Coronation gifts: Mumbai’s dabbawalas to send panchaloha crown to King Charles III
After gifting a white cotton shawl and traditional Puneri Pagadi headgear, Mumbai’s dabbawalas will send one more present – a panchaloha crown – to King Charles III in the wake of his grand coronation ceremony in London on May 6, Saturday.
“The King will have a crown and so we are sending this crown, made of five metals, as a token of our love and respect for Prince Charles, who recognised our hard work and met us and appreciated us,” Subhash Talekar one of the active members of the Mumbai Dabbawala Association. 👑 What are the Crowns of the coronation?
King Charles coronation: 3 crowns, 2 carriages and a shorter route
King Charles III plans to take a short cut and smoother ride to Westminster Abbey for his coronation, trimming the procession route his mother took in 1953 as he aims for a more modest event that will include some modern touches, Buckingham Palace said Sunday.
The lower-key ceremony May 6 will still be steeped in ancient traditions and adorned with royal regalia from the Crown Jewels, but will also feature its own bespoke emoji, reflecting the first British crowning of the social media era. Queen Elizabeth II’s was the first coronation televised 70 years ago.
Almost 70 years ago — on June 2, 1953 — it was former prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru who represented India, when the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II took place.
Nehru not only attended the festivities but also marked the occasion with his first televised interview, conducted with the UK’s national broadcaster, the BBC.
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Nehru courted criticism at home for his decision to attend the coronation soon after India had freed itself from British rule.
Here's our research article on the time when Nehru was criticised for attending Queen Elizabeth's coronation ceremony.
Premier League clubs Saturday planned to mark the coronation of King Charles III by playing the national anthem before the start of their games, AP reported.
According to the news agency, the morning saw Chelsea women's team striker Sam Kerr leading the Australian delegation in formal procession into Westminster Abbey. Kerr was her country's flag-bearer as part of a group with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.
Tottenham, moreover, screened the live coverage of coronation on a big screen outside Tottenham Hotspur Stadium for fans with tickets to its home game against Crystal Palace.
On Friday, Liverpool had confirmed that it would also play the national anthem but acknowledged that “some supporters have strong views on it.” It said the league had contacted clubs playing home games and “strongly suggested” they note the historic occasion. Liverpool supporters booed the national anthem — which was formerly “God Save the Queen” — when it was played ahead of the FA Cup final a year ago and the Community Shield in July because of what is perceived to be a long-held opposition toward the establishment, AP reported.
There were five Premier League games scheduled Saturday. Kerr, Australia's all-time top scorer, said Friday that it's “an amazing honor” to be part of the delegation. (AP)
King Charles III Saturday appeared on the balcony of Buckingham Palace with his wife Queen Camilla, but Prince Harry, the King's younger son, was absent, according to news agency Reuters.
Harry attended the Westminster Abbey ceremony earlier today, however, his wife Meghan and two children remained in the United States, the report said.
Commentators, according to Reuters, said that if Harry had appeared with his family on the balcony, it would have been a sign that the two sides were reconciling after a rift.
King Charles and Queen Camilla appeared for a second time on the balcony to cheers from the crowd of tens of thousands of people who had packed into the Mall, the grand boulevard which leads up to Buckingham Palace.
Britain’s Ministry of Defense Saturday said that a highly-anticipated military fly-past over Buckingham Palace to mark King Charles III’s coronation had been scaled down because of rains, news agency AP reported.
According to the report, the original plan included more than 60 aircraft from the Royal Navy, British Army and Royal Air Force staging a colorful display in the air, after King Charles, Queen Camilla and other key members of the royal family appear on the palace balcony to greet well-wishers.
The fly-past will now be formed of the Red Arrows, the Royal Air Force’s aerobatic team, and helicopters. The display will last for two minutes and 30 seconds. (AP)
King Charles III and Queen Camilla Saturday took holy communion as the lavish coronation ceremony at Westminster Abbey approached its end, news agency AP reported.
The Archbishop of Canterbury led the congregation in reciting the Lord’s Prayer, and the choir sang as the royal couple were presented with bread and wine, the report highlights. (AP)
From traditional robes to statement headpieces, royals and guests wore an array of colourful outfits for the coronation of Britain’s King Charles III on Saturday, filling London’s Westminster Abbey with a mix of hues and designs.
The monarch arrived at the Abbey in the crimson velvet Robe of State, worn by his grandfather King George VI at his 1937 coronation, a crimson coronation tunic and cream silk overshirt with royal naval trousers.
Camilla wore the Robe of State originally made for the late Queen Elizabeth at her 1953 coronation over an ivory gown embellished with silver and gold floral embroidery and designed by British couturier Bruce Oldfield.
Read the full story here.
Charles III Saturday was crowned as the King of United Kingdom at Westminster Abbey following his anointment, in a ceremony built on ancient traditions, according to news agency AP.
The Archbishop of Canterbury crowned the King, placing the 360-year-old St Edward’s Crown on the monarch’s head as he sat upon a 14th century throne, news agency Reuters reported.
King Charles III, after arriving at Westminster Abbey along with Queen Camilla, began the preparations for his anointment — the most sacred and intimate part of the coronation rituals, AP reported.
Charles and Queen Camilla removed their crimson Robes of State, while the former was dressed in a white linen tunic and the “Supertunica,” a full-length gold coat — garments that symbolize both humility and splendor, meant to reflect the two natures of Jesus Christ, according to news agency AP.
He sat in the ancient oak Coronation Chair, which has been part of every coronation since 1308. Charles wore the Coronation Glove and held the Scepter with Cross, a symbol of earthly power, in his right hand, while in his left hand, he held the Scepter with Dove, representing spiritual authority and mercy, according to the report. (AP)
After gifting a white cotton shawl and traditional Puneri Pagadi headgear, Mumbai’s dabbawalas will send one more present – a panchaloha crown – to King Charles III in the wake of his grand coronation ceremony in London on May 6, Saturday.
The famous Mumbai’s dabbawalas, known for flawlessly supplying lunchboxes from homes to workplaces, have had a strong bond with the British monarch.
In 2003, Charles, who was then the Prince of Wales, during his visit to India had met the dabbawalas... Know more about the connection of dabbawalas to the British monarch here.
Britain’s Prime Minister Rishi Sunak Saturday delivered a reading from the Epistle to the Colossians, from the New Testament of the Bible, minutes after the King Charles III coronation service began, according to news agency AP.
Officials said that although Sunak is a Hindu, he is reading as prime minister so there is no issue over his personal faith during the Anglican service, AP reported. (AP)
China's President Xi Jinping Saturday sent a congratulatory message to King Charles III, and Queen Camilla of the United Kingdom on their coronation, according to a report by Chinese state media.
Jinping said that China is willing to expand cooperation and cultural exchanges with the UK and that the two countries should jointly promote peace and cooperation, news agency Reuters reported. (Reuters)
King Charles III Saturday took the solemn oath to govern the people of the United Kingdom with “justice and mercy” and to foster an environment where people of all faiths and beliefs can live freely, news agency AP reported.
According to the report, the oath is the second of five elements of the historic coronation rite rooted in more than 1,000 years of tradition. Charles later kissed the holy book. (AP)
As part of a sustainability theme that King Charles III is trying to strike for his historic Coronation at Westminster Abbey on Saturday, he will be recycling a chair used by his grandfather George VI when he was crowned King 86 years ago, PTI reported.
In addition to St. Edward’s Chair or Coronation Chair used for the moment of crowning, the King and Queen Camilla will be seated in Chairs of Estate and Throne Chairs at different points during the religious service, the reports said.
By royal tradition, ceremonial chairs and thrones are used for the different stages of the Coronation Service at the Abbey. Read more about the ceremonial chair here.
King Charles III and Camilla, the queen consort, Saturday arrived at Westminster Abbey for the Coronation ceremony, according to news agency Reuters. A few minutes ago, they had left the Buckingham Palace, according to news agency PTI.
The royal couple travelled at a stately pace in the Diamond Jubilee State Coach bearing a gilded crown, which was commissioned for Queen Elizabeth II in 2012, the report said.
The procession is set to begin soon as King Charles gears up to be officially crowned as the new monarch in Britain’s biggest ceremonial event in seven decades.
Prince Harry Saturday arrived at Westminster Abbey for the coronation of his father King Charles III. He joined his cousins, aunts and uncles before the more senior members of the royal family entered.
Hours before the coronation, the police Saturday arrested the leader of the anti-monarchy group Republic, and a number of other protesters who had gathered lining the procession route in central London, according to news agency AP.
Earlier, the group had said that it would mount the biggest protest against a British monarch in modern history. However, London police chief had warned that police would take action if protesters tried to "obstruct the enjoyment and celebration" of people, according to the report.
The protesters have demanded an elected head of state, highlighting that the "royal family has no place in a modern constitutional democracy and is staggeringly expensive to maintain," AP reported.
The protesters also held up signs saying "privatise them" and "abolish the monarchy, not the right to protest", and "Not My King". (AP)
King Charles and Queen Camilla Saturday left Buckingham Palace in the Diamond Jubilee State Coach, making their way to Westminster Abbey for the coronation, news agency Reuters reported.
According to the report, people had lined the side of the grand boulevard that sweeps down from the palace to watch the royal procession. (Reuters)
King Charles III, formerly known as The Prince of Wales, became King on the death of his mother Queen Elizabeth II on 8 September 2022.
In addition to his official and ceremonial duties in the United Kingdom and overseas as The Prince of Wales, His Majesty has taken a keen and active interest in all areas of public life for decades. The King has been instrumental in establishing more than 20 charities over 40 years, including The Prince's Trust, The Prince's Foundation and The Prince of Wales’s Charitable Fund (PWCF).
His Majesty has worked closely with many organisations, publicly supporting a wide variety of causes relating to the environment, rural communities, the built environment, the arts, healthcare and education. (Royal.uk)
A number of Indians have been invited to witness the coronation of King Charles III and Camilla, the Queen Consort, at Westminster Abbey in London on May 6. The diverse group includes charity champions, dabbawalas, religious leaders, celebrities, and community figures. Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar and his wife are already in London to grace the historic occasion. Read More
Camilla, King Charles III's wife, will officially become 'Queen' from 'Queen Consort' on Saturday during a historic Coronation ceremony.
Charles, 74, will be crowned the King of the United Kingdom at Westminster Abbey in London on Saturday in a solemn religious ceremony that dates back almost a thousand years.
Westminster Abbey has been the site of every British Coronation since that of William The Conqueror in 1066 and King Charles III and his wife, Queen Camilla, will follow in the footsteps of this grand tradition in a service themed “Called to Serve”.
Buckingham Palace tweeted late on the eve of the coronation, using “Queen Camilla” for the first time on the monarchy's official account. (PTI)
From bottles of gin and tins of biscuits to street and garden parties; and from pork pies and quiches to souvenirs and memorabilia — the UK is ready to celebrate King Charles III’s coronation.
A landmark affair, Charles’ coronation will be attended by several world leaders, diplomats, humanitarians, and members of the Royal family. Vice President Jagdeep Dhankar will represent India at the ceremonial event.
Almost 70 years ago — on June 2, 1953 — it was former prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru who represented India, when the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II took place. Nehru not only attended the festivities but also marked the occasion with his first televised interview, conducted with the UK’s national broadcaster, the BBC. Speaking about the event, Nehru, much impressed by the “spectacle”, praised the “orderly London crowds and the way they behaved.” Read More
The Duke of Sussex and the Duke of York will not have any formal role at the coronation of King Charles on Saturday, Buckingham Palace has confirmed.
Harry and Andrew, who are no longer working royals, will attend the service but will not perform any duties, The Independent newspaper reported.
The two non-working members of the British Royal family will also be absent from the procession behind the Gold State Coach carrying the newly crowned King and Queen from Westminster Abbey back to Buckingham Palace after the ceremony.
All eyes will be on Harry as he faces his relatives in public for the first time since he criticised Charles, Camilla, and the Prince and Princess of Wales in his tell-all memoir "Spare".
The Duchess of Sussex, Meghan Markle, will remain at home in California with their children, Archie and Lili, celebrating Archie's fourth birthday which falls on the coronation day. (PTI)
Elaborate floral decoration arrangements have been made for King Charles coronation ceremony. Flowers from the Farm, the nonprofit organization will supply the botanical décor that will decorate Westminster Abbey on Saturday that will also pay tribute to King Charles late parents Queen Elizabeth and King Phillips.
“Boughs cut from flowering shrubs and trees from the five Royal Horticultural Society gardens across the British Isles will adorn the High Altar, including branches from the pair of Dawyck beech trees planted by Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, The Duke of Edinburgh at RHS Wisley in 1978,” the press release stated. Read More
As the nation prepares for King Charles III’s coronation Saturday, in an elaborate ceremony billed as an effort to bring modern flourishes to an ancient ritual, it is worth asking the question:
Why, when nobody voted for the monarchy and half the population under the age of 50 doesn’t think it should exist, does Britain still have one?
“One of the reasons that the monarchy persists is that we don’t often have serious conversations about why we have a monarchy,” said Alastair Bellany, a historian at Rutgers University specializing in 16th- and 17th-century Britain. “I think we should. I think a serious country has to look in the mirror. It’s a lazy assumption that the monarchy is our message to Britain and the world that this is who we are.”
Let's discuss this, shall we?
Amid the celebration of King Charles's coronation, the British Police detained the leader of the Anti-Monarchist Republic Group, news agency Reuters reported.
Hours before King Charles III’s coronation ceremony kicks off, Vice President of India Jagdeep Dhankhar met the king during a reception hosted by the monarch for world leaders and visiting dignitaries at Buckingham Palace on Saturday.
In a packed day of royal engagements, the Vice President interacted with Dr. Jill Biden, the First Lady of the United States of America; H.E. Akshata Murty, wife of the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom; H.E. Isaac Herzog, President of Israel; and Brazil’s President H.E. Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.
Vice President Dhankhar and his wife will represent India at the Coronation of King Charles and Queen Camilla at Westminster Abbey. Read More
After gifting a white cotton shawl and traditional Puneri Pagadi headgear, Mumbai’s dabbawalas will send one more present – a panchaloha crown – to King Charles III in the wake of his grand coronation ceremony in London on May 6, Saturday.
“The King will have a crown and so we are sending this crown, made of five metals, as a token of our love and respect for Prince Charles, who recognised our hard work and met us and appreciated us,” Subhash Talekar one of the active members of the Mumbai Dabbawala Association. Read More
1. THE CORONATION CHAIR AND STONE OF SCONE
King Charles III will sit atop more than 1,500 years of Irish, Scottish and English history when he is crowned Saturday at Westminster Abbey. The crown will be placed on Charles' head as he sits in the Coronation Chair suspended over the Stone of Scone (pronounced “scoon”) — the sacred slab of sandstone on which Scottish kings were crowned. The chair has been part of every coronation since 1308.
2. CORONATION SPOON
The gold-plated silver Coronation Spoon is the only piece of the coronation regalia that survived the English Civil War. The spoon is central to the most sacred part of the coronation ceremony, when the Archbishop of Canterbury will pour holy oil from an eagle-shaped ampulla, or flask, into the spoon and then rub it on the king's hands, breast and head.
3. THE CULLINAN DIAMOND
Two stones cut from the Cullinan Diamond — the largest rough diamond ever found — will feature prominently in the coronation, fueling controversy the royal family would rather avoid. For many in South Africa, where the original stone was found in 1905, the gems are a symbol of colonial oppression under British rule and they should be returned.
4. ST. EDWARD'S CROWN
The crowning moment of the coronation ceremony will occur, literally, when the Archbishop of Canterbury places St. Edward's Crown on Charles' head. Because of its significance as the centerpiece of the coronation, this will be the only time during his reign that the monarch will wear the solid gold crown, which features a purple velvet cap, ermine band and criss-crossed arches topped by a cross.
5. THE GOLD STATE COACH
King Charles III and Queen Camilla will travel back to Buckingham Palace from Westminster Abbey in the Gold State Coach, a 261-year-old relic that is renowned as much for its uncomfortable ride as its lavish decoration. The coach was built in 1762 under the reign of King George III and it has been used in every coronation since 1831.
King Charles III becomes the 40th British monarch to be crowned at Westminster Abbey in London on Saturday, surrounded by heavy symbolism of his many passions, including a drive towards more sustainable living, a multi-faith outlook and a great love for India and the wider Commonwealth.
While he ascended to the throne immediately after the death of his mother Queen Elizabeth II last September, the 74-year-old will be formally crowned King when the Archbishop of Canterbury concludes the religious ceremony by inviting the 2,200-strong congregation and millions watching worldwide to swear allegiance to the new British Sovereign.
At the end of the service, he will receive a spoken greeting delivered in unison by representatives from Hindu, Sikh, Muslim, Buddhist and Jewish communities. (PTI)
King Charles III and Camilla, the queen consort, will be crowned at Westminster Abbey today, May 6, in a religious ceremony led by the Archbishop of Canterbury. The coronation is expected to be a grand affair. As such, artists from across the world are dedicating interesting works to King Charles III. We spotted a portrait of His Majesty made on toasts using Marmite, a British savoury spread that has a salty and strong taste. Now, that’s literally raising a toast to the new monarch!
The artist, Nathan Wyburn took to Twitter to share a few pictures and a video of the artwork, and wrote “To celebrate the King’s Coronation, I am working with @Marmite to raise a ‘TOAST’ to the King!” Read More
A woman fashion designer from a village in West Bengal's Hooghly district has designed a dress for British Queen Camilla and a brooch for King Charles III and received a letter from the Royal family thanking her and inviting her to attend the coronation ceremony on Saturday.
Priyanka Mallick, the 29-year-old fashion designer, hopes that the king and the queen will wear the brooch and the dress respectively during the coronation to be held at Westminster Abbey in London.
“It was an incredible feeling when I came to know that the queen and the king appreciated my designs of the dress and brooch. When I received the letter of appreciation, I was thrilled. One email or letter from Buckingham Palace means a lot more to me,” Mallick told PTI.
No matter how you feel about King Charles III and Queen Camilla’s recently revealed signature quiche, it seems unlikely to eclipse the most famous coronation dish of all — coronation chicken.
Created for the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II in 1953, the posh, delicately flavored chicken has, like Britain itself, changed a bit since. What was originally an aristocratic paragon of classic French technique has been democratized into a weeknight-easy chicken salad. Though enormously popular in Britain as a sandwich filling and baked-potato topper, this ocher-tinted, raisin-studded dish would be unrecognizable to any of the 350 dignitaries who partook of its regal ancestor. Read More
About 300 years ago, on August 1, 1714, England’s Queen Anne died. As a result, the German Elector George Louis of Hanover was proclaimed king of Great Britain in absentia. He was the only possible heir to the throne, and the first German to ascend an English throne.
Manners, please
At the beginning, his British subjects were not amused. The German king did not set foot on English soil until two months after his proclamation and was crowned King George I on October 20, 1714. Read More
With Britain’s King Charles III set to have his coronation ceremony, preparations are afoot for a day associated with specific objects and traditions as part of the world’s few remaining monarchies.
One of the objects which will be seen here, with a history stretching as far back as nearly a thousand years, is the Stone of Scone. It was recently moved from Scotland’s Edinburgh Castle to London in preparation for the coronation.
The 150kg red sandstone slab has some marks on it, along with two attached metal rings. Also known as the Stone of Destiny, the stone has long resided in Scotland and is seen as a sacred, historic symbol of its monarchy and nationhood. Read More
Britain’s King Charles, who has spent a lifetime campaigning for sustainability and against a throwaway economy, will wear clothing previously worn by his predecessors, including his mother and grandfather, for his coronation.
Many of those items, such as the crowns and sceptres, date back centuries, but Charles will also be re-using some garments that have appeared at coronations since 1821 “in the interests of sustainability and efficiency”, Buckingham Palace said on Monday.
Among the vestments to reappear will be the coronation glove made for his grandfather, George VI. Read More
Lord Indarjit Singh is the British Sikh peer who hands over a key item of the regalia to King Charles III during his Coronation at Westminster Abbey in London on Saturday, symbolic of the multi-faith note being struck at the traditionally Christian ceremony.
The 90-year-old peer will form part of a procession of peers who walk up to the altar before handing over the Coronation Glove, which is a demonstration of the Sovereign as advocate and challenger for the protection and honour of the people. It also bears a second meaning, as a reminder of holding power, symbolised in the royal Sceptre, gently in a gloved hand.
“It's a great honour for myself, but much more for the wider Sikh community, in this country, in India and further afield wherever Sikhs are across the globe. It's a recognition of the King's view of inclusivity,” said Lord Singh, in an interview ahead of the historic ceremony. (PTI)
U.S. citizen Donna Werner is no stranger to royal celebrations – for more than three decades she has travelled to Britain to join in the public party at weddings and jubilees.
Now she is ecstatic to be in London for her first coronation.
“And we’re off! This is such a once-in-a-lifetime experience,” Werner exclaimed as she set off from her hotel towards Buckingham Palace, where she plans to secure a front-row seat to watch events around Saturday’s coronation of King Charles III.
Read More
Liverpool will play the national anthem before the start of its Premier League game on Saturday to mark the coronation of King Charles III and acknowledged Friday that “some supporters have strong views on it.” The team said it would play “God Save the King” after the league had contacted clubs playing home games and “strongly suggested” they note the historic occasion.
Liverpool supporters booed the national anthem — which was formerly “God Save the Queen” — when it was played ahead of the FA Cup final a year ago and the Community Shield in July because of what is perceived to be a long-held opposition toward the establishment. Read More
As a fashion statement or piece of art, crowns are distinguished by their beauty, containing rare jewels, precious metals and velvet in deep, rich colours. As a symbol, crowns are associated with majesty, authority and sovereignty. And as the coronation of King Charles III reminds us, the crown is also a superlative brand.
Though images of crowns are often used in royal branding, it is rare for monarchs these days to actually wear crowns. In the western monarchical tradition, the British monarchy is an exception, with kings and queens undergoing a crowning ceremony.
? What are the crowns of the coronation?
On Saturday morning, Britain’s King Charles III will join the long list of British queens and kings who have been crowned at the Westminster Abbey church in London, when his coronation will take place.
Since 1066, when the monarch William the Conqueror invaded England with his army and was crowned here, 39 coronation ceremonies and 16 royal weddings have taken place in the cathedral. It has also witnessed important events, including the wedding of his son Prince William with Kate Middleton in 2011 and the funeral service of the late Queen Elizabeth II last year.
What is the association between this church and the royal family? We explain here
The history of British royal coronations in London date back around a thousand years. Over that period, numerous rituals were developed, with many to feature during the coronation of Charles III and his wife, Camilla, on May 6.
Some rituals are almost as old as the ceremony itself, such as the royal headgear. Other aspects, like picking a signature dish — in this case, the “coronation quiche” — are modern additions.
? Here are seven essential things to know about King Charles III’s upcoming coronation ceremony.