King Charles: Fears his coronation could ignite tensions due to guest list

British Parliament has been told that King Charles III intends to invite only 3,000 guests to his coronation in May, that’s to say, less than half the 8,000 guests his mother had in 1953.

King Charles’ vs Queen Elizabeth’s coronation

Queen Elizabeth II’s coronation was held in Westminster Abbey on 2nd June 1953, with 8,000 guests in attendance. Elizabeth’s coronation was the first to be televised per the future monarch’s request. And it is estimated that 27 million Britons tuned in to watch it. It was also broadcast on radio worldwide, with approximately 11 million people listening in.

The Abbey can comfortably accommodate 2,200 people, and a further 800 people can be placed in the medieval galleries, per Express. Queen Elizabeth’s guest list was nearly four times the venue’s official capacity. To accommodate all the guests, stands and scaffolding was put up.

According to a source in Parliament, although they are waiting for the details, they have been told that King Charles’ guest list will not exceed the maximum limit of Westminster Abbey’s capacity. The source said:

We’re waiting for details but have been told to expect around 3,000.

With fewer guests, perhaps the King is trying to keep the costs down, as Royal sources insist the organisation is being arranged with thecost-of-living crisis in mind.

The Queen's coronation reportedly cost £1.57 million (£56 million nowadays). No information on the King’s coronation budget has been revealed. Still, insiders predict it could cost the taxpayer along the lines of £8 million, similar to a Royal wedding or funeral.

Read more:

⋙ King Charles: Prince Harry allegedly won’t take part in the coronation, but he’s not the only one

⋙ King Charles has reportedly changed his mind about a ‘less expensive’ coronation, here's why

⋙ King Charles reportedly warned 'British people do not want' these guests at his coronation

A diplomatic headache

According to I News, the reduced guest list presents the British Government with a ‘major diplomatic headache’ because there will be many who will be left ‘disappointed’ when an invitation doesn’t come.

Senior parliamentary figures are reportedly already anxious about the number of politicians who will be able to attend. With Commonwealth leaders, the extended Family, foreign royalty, prominent foreign leaders, dignitaries and charity heads expected to attend, it leaves little room to accommodate all of the 650 MPs and 800 peers who seek a seat, according to Express.

The parliamentary source said:

It will mean far fewer people, so they will have to think about who does and does not get an invite. There will be a lot of disappointed people.

I News reports that Prince Albert of Monaco and his wife, Princess Charlene, became the first to confirm their presence at the coronation.

Sources used:

- Express: Charles’s May Coronation will be ‘half the size of Queen’s’ as new details revealed

- I News: Inside the plan for King Charles coronation with fears scaled-back guest list could spark diplomatic tensions

- Royal.uk: The Queen's Accession and Coronation