Does an event so steeped in history, religion and pageantry still have a place in 2023 Britain?
As many before his have done, King Charles' coronation will feature a medieval oath, a holy oil poured on to a 12th Century spoon, and a 700-year-old chairKing Charles III's coronation on 6 May is likely to showcase the sort of lavish royal pageantry the British are famous for. But it is also a deeply religious occasion steeped in centuries-old traditions that, to some, might seem out of place in 2023.
The anointing process elevates "the monarch almost to a priest", says Dr Gross, and signals the monarch's role as head of the church. Instead of using the oil from the previous coronation - as some monarchs have done - a fresh batch has been made this year. Previously it contained animal products like civet oil and ambergris, which is found in sperm whales, but this vegan and cruelty-free version is made partly from olives. In a possible nod to other faiths, they were grown at the Monastery of Mary Magdalene in Jerusalem, where the King's grandmother Princess Alice is buried.
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