King Charles III’s 2023 coronation will cost British taxpayers more than $90 million, but will still fall far short of previous coronations.
King Charles III at his coronation at Westminster Abbey, London, May 2023. Photo: UK Press
The coronation of the new British King Charles III on May 6, 2023, was televised to millions of viewers around the world and drew thousands of Britons to the streets to watch. According to the annual report released by the British government on November 21, about 100 world leaders and celebrities attended this important event at Westminster Abbey, London. The cost of the ceremony was listed at $63.3 million. In addition, $27.3 million was spent on security measures and patrols.
According to the British government, this is “a once-in-a-lifetime moment, an opportunity for the whole nation to celebrate, and a unique opportunity to celebrate and strengthen our national identity and showcase the UK to the world”.
The King and Queen’s gilded carriage during the coronation ceremony. Photo: UK Press
The coronation of King Charles III was Britain’s biggest ceremonial event in seven decades. But it paled in comparison to the coronations of his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, in 1953 and those of his predecessors – which reportedly cost hundreds of millions of pounds.
In addition, the cost of Queen Elizabeth II ‘s funeral in September 2022 and related activities is also much higher, estimated at 203.9 million USD.
Parade through the streets of London ahead of the coronation of King Charles III. Photo: UK Press
The cost of the coronation has been slashed, signaling a modernisation of the royal family at a time when people are struggling with inflation and high living costs. Buckingham Palace also said the ceremony would provide an economic boost across Britain.
However, some critics have called the cost of Charles III ‘s coronation “absurd”. “It’s an unnecessary extravagance. It’s a waste of money in the midst of a cost of living crisis in a country facing child poverty. When children can’t afford to eat school lunches, spending over $90m on this parade is absurd,” Graham Smith, chief executive of Republic, an organisation that advocates the abolition of the monarchy, told the Guardian .