WASHINGTON, D.C. – APRIL 26, 2023—The BBC has announced its comprehensive programming slate for viewers around the world (outside of the UK) to commemorate the Coronation of Their Majesties The King and The Queen Consort. Featuring a live broadcast of the ceremony on the BBC News channel and on BBC.com and a wide-range of on-air content, digital features and documentaries, the BBC will provide global audiences with a front-row seat to this historic moment, along with added context from a diverse range of views and voices on the event and broader legacy of the British royal family.  

“The BBC is committed to giving audiences everywhere a chance to follow the events around the Coronation, live,” says Naja Nielsen, Digital Director for BBC News. “We are determined to provide unique, first-hand access to this historic event through our programming and digital content with rich and distinctive coverage, expert analysis and the best video and pictures.” 

Coronation Ceremony – May 6, 2023 

On Saturday May 6th, the BBC will broadcast the Coronation of His Majesty The King and Her Majesty The Queen Consort live on the BBC News channel (check local listings) and BBC.com from 2:30am – 10am EST. The live broadcast will cover all the ceremonial events as they unfold throughout the day, from the early military movements to the formal processions, and will give audiences a look at the ceremonial route from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Abbey.  

On the day, Kirsty Young will be in a studio at Buckingham Palace and JJ Chalmers will speak to members of the military as they prepare for one of the largest parades in living history. Huw Edwards will provide commentary as the doors of Westminster Abbey open and Sophie Raworth will be outside speaking to guests as they arrive.  Clare Balding will provide commentary for the ceremonial route and Anita Rani will join the gathered crowds.  

The coverage will also feature reporting from teams around the world and major Commonwealth nations including countries in the Caribbean, India, Pakistan and Australia, who will provide global context and reflect on the legacy of the monarchy. 

In addition to the live broadcast, audiences can follow along with the live page hosted on BBC.com. The page will feature real-time updates, analysis and reactions to the major moments throughout the day.  

Coverage Leading Up to Coronation  

In the days leading up to the Coronation, the BBC News channel will feature dedicated programming looking at the preparations for the event, examining how the UK, the Commonwealth, monarchy and the new King and Queen are perceived and what’s changed since the last coronation in 1953 – which was ground-breaking for live TV coverage. The BBC’s Katty Kay and Christian Fraser will provide global audiences with build-up from outside the Abbey and Buckingham Palace in the run-up to the day. 

In line with the 1953 Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II, which saw millions tune in to television for the first time, the BBC will be at the forefront of technology bringing together millions of people to watch a single event across television and digital platforms. 

Online audiences can find a steady drumbeat of special content across BBC.com’s Coronation page where the BBC’s royal experts and global political correspondents provide context, explanations and impartial analysis of the historical event as preparations unfold. Highlights include:  

• “What we know about King Charles’s Coronation“ 
• “How we’re marking King Charles III’s Coronation”  
• “Prince Harry and Meghan: Where do they get their money?” 

Audiences can take a deeper look into British culture and the significance of the moment with dedicated features across BBC Travel, Future, Culture and Reel including the official Coronation recipes, a look at past Coronation fashion, a spotlight on the Crown Jewels, and the history of Coronation rituals.  

“Europe’s Royals Revealed” (Documentary Special) 

• The special will premiere on BBC Select on April 27th.  The documentary will also be available to view, in two parts, on BBC News Channel. Part one will air on May 13th and 14th; part two will air on May 20th and 21st.  

As pundits debate what kind of king Charles III will be and some countries envision an exit ramp out of the commonwealth, “Europe’s Royals Revealed” a brand-new documentary from world-renowned journalist Katty Kay reveals how other modern-era royal families have sought to maintain their credibility and relevance amongst their people.  Kay travels around the world speaking with Europe’s other royals – including a number of monarchs who are living in exile—to explore the idea of a modern monarchy. Among those interviewed are the Norwegian princess who claims she can speak to angels, the Albanian king whose father was overthrown by Mussolini and the prince without a throne who works and lives in New York City.  

BBC World Service Radio Specials  

For fans of audio, the BBC has several dedicated programs exploring the history of the monarchy and King Charles III himself. Program highlights include:   

• Beginning May 1, Witness History, a BBC World Service Radio program telling the story of significant historical events through the experiences of those who were there, presents a week of special episodes looking at monarchies and kings of the past.   
• In The Documentary: The Day I Met the King, the BBC’s Orna Merchant presents a special program featuring people’s recollections of meeting King Charles III and reflecting on his personality – from his friendliness and humour to his knowledge and empathy. Guests from around the globe include Dr Joe McInnes, who took the former Prince for a dive beneath the ice of the North West passage in 1975, holocaust survivor Lily Ebert, Hollywood actor Luke Evans, and former pop singer and Spice Girl Mel B. The episode airs on Saturday April 29th on BBC World Service Radio and across all major podcast platforms.    
• In The Documentary: The Making of King Charles, the BBC speaks to the people who know King Charles III best, to explain the ideas and values which motivated him for so many decades. We discover how his many eclectic projects are rooted in his spiritual beliefs about the essential harmony of the universe and his reverence for the natural world. It will also unveil a sometimes-surprising figure. The episode airs on Tuesday May 2 on BBC World Service Radio and across all major podcast platforms.   

Royal Line of Succession Collection on BBC Select  

• Available now on bbcselect.com/royal-succession  

Audiences in the U.S. and Canada can go further in depth on the history and context of this moment with a curated collection of documentaries on BBC Select. The Royal Line of Succession features documentaries on the monarchs in chronological order from King George III to King Charles III, and looking ahead to the future king, Prince George of Wales. Titles include: “How Mad Was King George”, “Queen Victoria’s Children”, “King George and Queen Mary: The Royals Who Rescued the Monarchy”, “Edward VIII: Britain’s Traitor King” and “Elizabeth: The Unseen Queen” plus many others. 

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