King Charles III and Queen Camilla to be Crowned in Historic Coronation Ceremony at Westminster Abbey

On Saturday, May 6th, King Charles III of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland will be crowned monarch at Westminster Abbey, making him the ceremonial head of the Commonwealth. This will be the 40th coronation at Westminster Abbey, a tradition dating back to 1066.

In a historic move, King Charles’ wife Camilla, the Queen Consort, will be formally crowned alongside her husband. This will be the first time a queen consort has been crowned since Queen Elizabeth II’s coronation in 1953. Camilla will drop the “consort” from her title and be known as Queen Camilla.

The U.K. is the only country in Europe to hold a lavish coronation ceremony. Other countries, such as France, have abolished the monarchy, opted for a more simple affair, like Norway, or have never had coronations, such as the Netherlands.

King Charles told his advisors long before his own coronation ceremony that he “wanted them to start afresh,” according to historian and CBS News royal contributor Amanda Foreman. Prince Philip, the longtime husband of Queen Elizabeth, was never crowned.

The coronation ceremony will be a grand affair, with a procession, a service of thanksgiving, and a banquet. It will be a unique event, as it is the first coronation of a monarch in the 21st century. The ceremony will be broadcast live on television and will be watched by millions of people around the world.