13 April 2023
In October 2022, it was announced that the Coronation of His Majesty the King would take place on Saturday 6th May 2023. As a result, we are also to receive an extra bank holiday to give people the chance to come together and celebrate. This is in addition to the bank holiday already scheduled for 1st May.
With the extra holiday allowance, and the causes for celebration, the first week of May is the perfect time to book some extra days off and start celebrating a little earlier. At Searles Leisure Resort, we have a number of Late Spring break offers – our resort is the perfect place to celebrate and relax during the coronation break!
As the excitement builds for the big day, we thought we’d showcase some interesting facts around the coronation, previous coronations in history, and our new King’s relationship with the North Norfolk coastline.
Sandringham Royal Estate
Perhaps the most famous stately home in Norfolk, the Sandringham Royal estate covers 8,000 hectares, 24 of which make up a heath and woodland area called the Sandringham Royal Park, which is open to the public every day of the year. The house, situated at the heart of the estate, is open for visits and has been since the Queen’s Silver Jubilee in 1977. You will have to book ahead, so be sure to plan any anticipated visits ahead of time!
The estate was the chosen residence of the Queen Elizabeth II during the months over the Christmas period, where she would spend about two months each winter at the estate. The queen even delivered her first famous televised Christmas address from Sandringham.
Sandringham Estate is just a 15-minute drive from Searles, making this an ideal place to visit during your holiday break to get in the royal spirit prior to, during, or after the coronation.
King Charles’ visits to Hunstanton
Primary to attending the Sandringham Flower Show in 2014, the now King and Queen Consort visited St Mary’s Church in Old Hunstanton, just up the road from Searles Leisure Resort to attend two consecutive nights of Classical music for a charity event hosted by the Music in Country Churches charity organisation. The event was held to raise money for the church at the nearby village of Titchwell.
Many years prior, in July 1986, the then Prince of Wales was the guest of honour, opening the Peddars Way and Norfolk Coast Path national trail. The trail covers many miles of beautiful scenery and landscape, running through the Norfolk Coast Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, as well as the Brecks, heath, and low river valleys. The path runs right to Hunstanton and is an ideal walk for those looking for peaceful walks with breath taking scenery on their visit to Searles.
History of the Coronation
The first coronation at Westminster was that of William the Conqueror in 1066. Prior to this, there was no consistent location for the ceremony, with ceremonies carried out in the most convenient location. The Church of Westminster was re-built by Henry III in the Gothic style of architecture in 1254, so the first King to be crowned in the present Abbey was Edward I in 1274.
The most recent coronation to take place in Westminster Abbey was, of course that of Queen Elizabeth II in June 1953. This coronation was the first ever to be televised, and as a result, it catalysed the sale of TV sets in the UK. The ceremony lasted for a duration of almost three hours!
You can walk on the exact spot the King will be crowned… in socks!
The historic medieval flooring inside Westminster Abbey had been covered up with carpets even for Queen Elizabeth’s coronation in 1953, as well as being roped off from public access to protect the 13th Century Surface.
However, this intricate mosaic has been revealed ahead of the King’s coronation and will be open for the public to walk across for 10 weeks following the event. Visitors will have to remove their shoes to maintain the integrity of the delicate flooring and will have to keep their socks on to avoid the surface getting ‘too sticky’.
Vegan Friendly Holy Oil to be used at the coronation ceremony.
It has been confirmed that the Holy Oil that will be used to anoint King Charles during his coronation will contain no animal products.
It is tradition for the head of state to be blessed with chrism oil during the ceremony. In the ceremony for the late Queen Elizabeth, the holy oil used was made from several animals, including a musk deer, a civet cat, and a sperm whale.
The move is consistent with the former Prince of Wales’s personal feelings, relationships and attitude towards animals, both wild and domesticated. King Charles is widely known as the president of the WWF, and has a long-standing history of campaigning for animal welfare, including calling for a war on animal poachers, and banning Foie Gras from royal menus.
The Queen Consort, Camilla, will also be anointed with the holy oil during the ceremony, just as the Queen Mother was when crowned Queen in 1937.
Feeling more in the spirit to celebrate the coronation with a trip to the beautiful Norfolk coast? Come to Searles this spring and make the most of the celebratory period to make it a coronation with memories you’ll treasure for a lifetime. We will be hosting a fabulous Street Party in honour of our new monarch. Be sure to book soon to join in the fun!
