The date of the coronation of the new King of the United Kingdom is already known, it will be next May 6, 2023 when the coronation of King Charles III will take place at Westminster Abbey in London.
This historic event is loaded with countless acts and services with a high traditional component. However, at the King’s request, this coronation will be based on his traditions, but this time with a view of the future. The extent of the modernization desired or already planned by the monarch is unknown. But what is certain is that the ceremony of anointing the new King will be done with olive oil. The coronation will include several acts, and one of them, one which the Queen most enjoyed when she was crowned, includes anointing the monarch with a mixture of olive oil, ambergris and other elements.
Documental BBC: «the Coronation»
In the famous series «The Crown,» which tells the story of Queen Elizabeth II and her journey through the monarchy from an early age, we can see how at the time of her coronation, reference is made to this mixture with EVOO. It is believed that by touching and smelling this specially made oil she will live a long, healthy and happy life. This act has been recently recounted in a BBC documentary, where all the details of the coronation of Elizabeth II are collected, except the moment of the application of the ointment. These moments were also hidden from the eyes and televisions that were present in 1953, during this ritual.
Documental BBC: «the Coronation»
The coronation ceremony dates back to the 10th century BC, when these oils were considered a symbol of power for royalty, highlighting the importance of EVOO for monarchies and their coronation ceremonies. Its value reaches such an extreme in these acts that without EVOO, it is not possible to carry them out. King Clovis I of France had to delay his coronation for lack of EVOO at the ceremony.
Such is its importance that all coronation ceremonies can be modified, but in this act the same mixture has been repeated for centuries. For the coronation of King Charles III, this blend is kept in a decanter in a very hidden and safe place in a small box that protects the bottle.