Cost of King Charles' Coronation Revealed: How It Stacks Up Against Queen Elizabeth's Funeral

Mar. 15, 2025

King Charles and Queen Camilla on the balcony of Buckingham Palace on their May 6, 2023 coronation day.Photo:Dan Kitwood/Getty

Dan Kitwood/Getty

It’s good to be King, and even better when yourcoronationcomes under budget! The cost ofKing Charles' coronation has been revealed, along with how it compares to the expenses ofQueen Elizabeth’s state funeral.

On Nov. 21, the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) published itsannual reportrevealing that $90.69 million was spent on the coronation of King Charles andQueen Camillain London on May 6, 2023. While Charles immediately acceded as King upon the death of his mother Queen Elizabeth in September 2022, he continued nearly a thousand years of tradition when he was ceremonially crowned at Westminster Abbey.

Comparing the checkbooks, the total bill for Queen Elizabeth’s state funeral was $204 million,The Telegraphreports. However, this sum included thelying in stateof the late Queen’s coffin and other events around the U.K. throughout the period of national mourning.

The total expenses reveal that more than double the amount was spent on the late Queen’s funeral arrangements versus her son’s coronation — which slid in $3.77 million under budget, the outlet reports.

“In line with rules regulating the spending of taxpayers money, all efforts were made to keep costs to a minimum,” a spokesperson for the government department toldThe Telegraph. “The Coronation was a historic state occasion that brought together millions of people across the country, the realms and the Commonwealth. It was an important diplomatic event, and the biggest gathering of world leaders in a generation, putting Britain on a global stage and showcasing the best of British culture and creativity to the world.”

King Charles III and Queen Camilla.Andrew Matthews - WPA Pool/Getty Images

Andrew Matthews - WPA Pool/Getty Images

However, it’s tricky to weigh what Queen Elizabeth’s coronation cost against Charles' celebration, andThe Timespreviously reported that the roughly $1.98 million spent for her ceremony in 1953 adjusts to about $57 million today, with inflation.

Speaking to PEOPLE about King Charles' crowning ceremony,coronation guestQueen Raniaof Jordan shared how the festivities were made relevant to meet today’s times.

King Abdullah and Queen Rania of Jordan arrive at Westminster Abbey for the coronation of King Charles and Queen Camilla on May 6, 2023.PAUL ELLIS/AFP via Getty Images

PAUL ELLIS/AFP via Getty Images

“The coronation was, of course, steeped in tradition, but I was very impressed with how King Charles put his own stamp on the events. For example, it felt very natural to see representatives of different religions play a role in the service. This was unprecedented in Britain’s history, but it showed how focused His Majesty is on inclusivity,” Queen Rania told PEOPLE at the time.

“The ceremony was alsoshorter— perhaps in line with modern attention spans — and slimmed down to suit the nation’s current financial circumstances. Beyond the ceremony itself, the entire weekend served as a lovely celebration of all things British. Opening the gates of Windsor Castle to the public for the first-everCoronation Concertand encouraging communities tocome togetherover food and community service — these events paid tribute to the British people and their values,” she said.

The DCMS' annual report added that the coordinating Coronation Big Lunch on May 7, 2023, raised over $18 million for charity, driving 100,000 news stories and reaching an estimated global audience of over 2 billion people in 125 countries.

Princess Charlotte and Kate Middleton on the May 6, 2023 coronation day.Yui Mok//Getty

Yui Mok//Getty

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“It was so exciting and nerve-wracking, but everything I have ever dreamed of,” Collet recently told PEOPLE aboutseeing Princess Kate and Princess Charlottewear her creations.

source: people.com