King Charles III, Coronation 6 May 2023

This weekend, on Saturday 6 May, is the Coronation of King Charles III. It is now eight months since Charles became King, on the 8 September 2022, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II died, and His Royal Highness was officially proclaimed King by the Accession Council on September 10. After Saturday’s Ceremonial Coronation Crowning Ceremony of King Charles III, His Majesty will be fully crowned as King.

Norfolk Island has strong links with the Royal family from Queen Victoria and the Royal visit in 1974. This weekend on Sunday 7^th May the Council of Elders have invited the community to gather at Queen Victoria Gardens at 10.30am to celebrate the Coronation of King Charles III. There will be a tree planted in the beautiful gardens to commemorate the Coronation of King Charles III Coronation during the gathering. I am sure many members of our community will be following the Royal news about our new King.

The Coronation Ceremony will take place at Westminster Abbey, London, and will be conducted by the Archbishop of Canterbury. The Ceremony will see His Majesty King Charles III crowned alongside The Queen Consort Camilla. The Coronation will reflect the monarch’s role today and look towards the future, while being rooted in longstanding traditions and pageantry.

The Stone of Destiny ancient and controversial block of stone has made the journey from Edinburgh Castle to London for the Coronation of King Charles III. The stone will be used for King Charles III's Coronation, as per tradition. The King will sit upon the stone, within the Royal Throne, during the Coronation.

What is the Stone of Destiny?

The Stone of Destiny, or the Stone of Scone, is an oblong block of sandstone a mere 66 centimetres high. A cross is carved into one surface, and iron rings at each end help with transport. Its earliest origins are unknown, but it has a rich history spanning at least 1,200 years. It was first used to crown a Scottish king in 840 AD, when Kenneth McAlpin used it in his Coronation in the village of Scone. Since then, about 60 kings and queens have sat upon it during their Coronations.

It is the world's oldest artefact still used to make monarchs and represents the ancient roots of the kingdom of Scotland. For centuries, it was associated with the crowning of Scottish kings, including Macbeth, later immortalised by William Shakespeare.

But that changed in 1296, when Edward I, the "Hammer of the Scots", seized it from Scone Abbey during a war north of the border and had it taken back to England. He had the stone built into a special throne called the Coronation Chair. It was a blunt message to the Scots, depriving them of the stone which had been used to crown generations of their monarchs. From now, on English kings and queens would sit on the stone and claim the right to rule Scotland as well.

Where is the stone usually kept?

The Stone of Destiny is typically displayed within the Crown Room in Edinburgh Castle. But it has travelled far since it was first brought to Scone. Edward I had the stone installed in Westminster Abbey in London, where it stayed for nearly 700 years, until Christmas Day, 1950. That was when four Scottish students "liberated" the stone from the abbey. A piece of the stone broke off as they began to drag it, and they picked it up and ran with it as if it was a rugby ball. The

group temporarily buried the blocks before driving them to Scotland where they were given to the Scottish Covenant Association and put back together. After a few months, the association decided the stone should be taken back to London.

In 1996, the stone was officially returned to Scotland amid much pomp and ceremony at Edinburgh Castle. It was last used in 1953, after it was brought back from Arbroath, for the Coronation of his mother Queen Elizabeth II.

In November 2020, Scotland's then-first minister Nicola Sturgeon announced plans to relocate the stone to a new permanent home in Perth, central Scotland. The Stone of Destiny is only to leave Scotland for a Coronation in Westminster Abbey.

It is 70 years since His Majesty’s mother, Queen Elizabeth II Coronation, on 2 June 1953. This weekend will be the first Coronation of a Monarch in my lifetime. I have read that 8000 attended Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II Coronation, and there are 2000 invited guests to His Majesty King Charles III Coronation this weekend. The media and television coverage will be viewed worldwide this weekend. Australian broadcasting will have coverage on ABC and on Channel 7, plus the news reports and social media will have highlights of King Charles III Coronation ceremony and parade.

Australia viewers can tune in and watch the events for free. Remember to adjust the broadcasting times from Australia to Norfolk Island time zone. There are a number of different ways to view or stream the events of this weekend for Australian audiences.

How to watch King Charles' coronation | SBS News

How can I watch the Coronation in Australia?

The ABC and ABC News will broadcast the Coronation from 5pm on Saturday 6 May.
The public broadcaster's schedule is as follows:

5pm — Preview coverage

6pm - 7.30pm — Arrivals

7.30pm — The King's procession

8pm — Coronation service

10pm — Procession from Westminster Abbey

10.30pm — Buckingham Palace Balcony

King Charles III Coronation: Where to watch in Australia | WHO Magazine

Coronation coverage on Channel 7 and 7plus

Sydney & Brisbane

6.00am: Weekend Sunrise

4.00pm: 7NEWS Special: Coronation of King Charles III

6.00pm: 7NEWS

7.00pm: 7NEWS Special: Coronation of King Charles III

How to watch King Charles III's Coronation on Channel 9

New South Wales and Queensland:

5pm: Channel 9 and 9Now, then 7pm on 9Gem and 9Now.

I myself have found it interesting learning about the traditions and ceremonies that continue into the 21^st Century. A few interesting facts, King Charles III, aged 73 years, is the eldest to become a Monarch in the history of the British Royalty. Becoming Prince of Wales in his younger years, the life as a Royal has always been in the public eye and the media always waiting to capture photos especially during the early years during the marriage and divorce with Princes Dianna Spenser.

It is almost 400 years since there was a King Charles, the first was Charles I who became King in 1625 and he was executed in 1649, due to religion politics. In later years his son Charles II became King and was known as a popular King of England, Scotland, and Ireland.

Here are a few images of King Charles III which have been published on social media and on the internet. There is a lovely image of King Charles III and Queen Consort Camilla, both dressed in blue, this photograph is by Hugo Barnard. I am sure there will be many new images after the King’s Coronation Ceremony and parades.

Long Live The King

Betty Matthews

May 2023