Charles III coronation: A modern ceremony for a modern king

In a statement issued shortly before the event, a palace spokesman remarked that "the coronation is a solemn religious service, together with an occasion for celebration and pageantry."

"The ceremony has retained a similar structure for over a thousand years, and this year's coronation is expected to include the same core elements while recognising the spirit of our times."

Indeed, many of the key moments in the coronation service can be traced back more than 1,000 years, while the coronation itself has been conducted at Westminster Abbey for 900 years.

Many of the ceremonies, such as the oath, anointing, homage and enthronement that take place during the service, which will be conducted by the Archbishop of Canterbury, have an ancient lineage.

Other historical features will include Charles having the crown of the 11th century English monarch, Edward the Confessor, placed on his head while sitting in the 13th century coronation chair commissioned by Edward 1 in 1296. At the same time Camilla will be crowned Queen.

Significant changes

While the coronation ceremony itself will be laden with historical references, significant changes have been made to other parts of its proceedings, which have been implemented to reflect the dramatic changes that have taken place in British society during the past seven decades.

There has, for example, been a drastic reduction in the number of guests invited to participate.

More than 8,000 guests from 129 nations travelled to Westminster Abbey for the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II in 1953, while only 2,000 will be attending this event, with strict limits imposed to accommodate health and safety restrictions. 

This has resulted in a massive reduction in the number of peers receiving invitations. In 1953 more than 1,000 hereditary peers, representing all the great families of the British Isles, were invited, making the occasion a major spectacle when they donned their ancestral coronation robes.

Yet, thanks to radical constitutional changes undertaken when Tony Blair was prime minister, only a handful of peers today sit in the House of Lords and — as part of Charles's efforts to develop a more "inclusive" monarchy — they have been ordered not to wear their coronation robes, just the ceremonial dress they wear when attending parliament.

Desire for diversity

Charles's desire to have a more diverse congregation witness these historic events has resulted in representatives from his many charity affiliations receiving invitations instead — a move that has provoked a degree of criticism from die-hard traditionalists.

They believe, by sacrificing the peers, the new king is turning his back on centuries of history.

Significant changes have also been made to the service herself. When Queen Elizabeth was crowned, the service lasted for four hours, while Charles's service will have a duration of just 60 minutes.

The pageantry, too, has been drastically reduced in scale. While Queen Elizabeth II's grand procession featured more than 40,000 UK and Commonwealth service personnel and 24 marching military bands, just 7,000 members of the Armed Forces will be taking part in this weekend's procession.

One of the more notable changes in the service, though, will reflect Charles's desire to be seen as a representative of all faiths in the UK, and not just his role as head of the Church of England, or "Defender of the Faith". 

Following detailed negotiations with the Archbishop of Canterbury, an agreement has been reached where representatives of other religions — including leaders of Britain's thriving Muslim community — will be in attendance to reflect the ethnic diversity of modern Britain. 

Despite the very significant changes that have been made to previous coronation ceremonies, organisers of this weekend's event are confident much of the tradition and pageantry will remain.

As the Dean of Westminster, The Very Rev David Hoyle, 65, explained to The Times, "The stress and accent of this service has shifted us slightly from obedience to the monarch to the monarch's commitment to service and faithfulness."

As a result, the coronation promises to be a page-turning moment in British history — one that moves Britain on from the Elizabethan age to a new Carolean era.