2023 King Charles III and Queen Camilla Coronation Medal and a Brief History of Coronation Medals

King Charles III's Coronation will take place on Saturday 6 May 2023 and it has been announced a new medal will also be awarded.

There is a long history of medals being given out for Coronations in the United Kingdom.

A coronation is a ceremonial event that serves as both a symbolic religious ceremony and a physical act of placing a crown on a monarch's head. It is a formalization of the monarch's role as the head of the Church of England and marks the transfer of their title and powers.

It is important to note, however, that being crowned is not a requirement for a monarch to ascend to the throne. For instance, Charles was formally proclaimed King three days after Queen Elizabeth's death, and Edward VIII reigned without a coronation. In fact, Charles automatically became King the moment Queen Elizabeth II passed away, regardless of whether or not he had been crowned.

The First Royal Medal was in 1547 and was for the accession of King Edward the VI

One of the earliest examples of a coronation medal was James the I Coronation Medal in 1603 and there have been many more throughout history. For King Charles and Queen Camilla’s coronation the medal there is a double portrait shown, the same type of design with a double portrait is also shown on medals going back as far as 1689 the William and Mary Coronation Medal.

On the last coronation a medal was also awarded

The Queen's Coronation Medal was a commemorative medal that was created in 1953 to celebrate the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II. The medal was awarded to members of the Commonwealth who had made a significant contribution to public life or had served the Crown.

The design of the medal features a profile of Queen Elizabeth II on the obverse, with the inscription "ELIZABETH II CROWNED 2 JUNE 1953" around the edge. The reverse of the medal features the royal cypher surmounted by a crown, with the inscription "QUEEN'S CORONATION MEDAL" around the edge.

The medal was made of silver and was awarded to around 129,000 people, including members of the armed forces, government officials, civil servants, and members of the public. Recipients of the medal included Sir Winston Churchill, J.R.R. Tolkien, and Sir Edmund Hillary.

King Charles III and Queen Camilla Coronation Medal

The double portrait of The King and Queen Consort on the front of the newly unveiled Coronation Medal was designed by Martin Jennings who also designed the official effigy of The King for the new coins issued by the Royal Mint. The Medal is made by Worcestershire Medal Service Ltd in Birmingham.

Those who will receive the Medal for the Coronation of Their Majesties The King and Queen Consort are:

Individuals who have actively contributed to the official Coronation events in Westminster Abbey and processions, and other officially recognised ceremonial Coronation events;

Serving members of the Armed Forces who have completed five full calendar years of service on 6 May 2023 or participate in Armed Forces Coronation events during the course of 2023;

Frontline emergency personnel who have been in paid service, retained or in a voluntary capacity, dealing with emergencies as part of their conditions of service, and completed five full calendar years of service on 6 May 2023;

Prison services personnel who are publicly employed and who have completed five full calendar years of service on 6 May 2023;

Living individual recipients of the George Cross or of the Victoria Cross.

A large range of medals, badges and insignia is available in the Contact Left Shop