# World leaders gather in London for King Charles’ coronation
Author:  Pal Sinha, Barnali 
Author URL: https://financedigest.com/author/pal-sinha-barnali
Published: 2023-05-05
Category: NEWS
Category URL: https://financedigest.com/category/news
Meta Title: World leaders gather in London for King Charles'
Meta Description: Join world leaders in London for the grand coronation of King Charles III at Westminster Abbey, a historic event filled with pomp and pageantry.
URL: https://financedigest.com/world-leaders-gather-in-london-for-king-charles-coronationhtml

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# World leaders gather in London for King Charles’ coronation

By Michael Holden

LONDON (Reuters) – King Charles will hold a reception on Friday for world leaders gathered in London for his coronation this weekend, the biggest ceremonial event to be staged in Britain for 70 years.

Charles, 74, and his wife Camilla will be crowned at London’s Westminster Abbey in a glittering but solemn religious ceremony with traditions dating back some 1,000 years, followed by a procession, resplendent with pomp and pageantry.

[Royal fans](https://www.financedigest.com/from-us-to-london-royal-super-fan-makes-once-in-a-lifetime-coronation-pilgrimage.html "From US to London, royal super fan makes ‘once-in-a-lifetime’ coronation pilgrimage") have been gathering on The Mall, the grand boulevard that leads to Buckingham Palace, and heads of state and global dignitaries have been arriving in the British capital ahead of Saturday’s event.

It’s an honor to represent the United States for this [historic moment](https://www.financedigest.com/ceo-blume-hails-historic-moment-as-porsche-ag-lists-on-frankfurt-exchange.html "CEO Blume hails ‘historic moment’ as Porsche AG lists on Frankfurt exchange") and celebrate the special relationship between our countries,” U.S. first [lady Jill Biden said on Twitter before leaving for Britain](https://www.financedigest.com/biden-tells-britains-king-charles-the-first-lady-will-attend-coronation.html "Biden tells Britain’s King Charles the first lady will attend coronation").

She will be among the world leaders attending the reception at [Buckingham Palace on Friday evening which the king](https://www.financedigest.com/king-charles-coronation-will-be-an-economic-boost-buckingham-palace-says.html "King Charles’ coronation will be an economic boost, Buckingham Palace says") and queen will host along with other senior members of the royal family.

Earlier, Charles will hold a meeting of leaders from the Commonwealth of Nations, the voluntary associations of 56 countries which he also heads, while he will also greet prime ministers and royal representatives from the 14 other realms where he is head of state, including [Australia and Canada](https://www.financedigest.com/brazil-to-resume-visa-requirements-for-us-japan-australia-canada-sources.html "Brazil to resume visa requirements for US, Japan, Australia, Canada -sources").

The leaders of Australia and New Zealand will pledge their allegiance to [King Charles at his coronation](https://www.financedigest.com/king-charles-greets-wellwishers-outside-palace-before-coronation.html "King Charles greets wellwishers outside palace before coronation") on Saturday even though both are life-long republicans who do not shy away from making their positions clear.

Across Britain, preparations are underway for the first coronation since 1953 when his mother [Queen Elizabeth](https://www.financedigest.com/queen-elizabeth-died-of-old-age-death-certificate-shows.html "Queen Elizabeth died of ‘old age’, death certificate shows") was crowned. The [king has even voiced announcements for the London](https://www.financedigest.com/canadian-pm-justin-trudeau-to-attend-king-charles-coronation-in-london.html "Canadian PM Justin Trudeau to attend King Charles’ coronation in London") underground network, reminding passengers to “mind the gap.

Charles automatically became [king after the queen’s death at 96 last September but the coronation](https://www.financedigest.com/what-to-expect-from-king-charles-coronation-on-may-6.html "What to expect from King Charles’ coronation on May 6"), although not essential, is regarded as a hugely symbolic moment which legitimises the monarch in a public way.

Set against the backdrop of a cost of living crisis, some public scepticism and in a modern era when questions are being posed about the [future of the institution](https://www.financedigest.com/use-case-centric-data-management-why-it-is-the-future-of-data-management-for-financial-institutions.html "Use Case centric data management – Why it is the future of data management for financial institutions"), its role and finances, Saturday’s event will be on a smaller scale than the previous one 70 years ago.

Nonetheless it will be a lavish occasion. The St Edward’s Crown, which weighs about 2.2 kg (4 lb 12 ounces) and dates back to 1661 and the reign of his namesake [King Charles](https://www.financedigest.com/a-great-treat-king-charles-heralds-weekend-of-coronation-celebrations.html "“A great treat”: King Charles heralds weekend of coronation celebrations") II, will be placed on his head during the ceremony.

## BEJEWELLED

Among the other historic, bejewelled items involved will be the golden Sovereign’s Sceptre with Cross which holds the 530 carat Cullinan 1 diamond, also known as the Star of [Africa and the world’s](https://www.financedigest.com/is-africa-being-left-behind-in-the-push-for-a-net-zero-world.html "Is Africa being left behind in the push for a net zero world?") largest colourless cut diamond.

After the ceremony, there will be a mile-long procession involving some 4,000 military personnel, with the newly-crowned [King Charles](https://www.financedigest.com/new-coins-banknotes-stamps-and-cypher-for-britains-king-charles.html "New coins, banknotes, stamps and cypher for Britain’s King Charles") III and Queen Camilla returning to Buckingham Palace in the four-tonne Gold State Coach, pulled by eight horses.

Thousands are expected to line the route and [millions more will watch on giant screens erected at 30 locations around Britain](https://www.financedigest.com/britain-sets-up-125-million-taskforce-to-drive-ai.html "Britain sets up 5 million taskforce to drive AI") or at home, with the event set to be broadcast live around the world.

[Retailers are hoping for a boost from the three-days of celebrations and street](https://www.financedigest.com/high-street-crisis-why-retailers-need-to-focus-on-in-store-ux.html "High Street Crisis: Why Retailers Need to Focus on In-Store UX") parties with the public enjoying an extra holiday on Monday. Buckingham Palace said it expected it would provide an economic lift for [Britain’s struggling](https://www.financedigest.com/britain-says-eu-will-struggle-to-shift-euro-clearing-from-london.html "Britain says EU will struggle to shift euro clearing from London") economy.

Supermarket Lidl said it had sold enough bunting to line the procession route 75 times over, and Tesco said it expected to [sell enough bunting to stretch from Land’s End in southwest England to the tip](https://www.financedigest.com/selling-advice-five-expert-tips-on-how-to-avoid-gazundering-when-selling-your-home-to-save-you-money.html "Selling advice: Five expert tips on how to avoid gazundering when selling your home to save you money") of Scotland. Sainsbury’s said its sales of sparkling wines were up 128% year-on-year.

But polls suggest far from everyone will be celebrating with a majority of the public generally apathetic about the event, and critics have questioned the cost at a time when many people are struggling to [pay bills](https://www.financedigest.com/bny-mellons-new-solution-leads-the-digital-bill-pay-revolution.html "BNY Mellon’s New Solution Leads the Digital Bill-Pay Revolution").

“They just take everything from me. They never do a [day’s work,”](https://www.financedigest.com/no-more-five-working-days-how-getting-paid-immediately-can-transform-black-friday-for-merchants.html "No more ‘five working days’ – how getting paid immediately can transform Black Friday for merchants") said Philip Nash, 68, as he swept the streets in Whitechapel, a more run down area of east London.

(Additional reporting by James Davey; Editing by Janet Lawrence)


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