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King Charles III: New details about coronation revealed

Coronation details: King Charles and Camilla, the queen consort, will keep several traditions and add some new twists to next month's coronation at Westminster Abbey. ( Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images)
( Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images)

LONDON — King Charles III will shorten his procession route for next month’s coronation, breaking with some traditions and giving the event a more modern touch.

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Buckingham Palace announced more details about the May 6 coronation at London’s Westminster Abbey, The Guardian reported.

The king and Camilla, the queen consort, will arrive at Westminster Abbey from Buckingham Palace in a state-of-the-art carriage but will leave in the 260-year-old gold state coach that has been used at every coronation since William IV was crowned king in 1831, according to the newspaper.

The carriage was first commissioned in 1760 and was first used by King George III to travel to the state opening of Parliament in 1762, The Guardian reported.

“It is nearly 4 meters tall. It’s over 7 meters long. It weighs 4 tons. Because of that it can only be used at a walking pace, which really adds to the majesty and stateliness of this great royal procession,” Sally Goodsir, the Royal Collection Trust’s curator of decorative arts, told CNN. “There are very few monarchies which have retained coaches working of this age, and therefore it’s an incredibly special thing to see.”

The arrival carriage was used by Charles’ mother, the late Queen Elizabeth II. The Diamond Jubilee State Coach was built for Elizabeth’s 60th anniversary, The Associated Press reported.

The procession route will be much shorter than the one used by Elizabeth II when she was crowned in 1953, according to the news organization.

Some of the modern touches will include the projection of the Crown Jewels on the Tower of London, the BBC reported.

In a nod to the social media age, Buckingham Palace also unveiled a new emoji -- the St Edward’s crown -- to mark the coronation weekend, according to The Guardian.

Elizabeth was the first British monarch whose coronation was broadcast on television.

The coronation service will begin at Westminster Abbey at 11 a.m. British Standard Time (6 a.m. EDT), according to USA Today.

The coronation, known as Operation Golden Orb, will be presided over by Justin Welby, the Archbishop of Canterbury. Charles will be crowned with the St. Edward’s crown, the centerpiece of the Crown Jewels that was made for King Charles II in 1661, the newspaper reported.

Camilla will wear Queen Mary’s Crown during the ceremony, the AP reported.



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