When the Crown of St Edward is placed on the head of King Charles III at Westminster Abbey on May 6, it will be part of a long tradition and grandeur spanning more than 1,000 years of monarchy.
But his coronation is rumored to not be on the scale of his mother's coronation ceremony.
According to The Guardian, the Queen's coronation can be described in retrospect as the last imperial rite. At the time, reflecting Britain's high ranking as a world power, over 8,250 guests packed into Westminster Abbey and 96,000 others paid a ticket to see it.
The long way from Westminster Abbey to the palace was about eight kilometers. The troops marched to the beat provided by 24 military bands, while 10 Commonwealth prime ministers, led by Sir Winston Churchill, were carried in open carriages.
It was an incredible sight for a post-war Britain. Such a ceremony is not expected to take place again.
At the time, Britain's armed forces numbered over 850,000. Today, there are about a fifth of that number. Security issues have also changed. According to Morris, Charles III's coronation may be more modest than his mother's.