The UK’s Coronation of the King, held in May 2023, cost taxpayers £72m, according to figures released by the government. The Crown Estate revenue and the Duchy of Lancaster, a private estate, were used to pay for the event, which was described as a “once-in-a-generation” moment. The Department for Culture, Media and Sport spent over £50m, while policing costs were almost £22m. The guest list was a quarter of the size of Queen Elizabeth II’s Coronation at Westminster Abbey in 1953. Critics have called the public funding of the event into question.
Republic, a campaign group critical of the monarchy, dubbed the event a “pointless, archaic parade,” claiming that money spent on the Coronation could have funded free school meals instead. A poll conducted by YouGov the month before found that 52% of Londoners did not believe that the Coronation should be paid for by taxpayers. The DCMS annual report revealed that the ceremony was watched by an estimated two billion people in 125 countries, showcasing the UK to the world.
King Charles was crowned at Westminster Abbey on 6 May 2023, with Prince Harry the only family member present. There were a host of celebrity guests, including Emma Thompson, Judi Dench, Stephen Fry, Lionel Richie, and Katy Perry in attendance. The procession through London was watched by thousands despite the rain. The following night, a concert featuring Richie, Perry, and Take That was held at Windsor Castle.
By March 2024, the Duchy of Lancaster controlled a net asset of £647m. There had been much speculation on how much the public purse funded, which the DCMS stated they could only confirm after the event. The event was the first major state occasion since Prince Philip’s funeral and was watched around the world.
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