Today, King Charles celebrates three years since his coronation, after waiting a record-setting seven decades for the role.
King Charles III waited over 70 years to become king, the longest wait in British history reported Guinness World Records. Charles became heir apparent at the age of three, on February 6, 1952, when his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, ascended the throne.
On May 6, 2023, at the age of 73, Charles became monarch. His long-awaited accession also marked the beginning of a new chapter shaped by modern expectations and a changing royal landscape.
King Charles Coronation Anniversary Marked by Celebration
PEOPLE Magazine reported that King Charles’ sister, Princess Anne, 75, attended a royal gun salute in London to celebrate the third anniversary of his coronation. She arrived in a horse-drawn carriage. Additionally, royal salutes were also fired at the Tower of London and Hillsborough Castle in Northern Ireland.
Anne is a Counsellor of State for Charles. She has the official ability to step in if he is abroad or not well enough to attend an event.
According to Town & Country, Anne then inspected the King’s Royal Horse Artillery regiment following their salute.
Charles’ wife, Camilla Parker Bowles, also celebrates her coronation anniversary as well. She was crowned queen consort on the same day as her husband.
Before Camilla, the last royal woman who had that role was Elizabeth, the Queen Mother. Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon was named queen consort in 1936 upon the ascension of her husband, King George VI, in December 1936. She remained in that role until his death on February 6, 1952. At that time, her oldest daughter, Elizabeth, became queen of the United Kingdom.
The Guinness Book of World Records website writes that Charles’ record, “was previously held by Charles’ great-great-grandfather Edward VII, who waited for 59 years 73 days to take the throne, eventually doing so on 22 January 1901 upon the death of his mother, Queen Victoria.”
King Charles And Camilla Parker Bowles Marked the Day With a Garden Party
GettyKing Charles and Camilla Parker Bowles marked the third anniversary of their joint coronations with a garden party, as reported by PEOPLE Magazine. This was the first garden party of the season for the royal family.
The first event of the season was attended by Charles, Camilla, Princess Anne, Prince Edward, and his wife, Sophie, the Duchess of Edinburgh. Prince William and Kate Middleton did not attend this particular event.
The official royal family website describes the tradition behind and the meaning of royal garden parties.
It reads, “Over the course of each year, over 30,000 guests are invited to spend a relaxed summer afternoon in the beautiful gardens of Buckingham Palace or the Palace of Holyroodhouse. Garden Parties are an important way for members of the royal family to speak to a broad range of people from all walks of life. All of whom have made a positive impact in their community.”
It continues, “The Sovereign traditionally hosts three Garden Parties at Buckingham Palace, and one at the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Scotland. Historically, Garden Parties took the place of presentation parties attended by debutantes. And have evolved into a way of recognizing and rewarding public service.”
