Government figures have revealed that the Coronation of King Charles III cost taxpayers £72 million. The Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS), which organized the event, spent over £50 million, while the Home Office covered policing costs of nearly £22 million.
The DCMS described the May 2023 Coronation as a “once-in-a-generation” event, noting that expenses aligned with unofficial estimates of £50–100 million. Billed as a “slimmed-down affair,” the ceremony at Westminster Abbey hosted a guest list just one-quarter the size of Queen Elizabeth II’s 1953 Coronation.
As a state event, the Coronation was funded by the UK Government and Buckingham Palace through the Sovereign Grant—derived from Crown Estate revenues—and the Privy Purse, supported by the Duchy of Lancaster, which had net assets of £647 million as of March 2024.
The decision to use public funds drew criticism during the UK’s cost-of-living crisis. A YouGov poll before the event showed that 52% of Londoners opposed taxpayer funding. The DCMS defended the expenditure, stating that the Coronation reached an estimated two billion viewers across 125 countries, enhancing national identity and promoting the UK globally.
Campaign group Republic criticized the event as an outdated extravagance, arguing the funds could have been used for social initiatives such as free school meals. Graham Smith, the group’s chief executive, called the spending “shameful.”
The ceremony on 6 May 2023 was attended by dignitaries from 90 countries, including heads of state and prominent figures such as British actors Emma Thompson and Judi Dench, and international stars like Lionel Richie and Katy Perry. Prince Harry flew in from California, though Meghan Markle and their children did not attend.
The festivities included a rain-soaked procession along the Mall and a star-studded concert at Windsor Castle the next day, featuring performances by Perry, Richie, and Take That.
