On Saturday 6 May 2023, the Coronation of King Charles III will take place at Westminster Abbey in London. During the ceremony, the new sovereign will be crowned as head of the Church of England and King of the United Kingdom and the 14 other Commonwealth realms. The King will be crowned alongside Camilla, the Queen Consort. Here is everything we know so far, ahead of this historic day.

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When is the Coronation of King Charles III?

On 8 September 2022, Queen Elizabeth II, the longest-reigning British monarch, died at Balmoral Castle in Scotland, at the age of 96. She was succeeded by her eldest son, Charles III. Tradition states that the country must hold a period of mourning after the passing of a monarch, meaning the Coronation of the new monarch takes place some months later. On 11 October 2022, Buckingham Palace announced King Charles III’s Coronation will take place on the morning of Saturday 6 May 2023. 

Where will the Coronation of King Charles III take place?

The Coronation will take place at Westminster Abbey in London, where all British Coronations have been held for over 950 years since 1066. This will be the 39th Coronation of a reigning monarch held at Westminster Abbey.

For travel inspiration: England destination guide

Will there be a bank holiday?

There will be an extra bank holiday in the UK on Monday 8 May for the Coronation. This was also the case for Queen Elizabeth’s Coronation, held on 2 June 1953.

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What will happen at the Coronation of King Charles III?

While some elements of the Coronation of King Charles III will be similar to that of his mother, other parts will be different. A Buckingham Palace press release said the Coronation “has retained a similar structure for over a thousand years, and next year’s Coronation is expected to include the same core elements”. The press release further said that while the Coronation will be “rooted in long-standing traditions” it will “reflect the monarch’s role today and look towards the future”. 

Codenamed Operation Golden Orb, the Coronation is likely to be shorter than the allotted three hours and more modest than Queen Elizabeth II’s 1953 Coronation to reflect the modern monarchy. It will also represent a wider range of religions and community groups to reflect the country’s diversity. 

Read more: Royalty & Noblemen: The fascinating people you’ll meet in Europe with Luxury Gold

The procession

While Queen Elizabeth’s procession had 16,000 participants, the Coronation of  King Charles III will see a smaller procession. Buckingham Palace confirmed more details in a press release on 21 January. The King and Queen Consort will join the King’s Procession to Westminster Abbey and return to Buckingham Palace in a larger Coronation procession. There, they will be joined by members of the Royal Family, however, the palace has not confirmed who will appear on the balcony of Buckingham Palace.

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The music

King Charles has personally chosen the music for the ceremony. We’ll hear 12 newly-commissioned pieces, including a new Coronation anthem by Cats composer Andrew Lloyd Webber. There will also be a Coronation March by Patrick Doyle and a new commission for solo organ by Iain Farrington.

 We’ll hear soloists including Welsh opera singer Sir Bryn Terfel. Some of the service singing will be in Welsh. A gospel choir and Westminster choristers will perform. King Charles has also requested that Greek Orthodox music feature in the service, in tribute to his late father, The Duke of Edinburgh. 

Read more: Why Britain is an incredible destination for 2023

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What are the stages of the Coronation service?

The stages of the ceremony will be more similar to Queen Elizabeth’s Coronation.

The recognition

King Charles will stand beside the 700-year-old Coronation Chair as the Archbishop of Canterbury presents the monarch to the congregation. They will all say “God Save the King!” as trumpets ring out.

The oath

The King takes the Coronation oath, swearing to uphold the law and the Church of England.

The anointing

The King’s ceremonial robe is removed before he sits in the Coronation Chair. A gold cloth held over the chair will conceal the King from view. The Archbishop anoints the King’s hands, breast and head with consecrated oil. The full recipe of the oil is secret but includes olives, roses, jasmine, cinnamon, ambergris, and orange flowers. 

The investiture

The King is presented with the Royal Orb, the Sceptre, and the Sovereign’s Sceptre, representing religious and moral authority, power, and justice and mercy, respectively. The Archbishop then places the opulent St. Edward’s Crown on King Charles’ head.

The enthronement and homage

The King stands and leaves the Coronation Chair and moves to sit on the throne. The congregation kneel before the King to pay homage.

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Will Queen Consort Camilla be crowned alongside King Charles III?

In 2022, the late Queen Elizabeth II declared it was her “sincere wish” for the former Duchess of Cornwall to be crowned Queen Consort alongside King Charles’ accession to the throne. True to this wish, Queen Consort Camilla will be anointed and crowned in the same way after the King during the Coronation. She will be the first crowned Queen Consort since the Queen Mother in 1937.

Read more: Secret islands and snowy retreats: 5 hotspots loved by the British Royal family

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Which crowns will be worn during the Coronation of King Charles III?

We know the King will be crowned with the 17th-century St. Edward’s Crown, which is quite literally, the crown jewel of the royal jewellery collection. Historically used for the crowning moment in the Coronation, it was worn by the late Queen Elizabeth at her 1953 Coronation. St. Edwards Crown was made in 1661 for Charles II, replacing the medieval crown that was melted down in 1649. That original crown dates back to the 11th century, worn by Edward the Confessor, the royal saint and last Anglo-Saxon king of England.

Officials have removed St. Edwards Crown from the Tower of London for modifications before the Coronation. As it’s made from solid gold and is extremely heavy, it will only be placed briefly on the King’s head during the ceremony.

The King will also wear the Imperial State Crown during the service. This crown contains the controversial Cullinan II diamond or the Second Star of Africa. It was gifted to Edward VII by the Transvaal government, a former British colony in what is now South Africa. 

Queen Consort Camilla will be crowned with Queen Mary’s Crown. The crown has also been removed from the Tower of London for modifications. In tribute to the late Queen Elizabeth, the crown will be reset with the Cullinan III, IV and V diamonds. These diamonds were often worn by Her late Majesty as part of her personal jewellery collection for years.

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Who will go to the Coronation of King Charles III?

As the Coronation is a state occasion, the government manages the invitees. The Royal Family will attend, along with the prime minister, Houses of Parliament representatives, dignitaries, heads of state, and other royals from across the globe. Although 8,000 guests attended Queen Elizabeth II’s Coronation, Westminster Abbey’s usual capacity is 2,200 guests. 

Read more: The 10 Most Beautiful Villages and Small Towns in Britain and Ireland

How can I watch the Coronation of King Charles III?

The BBC will live broadcast the Coronation. Queen Elizabeth II’s Coronation was the first ceremony to be broadcast on TV, attracting around 27 million viewers in the UK. It’s expected the Coronation of King Charles III will surpass this with a worldwide audience of hundreds of millions. In another milestone, King Charles III’s Accession Council was broadcast for the first time in history. 

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Who pays for the Coronation?

As it’s a state occasion, the UK government will pay for the Coronation of King Charles III. While the government will come under pressure to be sensitive to the current inflation crisis, they will likely use the Coronation as an opportunity to present the UK at its regal best on the world stage.

Read more: The personal touch: our top 5 curated luxury travel experiences for 2023

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Will there be other events to celebrate the Coronation over the long weekend?

Coronation celebrations will continue throughout the long weekend. There will be a Coronation concert at Windsor Castle on Sunday 7 May, with global artists, dance troupes, A-list actors, the Coronation choir, and an orchestra. The “Lighting up the Nation” is the highlight event. You’ll see UK’s most famous landmarks illuminated with lasers, projections and drone displays. BBC One will also live broadcast this magical event. If you want to witness it in person, you’ll have the chance to win one of the thousands of free tickets in a public ballot.

Besides the concert, you can also find other community events like the Coronation Big Lunch on Sunday 7 May. Similar to the Big Jubilee Lunch in 2022, this event encourages neighbours and communities to get together for street parties full of food and fun. There’s also The Big Help Out on Monday 8 May, an event inviting people to volunteer in their local community. You can identify official Coronation events by the Coronation logo, created by former Apple designer Jonny Ive. The logo features a rose, daffodil, thistle and shamrock to represent nations across the UK. 

When your Italy travels take you to a famed gelateria in San Gimignano, know that you’re in for a treat. Much more than a joy for the taste buds, Sergio Dondoli’s gelato in San Gimignano is a haven of local flavors, top-quality ingredients and award-winning innovations. Patrons travel from around the world to visit the best gelateria in San Gimignano. Here’s why you should too. 

The shop 

While Gelateria Dondoli (or Gelateria di Piazza) is known worldwide as a gelato destination and certainly the best gelateria in Italy, the experience of visiting the shop is intimate and personal. You’ll find the gelateria tucked down a winding alleyway in Piazza della Cisterna in San Gimignano, one of Tuscany’s many piazzas.  Step inside – or join the line – and be prepared to be delighted by the creations by Master Gelato Maker Sergio Dondoli. 

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The man behind the gelato  

To understand Dondoli’s mastery, we must also understand the importance of homemade gelato in history. The first person to introduce gelato from Italy to France was Catherine de Medici, future wife of Henry II King of France, in the 16th century. Catherine had worked with alchemist Cosimo Ruggieri as part of a cooking contest to create this creamy dessert and the rest, as they say, is history. Today, Dondoli carries on the tradition as one of the 10 Master Gelato Makers in Italy.  

Dondoli is especially known for his experimental, original and unusual flavors. Some of the most notable include Crema di Santa Fina® (cream with saffron and pine nuts), Champelmo® (pink grapefruit and sparkling wine), Dolceamaro® (cream with aromatic herbs) and Vernaccia Sorbet. 

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Since he began making gelato in 1984, Dondoli has been recognized with numerous international awards. He won the prestigious MAM (Master of Art and Craft) award in 2016, the Italian equivalent of the “Living National Treasure” Japanese Prize, and the French “Maître d’Art” Award. Only 75 Artistic Masters were awarded this honor in Italy, and Sergio is the only Gelato Master to have received this important award. Dondoli also took part in “Identità Golose” (Tempting Identities), a gastronomic event in Milan between February 1-4, 2009, as a member of the “Creatività Gelate” (Frozen Creativities) group.  He also recently published a book, I, Sergio Dondoli, an autobiographical account of his passion that includes his recipes.   

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The gelato 

Not surprisingly, Dondoli makes his gelato using highly selected, top-quality ingredients, often local to the region. For example, his DOP Saffron has earned the protected designation of origin from San Gimignano and Vinsanto. Dondoli also uses “Tonda Gentile” Hazelnut from the Langhe region and Bronte Pistachio. Dondoli is the only gelato maker to use Amedei chocolate, awarded the Oscar in London as the best chocolate in the world for five years. He uses raw milk from cows adopted by Gelateria Dondoli at Camporbiano Farm, and local, organic fruit whenever possible. 

When you consider the appeal of gelato compared to ice cream, you can imagine why these flavors are so special. Gelato has more milk than cream and uses lower quantities of fat than ice cream. Because gelato has less air in the base, it is denser and packed with more flavor than ice cream.       

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We can’t wait to try… 

With so many tempting creations at this gelateria in San Gimignano, how do you choose? We have our eyes on some of the most innovative flavor combinations using aromatic herbs such as Rosemary Baby® (Raspberry and Rosemary) and Venere Nera® (Blackberries and Lavender). We can’t wait to sample the pairings of sweet, spicy and bitter, including Sangue di Bue® (spicy chocolate and sour cherries), Michelle® (saffron cantuccini, Avola almonds, honey and bitter orange peel), Biske Rata® (white chocolate, pumpkin seed oil, and cookies) and Crema de’ Pazzi® (bitter orange peel, Grand Marnier, dark chocolate and almonds). 

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The class 

After your visit to this gelateria in San Gimignano, you may want to dig your spoon deeper into the world of gelato. Should you have more time on your travels, you can take the Dondoli Gelato Class to learn more about and make gelato. You’ll have a quick lesson followed by trying your hand at making a Fiordilatte (raw milk) gelato and a seasonal fruit (persimmon, banana, strawberry, lemon or melon) gelato.  

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Just a taste 

Dondoli’s gelateria in San Gimignano is just a taste of the culinary riches of Italy’s Tuscany region. Read about seven ways you’ll celebrate Tuscan food with Luxury Gold and the essential guide to Italy for foodies. 

Still hungry? These 5 Michelin Star chefs are celebrating local culture through food. 

If you find yourself in beautiful Scotland, dinner at one of the Michelin-star restaurants in Edinburgh should be on your must-do list. After all, what better way to end a day of sightseeing, whisky tasting and castle touring than dinner at one of Edinburgh’s top fine dining experiences at a Michelin-star restaurant?   

21212  

We begin with Chef Paul Kitching’s 21212 restaurant. Set in a charming Georgian townhouse in Edinburgh’s Royal Terrace, this fine dining hotspot has been delighting diners with contemporary French fare since 2009. 21212 actually refers to the number of dishes per course. Within one of the stylishly decorated rooms – each with a dedicated lounge area – you’ll feast on innovative flavor combinations. In fact, the menus change weekly. At the time of writing, we’re tempted by smoked salmon with pineapple and almonds and a warming soup with potato, chives and garlic. 

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Aizle  

Meaning a “glowing hot ember or spark” in Scottish, Aizle is a warm gathering space in the heart of the city. Housed in the Garden Room at The Kimpton Charlotte Square, Aizle showcases an ever-evolving menu of house-made dishes. We’re already impressed by the website that showcases seasonal harvest items. “Autumn Harvest” included a bounty from figs, cherries and artichokes, Lanark blue cheese and North Sea crab. The six-course tasting menu heavily centers around what’s local and in season. And we’ve heard the aged kombucha shouldn’t be missed. 

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Condita 

Venture just outside of Edinburgh’s city center where the Old Town meets Southside on Sailsbury Place to a converted shop where you’ll find Michelin-starred Condita. Inside, an understated modern space of whitewashed walls decorated with banners over the windows, origami blackbirds perched on branches and a large skylight inviting the afternoon sun welcomes you. This intimate space seats just six tables where diners pour over a surprise five- or eight-course tasting menu of modern dishes. A hand-drawn bookmark calls out some of the key ingredients. But should you have any curiosities about the menu, amicable Chef Conor Toomey is happy to chat. Delight in the seasonal, mostly organic dishes impeccably presented, sometimes arriving on pebbles and wooden spoons. Much of the produce is sourced from a walled kitchen garden in Borders. Organic wines complement the meal and malt whiskies finish the occasion. 

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The Glenturret Lalique   

Self-described as “an exclusive jewel-box dining room,” the Glenturret Lalique restaurant offers an intimate dining experience within a glass-walled room overlooking distilleries and the River Turret. Michelin-star restaurants in Edinburgh all offer something unique, and this cozy spot’s six tables sit beneath two five-tier Lalique chandeliers. The cosmopolitan, multi-course tasting menu is a decadent experience.  Start with sea buckthorn, liver and cocoa. Feast on the main course including Highland Wagyu, barbeque eggplant and morel. Finish with crème fraîche sherbet, raspberry and woodruff. A vegetarian tasting menu is also available from Chef Mark Donald. Donald started at Noma in Copenhagen before returning to Scotland and later working at Number One restaurant, where he secured a Michelin star before joining Glenturret in 2021.  

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Martin Wishart 

In the port of Leith, Edinburgh, restaurant Martin Wishart has been impressing diners and critics since 1999. The seasonal menu harmonizes Scottish and French brasserie cuisine. In addition, the chef also prepares a six-course tasting menu each evening. You’ll even find a vegetarian, vegan and extensive seafood menu of locally sourced fish and shellfish. From a business lunch to an elegant evening out, the variety at Martin Wishart impresses a range of patrons. The staff are eager to provide wine pairings as well.  

At the heart of the experience is Martin Wishart himself, an Edinburgh-born chef who trained under such renowned chefs as Albert Roux, Michel Roux Jr, Marco Pierre White and John Burton-Race. Wishart has worked in the kitchen since he was 15 and employs classic French cooking techniques to his locally sourced meals. The restaurant has held a Michelin star since 2001 and has been voted The Sunday Times 5th best restaurant in the UK. 

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Number One 

Among Michelin-star restaurants in Edinburgh, Number One is one of the top-ranking restaurants in the city. Located in the basement of the Balmoral hotel, find a dining room elegantly decorated with red-lacquered walls lined with contemporary art of large triptych prints and upholstered banquettes. The romantic, luxury ambiance is the perfect setting to linger over the seven-course menu. Scottish dishes featuring seasonal produce with international flair are the result of Chef Mathew Sherry’s innovations and expertise. A sample menu may take you from canapes and caviar to Goosnargh duck to artisan cheese.  

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With so many options, enhance your time in the beautiful Scottish capital by dining in one of the many Michelin-star restaurants.

Still curious about Michelin dining? Learn what to expect when fining at a Michelin-starred restaurant. Or, explore the 10 most beautiful villages and small towns in Britain and Ireland.