The government has announced an additional bank holiday to mark the coronation of King Charles III next year.
Downing Street said the UK-wide holiday will fall on Monday 8 May after the coronation at Westminster Abbey two days earlier. Rishi Sunak said the day would be an opportunity for families and communities across the country to come together to celebrate.
The announcement follows calls from Tory MPs for the government to either move the early May bank holiday from 1 May to coincide with the coronation weekend or to declare an extra day off. Sunak said: “The coronation of a new monarch is a unique moment for our country. In recognition of this historic occasion, I am pleased to announce an additional bank holiday for the whole United Kingdom next year.
Charles will be anointed with holy oil, receive the orb, coronation ring and sceptre, then be crowned with the St Edward’s crown and blessed during the ceremony, which will be conducted by the archbishop of Canterbury. The Queen Consort will also be anointed with holy oil and crowned, as was the Queen Mother when she was crowned Queen in 1937.
There have been reports that Charles wants a pared-back ceremony of just one hour. Queen Elizabeth II’s coronation service in 1953 lasted more than three hours.
