More than 400,000 frontline workers, including ambulance workers and police, will receive a medal in recognition of their contribution to the King’s Coronation.
Made of nickel silver, it features a portrait of the King and Queen on one side and the royal cypher, a laurel wreath, and the date of the Coronation on the other.
Recipients will include police, ambulance workers, soldiers, and choristers working at the Coronation.
It will also be given to emergency service workers, prison staff, and members of the armed forces with more than five years of full service, as well as living recipients of the George Cross or Victoria Cross.
Culture Secretary Lucy Frazer said: “The Coronation medal will act as a reminder of the important part each person has played in this moment of history.
“From our Armed Forces who protect our country to the emergency services who care for us at home, alongside those volunteers who are giving up their time to make this event so special, I am delighted that we can mark their contribution to this special day, and for each and every day that they go above and beyond serving their country.”
So what is the coronation medal and what is the history behind it?
What is the coronation medal?
The coronation medal is a medal awarded to the monarch when they are crowned.
A medal was made for Queen Elizabeth II when she was crowned in 1953. It featured a portrait of the queen on one side and her royal cypher on the other.
The medal’s ribbon was dark red with blue and white stripes.
The Queen’s medal was given to members of the royal family, government officials, and members of the Armed Forces.
Coronation medals have been issued for each British monarch since the coronation of King George IV in 1821. They have also been issued by other Commonwealth realms, such as Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, to mark the coronation of the British monarch. In some cases, a separate coronation medal may be issued for the coronation of a new monarch in a Commonwealth realm.
Will there be a coronation medal for King Charles III?
It is likely that King Charles will be awarded a coronation medal, as per tradition, although this has not yet been officially confirmed.
A spokesperson for the DCMS (Department for Culture, Media and Sport) said: “As with other major state occasions, we are considering options for a coronation medal.
“More detail will be announced in due course.”
What crown will King Charles wear for the coronation?
King Charles will wear St Edward’s Crown at his coronation.
In a statement in December, Buckingham Palace said: “St Edward’s Crown, the historic centrepiece of the Crown Jewels, has been removed from the Tower of London to allow for modification work to begin ahead of the Coronation on May 6, 2023.”
Versions of the St Edward’s Crown are thought to have adorned monarchs since the 13th century.
The current crown was made for Charles II in 1661, as a replacement for the medieval crown which had been melted down in 1649.
