England 2023- The Coronation of a King

November 23, 2025

England 2023- The Coronation of a King

We just so happened to be in England for the coronation of King Charles III. Honestly we couldn’t have planned it better if we tried. It made for a very merry atmosphere the entire trip. It felt like the whole country was decked out in regalia. Union Jack bunting, St George flags waving, photos and posters of Charles in the windows of shops and homes alike. We even received a complimentary pin commemorating the event from British Airways. Once the date was announced and I realized we would indeed be in the country for this historic event I planned that Saturday around the occasion. I made it clear that we would be sat in front of the tv of our airbnb with snacks and the proper amount of awe.

If you’re unfamiliar with my UK blogs then you might not know that while I was born and raised in California I am an Anglophile who is really British at heart. Somehow I negotiated an English husband out of the universe which only makes me more obnoxious about my obsession with all things British Isles. My husband often comments that I am more English than he is- my patriotism for that country is something I should be embarrassed of but it’s my adopted country and it’s where my heart is happiest. I can’t apologize for something I’m not sorry about. I often get asked why we don’t move there and the blunt answer is we can’t afford to. Being married to a citizen isn’t good enough. The cost of immigration is out of reach currently and the UK government keeps upping the ante, raising the bar even further out of our grasp. It is my sincerest wish to live on English soil at some point in my life, but until then we’ll keep visiting as often as we can and I’ll keep writing these love letters to dear old Blighty.

The morning of the coronation was simply lovely. I woke early to the sound of birds and a gentle sky. The coronation itself didn’t begin until 11am that morning but the coverage began at 7:30, so we made breakfast and settled in on the couch to watch the hoopla.

I’m not a huge fan of Charles- I think those of us who are old enough to remember his treatment of Diana hold a grudge- but I am a fan of history coming to life. Just the idea that I would get to witness a ceremony that remains largely unchanged since 973 AD (although the first one to be held at Westminster Abbey was 1066AD) made me giddy. Charles modernized the ceremony by adding multi-faith participation (for the first time ever) and removing the “Homage of Peers’- a tradition where a long line of aristocrats would kneel and pledge their loyalty. Charles instead chose to only have Prince William as heir to the throne kneel and pay homage.

My husband found himself quite moved watching the anointing and investing of regalia- knowing for a millennia the monarch has been stripped of his rich robe of state and his crimson surcoat to be left in a humble anointing gown of white linen. Charles was anointed behind a screen for total privacy as this part of the ceremony is considered sacred and is not meant for the public gaze- it has never been photographed or televised. Previous monarchs would be anointed while sitting on the Coronation Chair under a white canopy. One really cool fact is the Coronation Chair dates back to 1296 and has been used for every coronation since 1308.

I watched in reverence, feeling very fortunate to be witnessing such a significant and ancient rite. The only blight on the day for me was Camilla. I don’t care that Charles married his mistress or even the fact that she is a divorcee who historically would never have been allowed to carry the title of Queen Consort- it’s the fact that she looked bored and didn’t ooze an ounce of regal essence. She was awkward and clumsy when crowned, it nearly fell off at one point because she wouldn’t just sit still and hold her head high. She annoyed me at every turn. I very much fall in the camp of waiting anxiously for her to be off the throne, retired to some country estate never to be seen again but alas I also believe in being able to marry for love and Charles should be happy. In the meantime we’ll endure her stupid hairstyle, her uncouth way of wearing tiaras and her frumpy dresses until Catherine steps up and shows her how it’s done. Oops, my bias is showing.

After the coronation we went to my in-laws for some tea and a chat. Even my staunchly anti-monarchy father in law was impressed and moved by the ceremony (that he swore not to watch), proving it was a good day for Britain.