Buckingham Palace just released the official invitation for the Coronation of King Charles and Queen Consort Camilla, which is set to take place on May 6, 2023. According to the Royal Family, the invitation will be sent to over 2,000 guests who will form the congregation in Westminster Abbey.
The invitation was designed by Andrew Jamieson, a heraldic artist, scribe and manuscript illuminator whose work is inspired by Arthurian legend. On his website, the artist says, "To have been invited to play a small part in such an historic event in our nation’s history has been an incredible honour and the opportunity of a lifetime, the pinnacle of my career. My hope is that those who see the invitation will get as much joy from it as I did creating it. I wish Their Majesties every good wish for their upcoming Coronation celebration as they begin this new journey together."
King Charles has long been a patron of architecture, design and the arts, and Jamieson is a Brother of the Art Workers' Guild where Charles is an honorary member. The original invitation was hand-painted in watercolor and gouache, but the design sent to thousands of guests will be reproduced and printed on a recycled card with gold foil detailing.
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The invitation holds very appropriate symbolic meaning for the coronation. Central to the design is the motif of the Green Man, which is "an ancient figure from British folklore," according to a media release from the Royal Family. This figure is "symbolic of spring and rebirth, to celebrate the new reign" and is crowned in oak, ivy and hawthorn leaves, the emblematic flowers of the U.K.
Additionally, the wildflowers surrounding the invitation feature lily of the valley, cornflowers, wild strawberries, dog roses, bluebells and "a spring of rosemary for remembrance," which is likely a nod to honor the late Queen Elizabeth II. Wildlife—including a bee, butterfly, ladybird, wren and robin—border the invitation, and flowers appear in groups of three (signifying King Charles being the third monarch of his name).
Crests in the upper right and left corners—bearing a lion, unicorn and boar—were taken from the coats of arms of King Charles and Queen Camilla's father, Major Bruce Shand. According to the media release, "Her Majesty’s arms are now enclosed by the Garter, following her installation as a Royal Lady of the Order of the Garter last summer."
Past coronation invitations have included some of these symbolic motifs, but this year's invitation is certainly the most colorful and ornate.
In addition to the official invitation being revealed, the eight Pages of Honour have been chosen to attend the coronation service at Westminster Abbey. According to Town & Country, King Charle's pages include Prince George, Lord Oliver Cholmondeley, Master Nicholas Barclay, and Master Ralph Tollemache. Queen Consort Camilla's pages include Master Gus Lopes, Master Louis Lopes, Master Freddy Parker Bowles and Master Arthur Elliot.
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