21 November 2024 , 19:27
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King Charles’s Coronation was smaller and shorter than the late Queen Elizabeth’s, as the monarch was mindful of the cost of living crisis affecting millions in Britain.
Taxpayers spent £72million on King Charles’s Coronation last May - less than half that of the funeral of Queen Elizabeth, according to official Government figures.
Over a third of the cost - £21.7 million - was spent by the Home Office on policing the event, which saw tens of thousands of people gather in central London to catch a glimpse of the lavish display of pomp and ceremony.
In the UK, 18 million more people tuned in to watch the event unfold on their TVs, with viewing peaking at 20.4 million as the King was crowned just after midday.
The remaining £50.3 million was spent by the DCMS, funded by the Treasury, according to the annual report by the Culture Department (DCMS), which was responsible for organising the Coronation.
The Coronation took place on May 6, 2023 and was a huge state occasion. World leaders, politicians and foreign royals attend the once-in-a-generation event, held at Westminster Abbey in London.
The cost of the historic royal event is just a fraction of the amount spent on Queen Elizabeth’s state funeral and related events in 2022, which came in at £162million.
The King was mindful to have a smaller and shorter ceremony amid the cost of living crisis, with a royal source said the 76-year-old monarch was "conscious of costs" and plans for the event "were scaled back". But due to it being a historic state occasion balance was needed to reflect the grandeur and global significance of the event.
The DCMS described the Coronation as "a once-in-a-generation moment which provided an occasion for the entire country to come together in celebration, and offered a unique opportunity to celebrate and strengthen our national identity and showcase the UK to the world".
The department said the event had generated more than 100,000 news stories and reached an estimated global audience of 2 billion people in 125 countries.