koh-i-noor diamond will be taken out. Camilla’s headpiece
will also serve as a tribute to Elizabeth once the late monarch’s Cullinan III, IV and
V diamonds, which she usually wore as brooches, are set into the crown.
Harry Attend Without Megan
Following their exit as senior royals in early 2020, Harry and Meghan, 41, have
been at odds with the majority of the royal family. Tension mounted after the
prince published his memoir, Spare, in January, detailing his alleged hardships at
the hands of the Firm and several relatives. Despite the drama, the twosome have
been invited to attend Charles’ historic day in London.While the olive branch has
been extended to the Sussexes, a source exclusively told Us in February that
William, 40, and Harry are still at odds. William has yet to publicly address Harry’s
remarks about him being his brother’s “archenemies” — and the book allegations
made about their reported physical fights in years past.
“The palace is trying to come up with solutions to keep the peace and form some
kind of reconnection and unity between William and Harry. It’s now or never,” the
insider at the time. “The coronation is a time to celebrate, and no one wants this
dark cloud hanging over the festivities on such a significant occasion.”