Inspire Me

The Coronation of His Majesty King Charles III

English Heritage wishes King Charles III a long, happy and glorious reign.

On Saturday 6 May 2023, we joined millions of people around the globe to mark the historic coronation of Their Majesties King Charles III and Queen Camilla, in a ceremony rooted in England’s traditions.

 

King Charles and Queen Consort Camilla standing on Tintagel Bridge

ENGLAND’S NEW KING

THE HISTORIC CORONATION OF CHARLES III

Our history is measured out and recorded in terms of the reigns of sovereigns; for instance, the Elizabethan, Carolean, Georgian and Victorian ages. The accession of King Charles III heralds a new historical chapter which will help to define our age for the future – the Caroline or Carolean age, with these words deriving from the name ‘Charles’ as our current reigning monarch. This isn’t the first time a Charles has ruled England, however.

Find out more about the lives and legacies of Charles I and Charles II who reigned before.

A BRIEF HISTORY OF ENGLAND'S THREE KING CHARLES

OUR CORONATION PLEDGE: 100 meadows, 100 sites

To celebrate the coronation of His Majesty King Charles III, over the next decade we're pledging to enhance and create one hundred meadows at our sites – establishing flower-rich grasslands right across England, restoring those that have been lost, and enhancing those that already exist.

The initiative combines two of His Majesty’s passions – nature and heritage – while aligning with our recently published Nature Strategy, which details how we plan to respond to the ecological crisis. 

 

Explore the King's meadows

THE FIRST DUKE OF WELLINGTON’S CORONATION ROBES

To mark the coronation of King Charles III, the 1st Duke of Wellington's coronation robes are on display at Apsley House until October 2023.

Visit Apsley House

ROYAL CONNECTIONS

KINGS OF OUR CASTLES

From Battley Abbey to Bolsover Castle, our sites have strong associations with the kings of England's history, revealing tales of conflict, defeat and betrayal.

Read our article to discover the English kings that hold links to the castles in our care.

Discover the kings of our castles

Kids Rule! Learn about the coronation

Explore our guide to kings and queens, where you can learn about England’s history, test your knowledge, craft your own coat of arms and more. 

From our channel: Royal History

Featuring animated history and interviews with people of the past (and present), head to our YouTube channel to discover England's story.

  • Do You Know Your Kings and Queens?

    Celebrating the coronation and the launch of our updated ‘Ruler of Rulers’, we quizzed the British public, and Olympic champion Greg Rutherford, on royal history.

  • History in a Nutshell: Who was the first real king of England?

    Head back to a time of Saxon kingdoms and Viking invasions to discover the battle for the English throne before William the Conqueror got anywhere near Hastings.

  • What Was Life Like? Meet King Henry VIII

    Meet Henry at his childhood home Eltham Palace and learn the story behind his six wives and find out what’s involved in medieval archery.

In Focus

Exploring historic coronations at Brodsworth Hall and Gardens

Join curator, Eleanor Matthews and some very special objects as she shares the local history of the Brodsworth estate, revealing how staff, farmers and villagers celebrated the coronations of both George V, George VI and Elizabeth II.

To learn about a specifc object from the coronation collection, you can also watch the individual object videos below. 

  • Mechanical Pencil

    Uncover the intricate mechanical pencil given to local Brodsworth school children to commemorate the Silver Jubilee of King George V.

  • Silver Spoons

    These silver spoons, commemorating the coronation of King George VI in 1937 reveal a surprising family connection. 

  • Hampole Coronation Booklet

    This fascinating document offers a unique insight into the celebrations held for the coronation of King George VI. 

  • Coronation Fund Balance Sheet

    This rare document shows Brodsworth villagers kept detailed accounts as they prepared to celebrate the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II in 1953.

The History of the Coronation

More to Explore

  • MAY HALF TERM

    Continue the celebrations with a visit to one of our sites this half term as we host a royal knees-up at our Kids Rule events, featuring hands-on activities and fresh-air family fun.

  • TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE

    Whether it's just for fun or you fancy something a little more difficult, learn about England's story with our quizzes. 

  • Join English Heritage

    Enjoy unlimited access to hundreds of historic places with an annual membership starting from just £57 a year.

  • SHOP CORONATION RANGE

    Shop our coronation range, offering the perfect memento to remember the historic crowning of King Charles III.