The king’s crown: 3 crowns, 2 chariots and a short path

LONDON (AP) — King Charles III plans to make a short trip to Westminster Abbey for his coronation, cutting the route his mother took in 1953 and opting for a more modest event that includes some modern touches, Buckingham Palace. He said Sunday.

of Low-key ceremony May 6 may still be steeped in ancient traditions and bedecked in the crown jewels, but he’ll be showing off his own emoji on social media, mirroring the first British coronation. Queen Elizabeth II’s coronation was the first to be televised 70 years ago.

In a break with tradition, Charles and Camilla, the queen’s consortRoll out of Buckingham Palace in the horse-drawn gilded black diamond Jubilee State Coach, built for Elizabeth’s 60th birthday. It has heat, air conditioning, power windows, and a suspension system that provides a more comfortable ride than the mother-in-law’s home on the throne.

The 1.3 mile (2 km) route is slightly shorter than the one Elizabeth took to the royal chapel. The procession passes through the Admiralty Arch; Across Trafalgar Square is a statue of Charles I, the King beheaded in 1649. And before arriving at the 11 am religious service in the Houses of Parliament.

Charles has said he plans to slim down the institution, even if he wants to portray the monarchy as still a modern, multicultural Britain. The coronation is expected to be shorter and less formal than the three-hour service that installed Elizabeth II.

Still, the priceless crown jewels used over the centuries by Charles and Camilla, including five symbolic swords, two sceptres and a sapphire sovereign’s ring with a ruby cross set with diamonds, will form part of both crowns.

Camilla, who wears the crown of Queen Mary, carries a controversial ivory scepter. Prince William, the heir to the throne, has campaigned against the illegal trade of animal organs since Britain banned all ivory production.

Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby will be Charles during the ceremony. They crowned the king Every year millions of people are seen at the Tower of London with St. Edward’s Crown, the centerpiece of the Crown Jewels.

The crown, inspired by the crown emoji, features a 4.9 pound (2.2 kg) solid gold frame with rubies, amethysts, sapphires, garnets, topazes and tourmalines and a purple velvet cap and ermine band. It was worn by Elizabeth during her coronation and adapted for her son.

At the end of the ceremony, Charles will change into a simple imperial state crown to return to the palace.

In the year In 1953, Elizabeth and her husband, Prince Philip, returned on the 5-mile (8-kilometer) route opposite Charles and Camilla, but the 260-year-old carriage used by every coronation since William IV’s reign in 1831.

The Gold State Coach, which weighs 8,800 pounds (4,000 kg) and is pulled by eight horses, is known for its rough ride.

Elizabeth described it as “terrible”, Queen Victoria complained about the “horrible tossing and turning”, and William IV – known as the Sailor King – said it was “like being on board a ship tossed about in heavy seas”.

“You can hear it screeching as you follow it, so it’s like an old galleon going along,” said Martin Oates, who helped restore it and goes behind it as a brakeman. “This is not a washing machine, but where is it? Other vehicles move from back to front, this one moves from side to side.

The golden coach is so heavy, he only walks at a walk. This should give people on the streets more time to see the newly crowned king and queen.

Military soldiers on parade salute the King and Queen in the gardens of Buckingham Palace, followed by three cheers from members of the service.