As the year draws to an end, memories of May inevitably surround one of Britain’s largest events of the year: the coronation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla. 

Whether you loved or hated it, there is no doubt that the May 6 ceremony was met with no small amount of contention.

Read on for the most notable controversies associated with the coronation.

1. Camilla’s title

The crowning of Camilla as queen consort was a controversial decision which divided Britain well before the coronation itself.

Whilst she was originally slated to be titled “HRH The Princess Consort” upon Charles’ ascension to the throne, Queen Elizabeth revised this in her Platinum Jubilee message.

In line with the Queen’s wishes, Camilla was confirmed to be titled Queen Consort after Queen Elizabeth’s death.

The decision was met with no small amount of protestation from die-hard ers of the late Princess Diana, who felt this was disrespectful to her legacy.

2. The cost

You know what a controversial institution struggling to relate to the masses needs?

A massive state ceremony with a £50-100million price tag taking place during a cost of living crisis.

Though the event was predicted to bring more money into the economy than it cost, many people were still unhappy with a portion of the bill being footed by the taxpayer.

One pensioner told the BBC: “We’re struggling for heating and eating and they’re splashing all this money out.

“It is a lot of money to pay out and I think, in this day and age, they need to do it on a low budget.”

3. The guest list

Rumours swirled ahead of the event about the attendance of various royal family , though perhaps none more than Prince Andrew and Prince Harry.

If you’re wondering why these two are being spoken as if they bring equal amounts of shame to the royal family, it’s because that’s essentially how the narrative went.

As it turned out, both Prince Andrew, who was infamously stripped of his royal honours following his association with infamous paedophile Jeffrey Epstein, and Prince Harry, who moved to California, attended the event in of Charles, despite rumours asserting one or both would be absent. 

4. Arrests on the day

A whopping 64 people were arrested by Met Police on the day of the coronation, 52 of which were made for offences such as affray, public order offences, breach of the peace and conspiracy to cause a public nuisance around the coronation.

The arrests led to a mere five people being charged, although many were held for over 10 hours as the coronation continued free from chants of “Not my king!”

The police later expressed regret over the arrests, which Graham Smith, the chief executive of the anti-monarchy protest group Republic, described as an attack on the UK’s protest protections. 

I’m now out of the police station. Still waiting for my colleagues.

Make no mistake. There is no longer a right to peaceful protest in the UK.

I have been told many times the monarch is there to defend our freedoms. Now our freedoms are under attack in his name.

— Graham Smith (@GrahamSmith_) May 6, 2023

5. Queen Mary’s 1911 Coronation headpiece

The Koh-i-noor jewel, the centrepiece of Queen Mary’s 1911 Coronation headpiece, was absent from the coronation, removed and stored away at the Tower of London.

Speculation ahead of the ceremony surrounded whether the controversial jewel would be worn, as it was seized by the East India Company in 1849 and India has since asked for its return, saying it is entrenched in Britain’s colonial past.

The Palace seemingly responded by tucking the jewel out of sight and hoping for the best.

Featured image credit: Katie Chan, CC BY-SA 3.0 license, via Wikimedia Commons

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In May 2023, top stories in the UK focused on celebration and scandal, monarchs and pop stars.

Here’s our recap of the news that captivated Britain throughout the month.

King Charles III and Queen Camilla are crowned

May 6 saw the first coronation of a British monarch in over 70 years at Westminster Abbey.

King Charles had ascended to the throne the previous September after the death of his mother, Queen Elizabeth II.

Codenamed “Operation Golden Orb”, the coronation involved three separate military dress rehearsals in April and the establishment of a Coronation Claims Office within the Cabinet Office, tasked with handling claims of those wishing to perform a historic or ceremonial role during the service.

The event was attended by approximately 2,200 guests from 203 countries, including of British and foreign royal families, prominent UK and commonwealth politicians, and foreign heads of state. 

Not surprisingly, The Coronation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla is the most watched television broadcasts in the United Kingdom in 2023.#coronation pic.twitter.com/hhsENzSErm

— Cathy (@Cathy57600977) December 16, 2023

Britain hosts the 67th Eurovision Song Contest

The UK hosted the final of the 67th edition of the Eurovision Song Contest on May 13.

The event was held in the Liverpool Arena on behalf of the 2022 winners, Ukraine, who were unable to host due to their ongoing war with Russia.

Thirty-seven countries competed in the contest presented by Alesha Dixon, Hannah Waddingham, Julia Sanina, and Graham Norton.

Sweden’s Loreen won the contest with her song “Tattoo”, making her the second entrant to win the competition twice and tying Sweden with Ireland for the most number of Eurovision wins at seven victories each.

The UK’s entry, Mae Muller, received only 24 votes overall and came second-to-last, beating .

Here's a list of 2023 Eurovision moments that defined the year for me.

Let's kick off with a compilation of our qualifiers! pic.twitter.com/FpcvRqXMER

— Priyant (@Priyant1987) December 19, 2023

Phillip Schofield resigns from This Morning

Phillip Schofield announced his immediate resignation from ITV’s This Morning after more than 20 years as a presenter on May 20.

The announcement followed a period of public speculation about Schofield’s affair with a male ITV co-worker, which began when the co-worker was 18 and Schofield in his 50s.

Further controversy stemmed from the revelation that Schofield had arranged for the young man to interview at ITV after meeting him when he was only 15.

Schofield later defended himself in the media against allegations that he had groomed the younger man, stating that the relationship was unwise but consensual and that he had exited This Morning as a way to protect the show.

Bottom right of featured image credit: Solomon McKenzie, CC BY-SA 3.0 license, via Wikimedia Commons

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An Australian couple praised the monarchy and the chance to be a part of history at Hyde Park. 

Judy and Graham Armstrong from Brisbane, Australia, were on holiday visiting a nephew and niece and took the opportunity to watch the coronation on the big screen. 

Hyde Park was decked out with four screens and a celebratory atmosphere despite the persistent rain. 

Teacher Judy, 66, said: “We just got swept up in all the atmosphere and the pageantry and pomp that is going on, it’s amazing.” 

Both Judy and Graham, 67, retired, thought that Charles would make a good king. 

“The tradition that you have here is really important and it’s what keeps you going,” said Julia. 

Graham suggested that the coronation of King Charles offered a good opportunity to for a refresh of the monarchy. 

Judy agreed, and said thought that Charles’ environmental work would appeal to the Australian public. 

“His thinking on the environment is probably at the forefront of a lot of people’s minds in Australia,” she said. 

“That’s important to them, so if he has that forward thinking about what he’s going to do, he’ll win the people over in Australia.” 

However, there are a mix of opinions on the royal family in Australia. 

“I think a lot of young people in Australia aren’t interested,” said Julia. 

“Its not relevant to them.” 

It was luck that landed the couple in London on the date of the coronation, as the visit was planned in October a week before the coronation date was announced. 

“We’d already booked, we’d already paid it, and we thought yay! Charles knew we were coming,” said Judy. 

The Andersons went to Green Park first but at 8:20am the park was already at full capacity with officials turning people away so they relocated to Hyde Park. 

Julia said: “We thought it was going to be big, we didn’t realise it was going to be this big.

“It’s a time point in history and I think if you’re in London you’re mad if you don’t get involved.” 

The couple is planning to spend another three weeks in London including a birthday high tea for Graham at the Savoy Hotel with relatives.

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The organisers of Chiswick flower market used their monthly event last weekend to celebrate the coronation of King Charles III.

Decorations, festive street entertainment and tasty freebies from local businesses were all on offer.

Since 2020, the event has become a post-lockdown staple, bringing the community together and attracting visitors from further afield.

Chiswick flower market has sparked a trend in Sunday trade – cheese and antiques markets have since been set up, with the final Sunday of the month soon to be snapped up.

Event organisers and local business owners took the opportunity to reflect on the impact the market has had on the local high street.

Watch the video below to find out more:

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In celebration of King Charles’ coronation, processions took place from two war memorials in Wimbledon Common on Sunday.

Both processions were led by a piper and a drummer who played traditional music celebrating the four nations of the United Kingdom.

Fleur Anderson, MP for Putney, Roehampton and Southfields and Steven Hammond, MP for Wimbledon attended the event.

The processions made their way to the windmill on Wimbledon Common which was illuminated as part of a coronation event which saw iconic buildings lit up across the nation.

To mark the historic occasion, there was music from St Mary’s Choir and other local musicians as well as poetry readings.

All those in attendance were encouraged to light a candle.

Watch the video below to find out more:

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services for Westminster’s homeless and disadvantaged were disrupted by the Coronation of King Charles III on Saturday 6 May.   

Road closures and crowds celebrating the Coronation created difficulties for organisations running food distributions on the Strand.

Refuge Network International’s service was delayed by an hour on the afternoon of the Coronation as blocked roads prevented the organisation’s van from accessing their site. 

Jalaram Soup kitchen volunteer, Riz, said: “It’s sad to see that the homeless are being pushed away so that a few people can have a special day.” 

With Government figures showing homelessness in London up 34% in a year, volunteers questioned the decision to prioritise public spending on the Coronation over ing rough sleepers.

Watch the video below to find out more.

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Fans celebrated and watched the Coronation of King Charles III on screens across Bristol on Saturday.

The grey sky and light rain did not stop events taking place in the city in Southwest England.

There was an outdoor big screen and a screen inside Bristol Cathedral.

Jay Willis, 29, from Bristol, celebrated with friends as he watched the Coronation at the Bristol & Bath Science Park.

Willis said: “It’s just a really historic event and something you have to enjoy with lots of other people around rather than watch it at home.”

“[It is] great to see something that’s only happened once in my lifetime so far and [I am] really really happy to be here and celebrate.”

At midday, fewer people celebrated in the park than expected due to the weather, but there was no shortage of happiness and excitement for the day.

Emma Base, 42, from Bristol, also celebrated with friends in the science park in a variety of Coronation-themed hats and clothes.

Emma, a nursery manager, had been making crowns all week with the children to get them involved in coronation planning.

Emma said: “We just want to soak in the celebrations of the day and enjoy our new king.”

She looked forward to watching the ceremony, celebrations and street parties planned for the weekend.

People also watched the Coronation in the tranquil setting of the Cathedral.

Meanwhile, only 200 metres from the entrance, anti-monarchy protesters chanted ‘not my king’.

The protest was in solidarity with the larger protests that took place in London that day.

Featured image credit: Amy Haase

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While millions across Britain celebrated the King’s Coronation, many Bristol residents chose not to. 

Most anti-monarchy protests took place in London on the day of the King’s Coronation, but we wanted to know the reactions of others across the country.

Bristol has a history of public protesting, including the toppling of the statue of Edward Colston, which hit global headlines in June 2020 during Black Lives Matter protests, and the Kill the Bill Riots a year later.

Despite the wet weather in the city, a small group of protestors gathered outside Bristol Cathedral, where a live stream of the coronation was held.

The crowd’s voices boomed with chants of “Not my King”, and it was clear the smaller scale of the protests was not putting individuals off delivering their message.

For Harry Hudson, 24, a medical student from Somerset, the coronation represents a system he feels needs to change.

He said: “We’re seeing this redressing of the coronation as an attempt at an embodiment of a new multicultural Britain.

“It seems a way to invent a new set of traditions to maintain some legitimacy which I think now is lost- I don’t see them as relevant to society these days.” 

Fellow protestor Finlay, 24, a teaching assistant from Bristol, explained his opposition surrounded the financial cost of the ceremony.

He said: “I think that during a cost-of-living-crisis, for so much taxpayer’s money to go on this is utterly disgraceful.

“People are also being arrested for campaigning for justice, even with the tamest of demands and not even extreme protesting strategies.”

This was echoed by other protestors concerned after hearing the news of the arrested protesters in London. 

Ten minutes down the road, a very different energy was imbued. Overmono, a Welsh DJ duo, announced a surprise set in Bristol’s bear-pit, which had a festival atmosphere and the booming bass reverberated around the section of the city centre.

The space was filled with a young crowd enthusiastically dancing and wearing satirical crowns.

Aled Jones, 23, a software developer, did not think that the King’s Coronation was an important cultural event to be celebrated.

He said: “The King’s Coronation to me means absolutely nothing. I would rather it didn’t happen, and I do not want to show any for them. 

“I came out to this because I wanted to celebrate anything other than the coronation- and I know all my friends here with me today feel the same way.”

This anti-monarchy rhetoric has been reported to be the majority view among younger generations. 

A survey by NatCen (National Centre for Social Research) showed a historic low for Royal Family , with only 12% of 18–24-year-old Britons thinking it is “very important”.

Much of the  for the monarchy comes from older generations. 

Featured image credit: Gigi El-Halaby

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King Charles III and Queen Camilla were crowned in a lavish ceremony at Westminster Abbey today. Here are the best pictures telling the story of the day.

All pictures thanks to Reuters via Beat Media Group subscription

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A royal superfan who moseyed all the way from Texas to take in the Coronation scenes says she cannot a decolonised crown. 

Mari Boepple from Houston, Texas camped out on the Mall since Thursday afternoon for a prime spot with her friends, as they did for William and Kate’s Royal Wedding in 2011.

She said: “We came over especially for the Coronation. It’s a huge historical event! 

“They’re just such a huge part of history and I love that historical value they provide. I can’t wait to see them in their crowns. Nobody does pomp and circumstance like the Brits!”

Asked if she had seen a display nearby them on the Mall protesting the Kor-I-Noor diamond’s 105-carat-hold in the Queen Mother’s Crown, Mari shook her head and said “Well, everybody has an opinion and I understand that.”

The diamond, often regarded as improperly-acquired spoils of British India, has long-since been a focus of controversy.

Queen Camilla chose not to use the Queen Mother’s Crown for her coronation, opting instead for Queen Mary’s Crown, crafted in 1911. 

Aisha Sadiq, 23, an advertising creative who set up that protest display said: “We thought we’d make a non colonial crown entirely out of British rocks, to show that the Kor-I-Noor diamond should be brought back to India.”

The crown is made of pebbles from Brighton, slate from Cardiff, tin from Cornwall, and stone from Dartmoor. 

Aisha added: “We’ve been really surprised by the reactions of people. We havnt had any negative responses at all.

“Shouldn’t there be British stones for a British crown?” 

For Mari though, it was the begemed coronation headwear she was thinking of most, “I can’t wait to see King Charles and Queen Camila in their new crowns. I hope they wear them!”

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