The holiday will be observed on Monday, May 8, two days after the ceremony at Westminster Abbey.
The British government announced on Sunday that a public holiday would be held in Britain to mark the coronation of King Charles III in May, eight months after the death of Queen Elizabeth II. The holiday will be observed on Monday, May 8, two days after the ceremony at Westminster Abbey, Downing Street said in a statement.
“The coronation of a new monarch is a unique moment for our country“, said Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, quoted in the press release, saying that he hoped that the people”pay tribute to King Charles III by participating in local and national events across the country“.
A public holiday had already been held for the coronation of Elizabeth II on 2 June 1953, as well as for her funeral on 19 September. Buckingham Palace had announced a ceremony “forward-looking, while rooted in the long tradition and pomp of the monarchy“.
also readThe death of Elizabeth II: why the French are fascinated by the British monarchy
According to the British press, the coronation will be shorter and cheaper than his mother’s, in accordance with Charles III’s wish for a stricter monarchy and in a context of economic crisis. The latter had lasted more than three hours in front of 8,251 guests gathered in the monastery.
.