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The St Edward’s Crown has been removed from the Tower of London in preparation for King Charles’ coronation.
The 74-year-old royal took the throne in September following the death of his mother Queen Elizabeth, but will be crowned in an official ceremony next May after the centerpiece of the crown jewels was taken away for alteration work .
Buckingham Palace said in a statement: “St Edward’s Crown, the historic centerpiece of the Crown Jewels, has been removed from the Tower of London to allow alteration work to begin ahead of its coronation on Saturday 6 May 2023.”
Different versions of the crown are thought to have been used by England and British rulers at coronations since the 13th century, with the current one made for Charles II in 1661 to replace the medieval version, which was melted down in 1649.
The original is believed to date back to Edward the Confessor, an 11th-century royal saint and the last Anglo-Saxon king of England.
Charles’ coronation will be held at Westminster Abbey and his son Prince William – who took the title of Prince of Wales after his father ascended the throne – is thought to have played an “active role” in helping plan the ceremony and ensuring it reflected a modern style “U.K.
According to reports, experts have suggested that the “ancient” and “imperial” elements should be removed from Charles’s coronation ceremony.
Queen Camilla will also be crowned at the event but is not believed to play an active role in the plans, and it is unclear if the Duke of Sussex will be involved as he is no longer a member of the royal family.
The “royal wedding size” is believed to have around 2,000 guests – far fewer than the 8,000 who attended the coronation of the late Queen Elizabeth II in 1953.
Dr Bob Harris, of UCL’s Constitutional Unit, wrote: “The UK is no longer in a position to stage such a spectacle, nor should it be in difficult times.
“The next coronation will inevitably be smaller. Archaic elements such as the court of claims should be dropped.
“Therefore, there should be respect and reflection on how the king as head of state should be invoked in the early days of his reign to show support and encouragement to modern civil society.
“A modern form of tribute can take place, for example, in Westminster Hall, in a Horse Guards parade.”
A Buckingham Palace spokesman has previously said of the ceremony: “The Coronation will reflect the role of the Sovereign today and look to the future, while being rooted in long tradition and pomp.”
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