Everything to Know About King Charles' Coronation

The coronation of King Charles is quickly approaching.

Although King Charles, 74, became the U.K.'s new monarch immediately upon the death of his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, on Sept. 8, 2022, he will be officially crowned in a ceremony steeped in tradition. The coronation will take place on May 6 at 11 a.m. U.K. time (6 a.m. ET).

"Charles became King Charles the moment his mother died, but the coronation is to do with the job and being the monarch in the eyes of all the people," royal historian Robert Lacey told PEOPLE.

His wife Camilla, 75, will also be crowned as Queen Consort during the ceremony.

Here is everything to know about King Charles' coronation, including how to watch and what royals are attending.

How Can I Watch King Charles' Coronation Live?

There are multiple options on how to watch the ceremony. The coronation will be broadcast on major U.S. stations including CNN, NBC, ABC and Fox News, with some starting coverage at 10 a.m. U.K. time (5 a.m. ET) as King Charles and Queen Camilla begin their procession from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Abbey.

The ceremony will also be available to stream on live TV subscriptions including Hulu + Live TV, DIRECTV, Sling TV and FuboTV, with some stations like ABC streaming live on YouTube.

PEOPLE will have a group of royal experts and reporters on the ground in London reporting live from the coronation. PEOPLE will also be streaming various parts of the festivities on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and PEOPLE.com. Watch PEOPLE's live coronation coverage, starting at 5 a.m. ET on May 6, here.

When Will King Charles' Coronation Take Place?

Buckingham Palace announced in October 2022 that King Charles' coronation will take place on May 6, 2023. The date is earlier than widely speculated — many believed that King Charles would pick a June date as a tribute to the month when Queen Elizabeth had her coronation in 1953.

"The Coronation will reflect the monarch's role today and look towards the future, while being rooted in longstanding traditions and pageantry," Buckingham Palace said.

Where Will King Charles' Coronation Take Place?

Following nearly a thousand years of tradition, the service will be conducted at Westminster Abbey by the Archbishop of Canterbury. Westminster Abbey in London has been Britain's coronation church since 1066.

The first documented coronation at Westminster Abbey was for William the Conqueror on December 25, 1066, and King Charles will be the 40th reigning monarch to be crowned there on May 6.

How Will King Charles' Coronation Compare to Queen Elizabeth's in 1953?

King Charles' ceremony will be more modest than his mother's crowning. An estimated 2,000 guests will pour into Westminster Abbey's pews on May 6, while 8,251 people attended Elizabeth's. And the service has been cut down to 60 minutes — a third of the Queen's three-hour coronation in 1953. Charles will also introduce more modern elements.

"It's going to be more inclusive. I think with many more religions [represented]," says Lady Anne Glenconner, 90, who served as a maid of honor at Elizabeth's coronation. In preparation for the big day, rehearsals are taking place in the Buckingham Palace Ballroom.

How Will King Charles and Queen Camilla Travel to the Coronation?

The palace announced that the King and Queen Consort will ride in storybook style in two spectacular carriages on May 6. The royal couple will travel to Westminster Abbey in the Diamond Jubilee State Coach and return to Buckingham Palace in the Gold State Coach. The horse-drawn transport to the coronation will be called the King's Procession.

The Diamond Jubilee State Coach was commissioned to commemorate the 60th anniversary of Queen Elizabeth's accession in 2012, and is likely a smoother ride than the 261-year-old Gold State Coach, constructed in 1762. It has been used at every coronation since King William IV was crowned in 1831.

Coronation organizer Edward Fitzalan-Howard — also known as Earl Marshal, the Duke of Norfolk — said fans can expect a "smaller procession" to Westminster Abbey, followed by a grand parade back to Buckingham Palace.

"After the coronation service itself, they'll return in the Gold State Coach, with an enormous procession with all the pageantry that Britain can muster," he said in a new video shared to Twitter.

What Crowns Will King Charles and Queen Camilla Use at the Coronation?

King Charles will be crowned with the St. Edward Crown at his coronation. In December, the headpiece left the Tower of London, where it is stored with the other Crown Jewels, to undergo work to get it ready for the historic service in May.

The St. Edward Crown was first created for Charles II in 1661 and was a replacement for the previous crown that had been melted down in 1649. The palace said the original was thought to date back to the 11th-century royal saint, Edward the Confessor, who was the last Anglo-Saxon king of England.

King Charles will then swap the St. Edward Crown for the less-heavy Imperial State Crown.

Meanwhile, Queen Camilla will wear Queen Mary's Crown. The spectacular sparkler is set with 2,200 diamonds and was first worn by Charles' great-grandmother Mary when she was crowned as Queen Consort beside her husband, King George V, in 1911.

The move marks the first time in recent history that a Queen Consort will use an existing crown for a coronation ceremony instead of commissioning something new. Buckingham Palace said the decision was made "in the interests of sustainability and efficiency," causes close to King Charles' heart.

Updates are being made to Queen Mary's Crown before Queen Camilla wears it at the coronation. Work is underway to reset the headpiece with the Cullinan III, IV and V diamonds from Queen Elizabeth II's jewelry collection. Another change will see four of the crown's eight detachable arches removed to create "a different impression to when the Crown was worn by Queen Mary at the 1911 Coronation," the palace said.

It was previously speculated that Camilla might wear the controversial crown the Queen Mother wore to her husband King George's coronation in 1937. The headpiece features the divisive Koh-i-Nûr diamond, a massive gem imported to Britain by the East India Company. It became part of Queen Victoria's collection but has been subject to ownership claims in India, Pakistan and Afghanistan.

The St. Edward's Crown has also inspired a new emoji that will appear on Twitter when any of the following hashtags are used: #Coronation, #CoronationConcert, #CoronationWeekend, #CoronationBigLunch and #TheBigHelpOut. The new icon went live online on April 9.

What About the Coronation Royal Regalia?

King Charles and Queen Camilla will continue centuries of royal tradition and use the precious collection of coronation regalia during their crowning ceremony. These objects include two 17th-century maces made of silver gilt over oak, the Sword of State, a symbol of royal authority used at Charles' investiture as the Prince of Wales in 1969, the St. Edward's Staff, Sovereign's Orb, the twelfth century Coronation Spoon, two Sovereign's Sceptres and more.

Buckingham Palace also confirmed that the coronation oil has been consecrated in Jerusalem and revealed which glittering rings will be part of the service. King Charles will wear the sapphire, ruby and diamond Sovereign's Ring, "a symbol of kingly dignity," while Queen Camilla will slip on the Queen Consort's Ring, a sparkling ruby in gold.

What Will King Charles and Queen Camilla Wear at Their Coronation?

King Charles and Queen Camilla will both wear two different robes at the crowning ceremony: the Robes of State and the Robes of Estate. Robes of State are worn on arrival at Westminster Abbey while the Robes of Estate are worn on departure and are traditionally more personalized.

The King's Robe of State is made of crimson velvet and was worn by King George VI, King Charles' grandfather, at his 1937 coronation. For his second robe of the coronation service, King Charles will change into the King's Robe of Estate, made of purple silk velvet embroidered in gold. It too was worn by King George VI in 1937.

Queen Camilla will wear the Robe of State that was originally made for Queen Elizabeth, King Charles' mother, for her 1953 coronation. A new Robe of Estate was created for Queen Camilla, made by Ede and Ravenscroft and designed and hand embroidered by the Royal School of Needlework. It is a purple velvet, matching the King's Robe of Estate.

Will Kate Middleton Wear a Tiara at the Coronation?

It's thought that the Princess of Wales won't be wearing a sparkly headpiece, but with increased anticipation for her to deliver glamour, the conversation around the decision is ongoing.

What Will Prince William's Role at the Coronation Be?

As his father's heir, Prince William will play an important role in the ceremony. After King Charles is crowned, Prince William will kneel before King Charles and say: "I, William, Prince of Wales, pledge my loyalty to you and faith and truth I will bear unto you, as your liege man of life and limb. So help me God." The Prince of Wales' words is called the Homage of Royal Blood.

The Prince of Wales will also appear during the coronation service as the Stole Royal (from an ancient Greek word meaning "scarf") and the Robe Royal are brought to the King. Prince William will assist Baroness Merron and bishops in putting the robe on King Charles.

What Role Will Prince William and Kate Middleton's Children Play in the Coronation?

It was reported that Prince William and Kate's three children — Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis — "are expected to join their parents" and be on "public display" in a horse-drawn carriage as it leaves Westminster Abbey at the end of the crowning ceremony.

Prince George is second in line to the throne and will be a Page of Honor for his grandfather at the ceremony. His coronation participation marks the first time in modern royal history that a future monarch is officially involved in such a service. According to The Telegraph, George will become the youngest future king to play an official role at a coronation.

Who Will Attend King Charles' Coronation?

The coronation at Westminster Abbey will be attended by a congregation of more than 2,200 people. Guests attending will include members of the royal family, international representatives from 203 countries, Nobel Prize winners and charity champions.

Some famous faces will be in the crowd as well, including Lionel Richie and British Vogue editor-in-chief Edward Enninful. Ant and Dec, who are hosts of I'm a Celebrity ... Get Me out of Here!, are also on the guest list.

Royals from around the world are also on the guest list. Foreign monarchs — including King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden and King Felipe of Spain — attending to the marks a change in past coronation guest lists. Foreign monarchs typically did not attend a British king or queen's crowning ceremony — instead, they would usually send heirs, consorts or other family members to represent them.

Will Prince Harry and Meghan Markle Attend King Charles' Coronation?

On April 12, Buckingham Palace confirmed that Prince Harry will be at the crowning ceremony of his father King Charles and stepmother Queen Camilla on May 6.

"Buckingham Palace is pleased to confirm that The Duke of Sussex will attend the Coronation Service at Westminster Abbey on 6^th May. The Duchess of Sussex will remain in California with Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet," they said in the statement.

Prince Harry, 38, wanted to be at the service to support his father at this important moment in his life, a friend tells PEOPLE.

Meghan, 41, is staying in California with the couple's two children. May 6 is also Prince Archie's fourth birthday, and she will spend the weekend celebrating with him and his sister, Princess Lilibet, PEOPLE understands.

Will Prince Andrew Attend Brother King Charles' Coronation?

Prince Andrew, 63, who stepped back from royal duties over his ties to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, is being forced in part by Charles to move out of his home in Windsor, Royal Lodge. However, Andrew was invited by his brother to spend Christmas at Sandringham and take part in their annual church outing on Christmas morning, and he'll likely be at the coronation, showing that family is separate from the business of monarchy.

Will Queen Camilla's Children and Grandchildren Play a Role in the Coronation?

Queen Camilla has chosen for her grandsons to support her on the big day. Twin brothers Gus and Louis Lopes, 14, who are the sons of Camilla's daughter Laura Lopes, will be joined by Freddy Parker Bowles, the 13-year-old son of Camilla's son Tom Parker Bowles, as her Pages of Honor. Camilla's great-nephew, Arthur Elliot, will also join the group.

By including Camilla's children and grandchildren, the royal couple is showing that they — like many people around the world — belong to a blended family.

Who Will Be Behind the Scenes at the Coronation?

According to The Times, King Charles' team has tapped Hugo Burnand as the official coronation photographer. Charles and Camilla previously called on Burnand, 59, to photograph another high-profile milestone: their wedding in 2005. The London cameraman evidently aced the assignment, and he got behind the camera again to take the official portraits of Prince William and Kate Middleton on their 2011 wedding day.

Like much of the rest of Charles' coronation plans, The Times reports that the pictures are "expected to combine a modern and traditional style."

Does the Coronation Have a Theme?

Not exactly — but more information is being released as the countdown gets closer. In early February, the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport debuted a new website dedicated to the crowning ceremony. The site features previously released details on the upcoming ceremony at Westminster Abbey and the festive events planned for the three-day bank holiday weekend.

In another fun update, courtiers debuted an official "Coronation Celebration Playlist" on Spotify. The eclectic two-hour mix mostly features British talent including The Beatles, Coldplay, David Bowie, Ed Sheeran, Ellie Goulding, George Ezra, Harry Styles, Queen, Jeff Beck, Rod Stewart, Sam Ryder, the Spice Girls, The Kinks, The Who and Tom Jones.

King Charles' team has also unveiled an official coronation logo, created by former Apple design guru Sir Jony Ive. The logo is red and blue like the Union Jack and shows the St. Edward's Crown filled with and surrounded by the national flowers of the four nations of the United Kingdom — the rose of England, the thistle of Scotland, the daffodil of Wales and the shamrock of Northern Ireland. Buckingham Palace said the logo is meant to evoke the King's "love of the natural world" and unity through the U.K.

What Other Events Will Surround the Coronation?

On May 6, the King's Procession will start at Buckingham Palace and make its way to Westminster Abbey for the coronation. Following the service, King Charles and Queen Camilla will be joined by members of the royal family for the larger Coronation Procession back to Buckingham Palace, where they will all appear on the iconic balcony.

The following day, the Coronation Concert will be broadcast live from Windsor Castle. The event will feature "global music icons and contemporary stars," supported by a world-class orchestra and dancers. Free pairs of tickets will be made available to the public via national ballot, and the concert will also be attended by volunteers from some of the King and Queen Consort's charity affiliations.

British superstars Elton John, Adele and Harry Styles have all reportedly declined to perform at the coronation concert as critics suggest that King Charles doesn't have the same support as his mother Queen Elizabeth, who had several big-name musicians at her Platinum Jubilee concert last summer. Those likely to take the stage include Lionel Richie, who is an ambassador for The Prince's Trust, which was founded by Charles in 1976, and the band Take That.

Synchronized with the concert, "Lighting up the Nation" will see iconic locations across the U.K. illuminated with projections, lasers and drone displays.

Also on May 7, citizens across the U.K. will gather with neighbors for the Coronation Big Lunch. Originally conceived by the Eden Project, the event is intended to "boost community spirit, reduce loneliness and support charities and good causes."

Monday, May 8, was announced as a bank holiday by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak in November. U.K. citizens are invited to participate in the Big Help Out, a volunteering initiative.

Will King Charles and Queen Camilla Live in Buckingham Palace After the Coronation?

It's expected that the royal couple will move out of Clarence House and into Buckingham Palace when extensive renovations on the royal residence are completed in 2027.

"It is monarchy HQ," says an insider.