coronation tourism money

King Charles’ coronation is bringing millions of tourists and a cash infusion to London but it probably won’t save the British economy

Kelly Curto is taking her first trip outside the U.S., and the die-hard fan of the British royal family is making it the one at the top of her bucket list — heading to London for  King Charles III’s coronation .

After arriving on May 5, the 44-year-old school bus driver from Long Island and a friend will head to the Mall, the ceremonial avenue to Buckingham Palace where the  monarch’s pomp-filled procession  will pass by the following day.

That’s where they plan to spend the night if they can find a good spot to glimpse the gilded horse-drawn state coach, royals and thousands of soldiers filing past — despite splurging on a four-star hotel for their nine-day trip.

“This is like a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. You get to be part of history,” Curto said. “Everybody around the world knows this family. Everybody around the world is going to be watching this coronation — and we get to be a part of that.”

The coronation  is luring royal enthusiasts fascinated by the ceremonial spectacle — and drama — of the monarchy and far-flung visitors eager to experience a  piece of British history . Tour companies, shops and restaurants are rolling out the red carpet, whether it’s a decked-out bus tour of London’s top sights with high tea or  merchandise running from regal to kitschy .

The weekend of events starting May 6 will bring a  cash infusion to central London businesses , especially hotels, pubs and restaurants, but it won’t do much for U.K. residents struggling with an economy on the precipice of recession and a  cost-of-living crisis  that has stirred  months of disruptive strikes  by workers seeking pay hikes.

For visitors looking to splash out, hotels across London are touting coronation-themed packages, menus and decor.

Those willing to spend an eye-popping 12,995 pounds (over $16,000) can get an overnight stay in the Royal Suite at the five-star Hotel Cafe Royal and a limo ride to the Tower of London for a private tour and viewing of  the Crown Jewels .

The Dorchester Hotel, long a favorite with royals and celebrities, concocted a lavish, five-tier coronation cake and put up theater-style draping across its facade to re-create the decorations that it used to mark  Queen Elizabeth II’s coronation in 1953 .

Many international visitors are drawn by the idea of a “beautiful fairytale” about “the royals and everything that is around them,” general manager Luca Virgilio said.

“So there’s a lot of love and a lot of interest. And we are sold out already, which is very encouraging,” he said.

The Royal Lancaster Hotel near Hyde Park is serving afternoon tea inspired by Charles’ favorites: roast beef sandwiches, darjeeling tea and damson plum mousse.

The spread features a darjeeling tea cake shaped like crown atop a crimson cushion, while the hotel bar serves a coronation cocktail: a martini with a splash of darjeeling tea, trimmed with gold leaf.

For a different twist, Annie Verhaert, 64, and daughter Claudia Lombaert, 30, from Belgium, boarded a vintage red double-decker bus strung with Union Jack flags for a coronation-themed tour that hits landmarks like Big Ben and Trafalgar Square.

On the way, they sipped tea — using cupholders to prevent spills — and snacked on finger sandwiches and pastries like the “royal scone” from a menu a former royal butler curated for tour operator Brigit’s Bakery.

“We knew the queen all our life,” Verhaert said. “And it’s now the first time we see a change on the throne. So it’s special.”

And  souvenirs are in no short supply , including tea towels, socks, dessert plates and other paraphernalia with coronation insignia from the Royal Collection Trust, purveyor of official memorabilia.

Unofficial merchandise also abounds at shops in tourist areas, with Charles’ likeness crudely emblazoned on tote bags, coasters and teabag holders or coronation-branded pens, tins of fudge and playing cards offering more upscale options. Even more items show his mother, who died in September after 70 years on the throne, on everything from mugs to bobblehead figures.

Officials have high hopes that the coronation will provide a vital boost to the country’s tourism industry, which is still reeling from two years of COVID-19 shutdowns. The U.K. received some 29.7 million visits last year, still nearly a third below 2019.

“Events like this really kick-start the recovery, don’t they? And they put Britain on the world stage again,” said Patricia Yates, chief executive of the VisitBritain tourism board.

Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee  celebrations last year brought in an extra 2.6 million visitors to London, she said, and Charles’ coronation is expected to have a similar effect.

History, heritage and the royals are the biggest draw for international tourists, Yates said, and royal pageantry is a particular magnet for Americans, who are driving the U.K.’s tourism recovery.

“We can see a 10% increase in flight bookings through May from the America market,” she said. “The big question mark is, of course, China, which was our second-most-valuable market and still not coming back quite in the numbers we would like to see.”

The coronation’s wider  impact on Britain’s economy  is less clear.

Tax revenue will get a boost from extra retail spending for parties nationwide, including booze sales that have hefty alcohol duties. Pubs will be allowed to stay open two hours longer May 5-6.

However, organizing the coronation has a huge cost that some reports estimate could run as high as 100 milllion pounds, and an extra public holiday on May 8 means a lost day of productivity.

So while the hospitality industry benefits, “the flipside of that is that by giving everybody an extra day off, you’re taking quite a bit of output out of the economy in quite a lot of other sectors,” said Andrew Goodwin of Oxford Economics.

The British economy has been essentially stagnant since the start of last year as  decades-high inflation  squeezes households and small businesses. The International Monetary Fund  expects U.K. output to shrink  by the most of any major economy this year.

To keep up with the  soaring cost of living , nurses, teachers, postal workers and others have been  striking for higher wages . Security guards at Heathrow Airport plan to walk off the job starting May 5, threatening to disrupt travel for the coronation.

“There’s a lot of headwinds that the economy has to battle,” Goodwin said.

Brand Finance says the monarchy boosts the U.K. economy to the tune of 500 million pounds a year, more than making up for the estimated 350 million pounds it costs taxpayers.

However, that boon is less than a third of the London-based consultancy’s 2017 forecast. CEO David Haigh blamed the plunge in value on a “disastrous six years” for the royal family, including a  scandal involving Prince Andrew , a string of gaffes by minor royals and  Harry and Meghan falling out  with the family.

Still, “going forward, we still believe that the monarchy generates more in terms of revenue for the U.K. economy than it costs,” Haigh said.

The royals certainly are drawing Curto, who will stay with a friend at the Wellington Blue Orchid hotel in London at a cost of about 3,000 pounds.

They plan to visit Hampton Court Palace,  Westminster Abbey , the Tower of London and make day trips to Oxford and the Cotswolds. It won’t be cheap, but Curto won’t be pinching pence.

“I plan on enjoying myself without limits,” she said. “I know London is an expensive city, so I’m prepared to spend a fair amount.”

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Charles’ coronation boosts tourism in Britain, but its economy is still reeling

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Kelly Curto is taking her first trip outside the U.S., and the die-hard fan of the British royal family is making it the one at the top of her bucket list — heading to London for King Charles III’s coronation .

After arriving May 5, the 44-year-old school bus driver from Long Island and a friend will head to the Mall, the ceremonial avenue to Buckingham Palace where the monarch’s pomp-filled procession will pass by the following day.

That’s where they plan to spend the night if they can find a good spot to glimpse the gilded horse-drawn state coach, royal family members and thousands of soldiers filing past — despite splurging on a four-star hotel for their nine-day trip.

“This is like a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. You get to be part of history,” Curto said. “Everybody around the world knows this family. Everybody around the world is going to be watching this coronation — and we get to be a part of that.”

The coronation is luring royal enthusiasts fascinated by the ceremonial spectacle — and drama — of the monarchy and far-flung visitors eager to experience a piece of British history. Tour companies, shops and restaurants are rolling out the red carpet, whether it’s a decked-out bus tour of London’s top sights with high tea or merchandise running from regal to kitschy.

The weekend of events starting May 6 will bring a cash infusion to Central London businesses, especially hotels, pubs and restaurants, but it won’t do much for British residents struggling with an economy on the precipice of recession and a cost-of-living crisis that has stirred months of disruptive strikes by workers seeking pay hikes.

For visitors looking to splash out, hotels across London are touting coronation-themed packages, menus and decor.

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Those willing to spend an eye-popping 12,995 pounds (more than $16,000) can get an overnight stay in the Royal Suite at the five-star Hotel Cafe Royal and a limo ride to the Tower of London for a private tour and viewing of the Crown Jewels.

The Dorchester Hotel, long a favorite with royals and celebrities, concocted a lavish, five-tier coronation cake and put up theater-style draping across its facade to re-create the decorations that it used to mark Queen Elizabeth II’s coronation in 1953 .

Many international visitors are drawn by the idea of a “beautiful fairy tale” about “the royals and everything that is around them,” general manager Luca Virgilio said.

“So there’s a lot of love and a lot of interest. And we are sold out already, which is very encouraging,” he said.

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The Royal Lancaster Hotel near Hyde Park is serving afternoon tea inspired by Charles’ favorites: roast beef sandwiches , Darjeeling tea and damson plum mousse.

The spread features a Darjeeling tea cake shaped like a crown atop a crimson cushion, while the hotel bar serves a coronation cocktail: a martini with a splash of Darjeeling tea, trimmed with gold leaf.

For a different twist, Annie Verhaert, 64, and daughter Claudia Lombaert, 30, from Belgium, boarded a vintage red double-decker bus strung with Union Jack flags for a coronation-themed tour that hits landmarks like Big Ben and Trafalgar Square.

On the way, they sipped tea and snacked on finger sandwiches and pastries like the “royal scone” from a menu a former royal butler curated for tour operator Brigit’s Bakery.

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“We knew the queen all our life,” Verhaert said. “And it’s now the first time we see a change on the throne. So it’s special.”

And souvenirs are in no short supply, including tea towels, socks, dessert plates and other paraphernalia with coronation insignia from the Royal Collection Trust, purveyor of official memorabilia.

Unofficial merchandise also abounds at shops in tourist areas, with Charles’ likeness crudely emblazoned on tote bags, coasters and teabag holders. Coronation-branded pens, tins of fudge and playing cards offer more upscale options. Even more items show Charles’ mother, who died in September after 70 years on the throne, on everything from mugs to bobblehead figures.

Officials have high hopes that the coronation will provide a vital boost to the country’s tourism industry, which is still reeling from two years of COVID-19 shutdowns. The U.K. received some 29.7 million visits last year, still nearly one-third below the level in 2019.

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“Events like this really kick-start the recovery, don’t they? And they put Britain on the world stage again,” said Patricia Yates, chief executive of the VisitBritain tourism board.

Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations last year brought in an extra 2.6 million visitors to London, she said, and Charles’ coronation is expected to have a similar effect.

History, heritage and the royals are the biggest draw for international tourists, Yates said, and royal pageantry is a particular magnet for Americans , who are driving Britain’s tourism recovery.

“We can see a 10% increase in flight bookings through May from the America market,” she said. “The big question mark is, of course, China, which was our second-most-valuable market and still not coming back quite in the numbers we would like to see.”

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The coronation’s wider impact on Britain’s economy is less clear.

Tax revenue will get a boost from extra retail spending for parties nationwide, including booze sales that have hefty alcohol duties. Pubs will be allowed to stay open two hours longer May 5-6.

However, organizing the coronation has a huge cost that some reports estimate could run as high as 100 million pounds (about $124 million), and an extra public holiday May 8 means a lost day of productivity.

So while the hospitality industry benefits, “the flipside of that is that, by giving everybody an extra day off, you’re taking quite a bit of output out of the economy in quite a lot of other sectors,” said Andrew Goodwin of Oxford Economics.

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The British economy has been essentially stagnant since the start of last year as the highest rate of inflation in decades squeezes households and small businesses. The International Monetary Fund expects U.K. output to shrink by the most of any major economy this year.

To keep up with the soaring cost of living, nurses, teachers, postal workers and others have been striking for higher wages . Security guards at Heathrow Airport plan to walk off the job starting May 5, threatening to disrupt travel for the coronation.

“There’s a lot of headwinds that the economy has to battle,” Goodwin said.

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Coronation gives tourism boost, but UK economy still reeling

Britain coronation economy.

LONDON (AP) — Kelly Curto is taking her first trip outside the U.S., and the die-hard fan of the British royal family is making it the one at the top of her bucket list — heading to London for King Charles III's coronation .

After arriving on May 5, the 44-year-old school bus driver from Long Island and a friend will head to the Mall, the ceremonial avenue to Buckingham Palace where the monarch's pomp-filled procession will pass by the following day.

That's where they plan to spend the night if they can find a good spot to glimpse the gilded horse-drawn state coach, royals and thousands of soldiers filing past — despite splurging on a four-star hotel for their nine-day trip.

“This is like a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. You get to be part of history," Curto said. "Everybody around the world knows this family. Everybody around the world is going to be watching this coronation — and we get to be a part of that.”

The coronation is luring royal enthusiasts fascinated by the ceremonial spectacle — and drama — of the monarchy and far-flung visitors eager to experience a piece of British history . Tour companies, shops and restaurants are rolling out the red carpet, whether it’s a decked-out bus tour of London’s top sights with high tea or merchandise running from regal to kitschy .

The weekend of events starting May 6 will bring a cash infusion to central London businesses , especially hotels, pubs and restaurants, but it won’t do much for U.K. residents struggling with an economy on the precipice of recession and a cost-of-living crisis that has stirred months of disruptive strikes by workers seeking pay hikes.

For visitors looking to splash out, hotels across London are touting coronation-themed packages, menus and decor.

Those willing to spend an eye-popping 12,995 pounds (over $16,000) can get an overnight stay in the Royal Suite at the five-star Hotel Cafe Royal and a limo ride to the Tower of London for a private tour and viewing of the Crown Jewels .

The Dorchester Hotel, long a favorite with royals and celebrities, concocted a lavish, five-tier coronation cake and put up theater-style draping across its facade to re-create the decorations that it used to mark Queen Elizabeth II’s coronation in 1953 .

Many international visitors are drawn by the idea of a “beautiful fairytale” about “the royals and everything that is around them,” general manager Luca Virgilio said.

“So there’s a lot of love and a lot of interest. And we are sold out already, which is very encouraging,” he said.

The Royal Lancaster London hotel near Hyde Park is serving afternoon tea inspired by Charles’ favorites: roast beef sandwiches, darjeeling tea and damson plum mousse.

The spread features a darjeeling tea cake shaped like crown atop a crimson cushion, while the hotel bar serves a coronation cocktail: a martini with a splash of darjeeling tea, trimmed with gold leaf.

For a different twist, Annie Verhaert, 64, and daughter Claudia Lombaert, 30, from Belgium, boarded a vintage red double-decker bus strung with Union Jack flags for a coronation-themed tour that hits landmarks like Big Ben and Trafalgar Square.

On the way, they sipped tea — using cupholders to prevent spills — and snacked on finger sandwiches and pastries like the “royal scone” from a menu a former royal butler curated for tour operator Brigit’s Bakery.

“We knew the queen all our life,” Verhaert said. “And it’s now the first time we see a change on the throne. So it’s special.”

And souvenirs are in no short supply , including tea towels, socks, dessert plates and other paraphernalia with coronation insignia from the Royal Collection Trust, purveyor of official memorabilia.

Unofficial merchandise also abounds at shops in tourist areas, with Charles' likeness crudely emblazoned on tote bags, coasters and teabag holders or coronation-branded pens, tins of fudge and playing cards offering more upscale options. Even more items show his mother, who died in September after 70 years on the throne, on everything from mugs to bobblehead figures.

Officials have high hopes that the coronation will provide a vital boost to the country’s tourism industry, which is still reeling from two years of COVID-19 shutdowns. The U.K. received some 29.7 million visits last year, still nearly a third below 2019.

“Events like this really kick-start the recovery, don’t they? And they put Britain on the world stage again,” said Patricia Yates, chief executive of the VisitBritain tourism board.

Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations last year brought in an extra 2.6 million visitors to London, she said, and Charles’ coronation is expected to have a similar effect.

History, heritage and the royals are the biggest draw for international tourists, Yates said, and royal pageantry is a particular magnet for Americans, who are driving the U.K.’s tourism recovery.

“We can see a 10% increase in flight bookings through May from the America market,” she said. “The big question mark is, of course, China, which was our second-most-valuable market and still not coming back quite in the numbers we would like to see.”

The coronation's wider impact on Britain’s economy is less clear.

Tax revenue will get a boost from extra retail spending for parties nationwide, including booze sales that have hefty alcohol duties. Pubs will be allowed to stay open two hours longer May 5-6.

However, organizing the coronation has a huge cost that some reports estimate could run as high as 100 milllion pounds, and an extra public holiday on May 8 means a lost day of productivity.

So while the hospitality industry benefits, “the flipside of that is that by giving everybody an extra day off, you’re taking quite a bit of output out of the economy in quite a lot of other sectors,” said Andrew Goodwin of Oxford Economics.

The British economy has been essentially stagnant since the start of last year as decades-high inflation squeezes households and small businesses. The International Monetary Fund expects U.K. output to shrink by the most of any major economy this year.

To keep up with the soaring cost of living , nurses, teachers, postal workers and others have been striking for higher wages . Security guards at Heathrow Airport plan to walk off the job starting May 5, threatening to disrupt travel for the coronation.

“There’s a lot of headwinds that the economy has to battle,” Goodwin said.

Brand Finance says the monarchy boosts the U.K. economy to the tune of 500 million pounds a year, more than making up for the estimated 350 million pounds it costs taxpayers.

However, that boon is less than a third of the London-based consultancy's 2017 forecast. CEO David Haigh blamed the plunge in value on a "disastrous six years” for the royal family, including a scandal involving Prince Andrew , a string of gaffes by minor royals and Harry and Meghan falling out with the family.

Still, “going forward, we still believe that the monarchy generates more in terms of revenue for the U.K. economy than it costs," Haigh said.

The royals certainly are drawing Curto, who will stay with a friend at the Wellington Blue Orchid hotel in London at a cost of about 3,000 pounds.

They plan to visit Hampton Court Palace, Westminster Abbey , the Tower of London and make day trips to Oxford and the Cotswolds. It won’t be cheap, but Curto won't be pinching pence.

“I plan on enjoying myself without limits," she said. "I know London is an expensive city, so I’m prepared to spend a fair amount.”

AP reporter Sylvia Hui in London contributed.

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Coronation gives tourism boost, but U.K. economy still reeling

Kelly Curto is taking her first trip outside the U.S., and the die-hard fan of the British royal family is making it the one at the top of her bucket list -- heading to London for King Charles III 's coronation.

After arriving on May 5, the 44-year-old school bus driver from Long Island and a friend will head to the Mall, the ceremonial avenue to Buckingham Palace where the monarch's pomp-filled procession will pass by the following day.

That's where they plan to spend the night if they can find a good spot to glimpse the gilded horse-drawn state coach, royals and thousands of soldiers filing past -- despite splurging on a four-star hotel for their nine-day trip.

• Royal Dispatch newsletter: Sign up for exclusive insights on the monarchy

"This is like a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. You get to be part of history," Curto said. "Everybody around the world knows this family. Everybody around the world is going to be watching this coronation -- and we get to be a part of that."

The coronation is luring royal enthusiasts fascinated by the ceremonial spectacle -- and drama -- of the monarchy and far-flung visitors eager to experience a piece of British history. Tour companies, shops and restaurants are rolling out the red carpet, whether it's a decked-out bus tour of London's top sights with high tea or merchandise running from regal to kitschy.

The weekend of events starting May 6 will bring a cash infusion to central London businesses, especially hotels, pubs and restaurants, but it won't do much for U.K. residents struggling with an economy on the precipice of recession and a cost-of-living crisis that has stirred months of disruptive strikes by workers seeking pay hikes.

For visitors looking to splash out, hotels across London are touting coronation-themed packages, menus and decor.

Those willing to spend an eye-popping 12,995 pounds (over US$16,000) can get an overnight stay in the Royal Suite at the five-star Hotel Cafe Royal and a limo ride to the Tower of London for a private tour and viewing of the Crown Jewels.

The Dorchester Hotel, long a favourite with royals and celebrities, concocted a lavish, five-tier coronation cake and put up theatre-style draping across its facade to re-create the decorations that it used to mark Queen Elizabeth II's coronation in 1953.

Many international visitors are drawn by the idea of a "beautiful fairytale" about "the royals and everything that is around them," general manager Luca Virgilio said.

"So there's a lot of love and a lot of interest. And we are sold out already, which is very encouraging," he said.

The Royal Lancaster London hotel near Hyde Park is serving afternoon tea inspired by Charles' favourites: roast beef sandwiches, darjeeling tea and damson plum mousse.

The spread features a darjeeling tea cake shaped like crown atop a crimson cushion, while the hotel bar serves a coronation cocktail: a martini with a splash of darjeeling tea, trimmed with gold leaf.

For a different twist, Annie Verhaert, 64, and daughter Claudia Lombaert, 30, from Belgium, boarded a vintage red double-decker bus strung with Union Jack flags for a coronation-themed tour that hits landmarks like Big Ben and Trafalgar Square.

On the way, they sipped tea -- using cupholders to prevent spills -- and snacked on finger sandwiches and pastries like the "royal scone" from a menu a former royal butler curated for tour operator Brigit's Bakery.

"We knew the queen all our life," Verhaert said. "And it's now the first time we see a change on the throne. So it's special."

And souvenirs are in no short supply, including tea towels, socks, dessert plates and other paraphernalia with coronation insignia from the Royal Collection Trust, purveyor of official memorabilia.

Unofficial merchandise also abounds at shops in tourist areas, with Charles' likeness crudely emblazoned on tote bags, coasters and teabag holders or coronation-branded pens, tins of fudge and playing cards offering more upscale options. Even more items show his mother, who died in September after 70 years on the throne, on everything from mugs to bobblehead figures.

Officials have high hopes that the coronation will provide a vital boost to the country's tourism industry, which is still reeling from two years of COVID-19 shutdowns. The U.K. received some 29.7 million visits last year, still nearly a third below 2019.

"Events like this really kick-start the recovery, don't they? And they put Britain on the world stage again," said Patricia Yates, chief executive of the VisitBritain tourism board.

Queen Elizabeth II's Platinum Jubilee celebrations last year brought in an extra 2.6 million visitors to London, she said, and Charles' coronation is expected to have a similar effect.

History, heritage and the royals are the biggest draw for international tourists, Yates said, and royal pageantry is a particular magnet for Americans, who are driving the U.K.'s tourism recovery.

"We can see a 10% increase in flight bookings through May from the America market," she said. "The big question mark is, of course, China, which was our second-most-valuable market and still not coming back quite in the numbers we would like to see."

The coronation's wider impact on Britain's economy is less clear.

Tax revenue will get a boost from extra retail spending for parties nationwide, including booze sales that have hefty alcohol duties. Pubs will be allowed to stay open two hours longer May 5-6.

However, organizing the coronation has a huge cost that some reports estimate could run as high as 100 million pounds, and an extra public holiday on May 8 means a lost day of productivity.

So while the hospitality industry benefits, "the flipside of that is that by giving everybody an extra day off, you're taking quite a bit of output out of the economy in quite a lot of other sectors," said Andrew Goodwin of Oxford Economics.

 The British economy has been essentially stagnant since the start of last year as decades-high inflation squeezes households and small businesses. The International Monetary Fund expects U.K. output to shrink by the most of any major economy this year.

To keep up with the soaring cost of living, nurses, teachers, postal workers and others have been striking for higher wages. Security guards at Heathrow Airport plan to walk off the job starting May 5, threatening to disrupt travel for the coronation.

"There's a lot of headwinds that the economy has to battle," Goodwin said.

Brand Finance says the monarchy boosts the U.K. economy to the tune of 500 million pounds a year, more than making up for the estimated 350 million pounds it costs taxpayers.

However, that boon is less than a third of the London-based consultancy's 2017 forecast. CEO David Haigh blamed the plunge in value on a "disastrous six years" for the royal family, including a scandal involving Prince Andrew, a string of gaffes by minor royals and Harry and Meghan falling out with the family.

Still, "going forward, we still believe that the monarchy generates more in terms of revenue for the U.K. economy than it costs," Haigh said.

The royals certainly are drawing Curto, who will stay with a friend at the Wellington Blue Orchid hotel in London at a cost of about 3,000 pounds.

They plan to visit Hampton Court Palace, Westminster Abbey, the Tower of London and make day trips to Oxford and the Cotswolds. It won't be cheap, but Curto won't be pinching pence.

 "I plan on enjoying myself without limits," she said. "I know London is an expensive city, so I'm prepared to spend a fair amount."

 AP reporter Sylvia Hui in London contributed.

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Britain’s Economy Needs a Pick-Me-Up. Is the Coronation Enough?

Caught between slow growth and high inflation, businesses are hoping King Charles’s coronation will bolster consumer confidence enough to last more than just one weekend.

Pull up a chair? Britain’s businesses hope the celebratory mood lasts awhile. Credit... Sandra Mickiewicz for The New York Times

Supported by

By Eshe Nelson

Reporting from London and Kings Worthy, a village in southeast England.

• Published May 4, 2023 Updated May 6, 2023

Dawn Anchor, who runs a pub in the village of Kings Worthy, about 60 miles southwest of London, has everything she needs: reams of red, white and blue bunting, mini Union Jack flags and a life-size cardboard cutout of King Charles III.

This weekend’s coronation of Britain’s new monarch has been a gift for her establishment, one of just a handful of pubs in Britain aptly called The King Charles.

And like many business people enduring Britain’s economic doldrums, Ms. Anchor hopes the coronation will bring some much-needed cheer (and sales).

At The King Charles, the celebrations will begin on Friday with a 17-hour day, serving breakfast through dinner, with afternoon tea in between. Fuller’s Coronation King’s Ale, a special edition bitter, will be on tap and likely to contribute to the estimated 17 million extra pints that are expected to be poured around the country over the three-day weekend, according to the British Beer and Pub Association.

Festivities at the pub extend beyond the traditional British pastime of drinking. Also planned: cake competitions, dog shows, horse-and-carriage rides, choir singing and other musical performances.

“I’m hoping for a huge increase” in customers, Ms. Anchor said. But more important, she said, the weekend is a chance to “showcase what we do,” and attract people to keep coming once the coronation bunting is pulled down.

“It’s all about what people might do after,” she said.

The country — businesses and households alike — could use some respite . For much of the past year, the British economy has been stagnant. Its inflation rate is the highest in western Europe , food prices are about 20 percent higher than a year ago and households are feeling the cold grip of a deep cost-of-living crisis.

Energy bills at The King Charles have doubled and food costs have jumped. Increasing the number of customers, for example with cut-price meals on quiet days, has been the only way the pub has been able to battle soaring costs. Business has been good, Ms. Anchor said, but efforts to draw people into the pub can’t let up. The coronation weekend is an unmissable opportunity.

The hospitality industry, in particular, is set to benefit this weekend, which includes a national holiday on Monday. UKHospitality, a trade group, estimates businesses will bring in an additional £350 million ($437 million) as hotels fill up and pubs will be allowed to stay open later. Businesses hope the coronation can fuel an upswing in consumer confidence, but the celebrations are unlikely to fundamentally change the British economy.

“The overall impact probably is going to be very small — could be positive, could be negative,” said Stephen Millard, a deputy director at the National Institute of Economic and Social Research.

National holidays tend to reduce economic output because offices, factories and many other workplaces close for the day, even as tourism and hospitality activity increase. Last June’s Platinum Jubilee weekend, which celebrated Queen Elizabeth II’s 70 years on the throne and included an additional holiday, had little effect on quarterly economic growth data.

“The overall picture is going to be very sluggish growth this year, I don’t think that’s going to change — coronation or not,” Mr. Millard added. Britain might avert a recession this year as the economy is doing marginally better than expected, but what the economy needs is a rapid slowdown in inflation and an increase in public investment in critical sectors such as health, education and infrastructure, he said.

But the coronation could improve confidence, Mr. Millard said. “The economy could do with a little bit of a pick-me-up.”

The last coronation, in 1953, was also expected to bring some relief. The economy was still recovering from the Second World War. There were familiar celebrations, including processions and street parties. Sugar rationing was still in place, though it was slightly loosened to help people enjoy the celebrations, according to the British Parliament’s website.

Seventy years later, cakes and other treats are central to the celebrations. Food retailers are selling coronation-themed cake, biscuits and other items. The Centre for Retail Research estimates more than £130 million will be spent on food and party items, as well as another £245 million on souvenirs and other memorabilia. The sales would be a boon to retailers because for most of the past two years, sales volumes have been falling, as high prices forced people to cut back.

Still, the coronation weekend isn’t expected to be as big as the Platinum Jubilee, said Kate Nicholls, the chief executive of UKHospitality. But May brings two other holidays and the Eurovision Song Contest, this year based in Liverpool, and is swiftly followed by the finals of the FA Cup, the popular soccer tournament.

“There is something for everybody and we’re hoping that we can start to rebuild that momentum and rebuild consumer confidence,” Ms. Nicholls said.

“It has been a long, slow road to recovery” since the pandemic, she said, noting higher energy bills and other costs and staffing challenges.

Brigit’s Bakery in central London is taking advantage of the extra tourism. It’s decked out one of its double-decker buses, which serves afternoon tea on the move, in coronation-themed decorations. Three times a day for about a month, the coronation bus tour will roll past London’s top tourist attractions, like a moving billboard.

The coronation “is bringing a huge cash infusion into central London businesses, and we’re able to reap some of those benefits,” said Mehran Sahabi, the director of operations at the bakery.

It will be a welcome boost as the bakery has watched the cost of its essentials — namely flour and butter — skyrocket.

For tourists with deeper pockets, the Hotel Cafe Royal is offering a package that includes a private tour of the Tower of London and viewing of the Crown Jewels after hours. Starting price: £12,995.

The outing has been put together by Linda Hugo, who has been designing exclusive royal-themed experiences for years. Since she started her company, Beyond Curated, in 2019, she’s had to steer her business through pandemic lockdowns. She hopes the coronation is the start of an increase in business and tourism for the whole year; she’s already thinking up new themes inspired by the king’s interests, such as botany.

“The start of the year has been a little bit quieter than I was expecting,” Ms. Hugo said. “Even though it’s picking up significantly now, I think we’re still maybe not seeing as much excitement internationally around the coronation as we were expecting.”

She expects some people want to avoid the crowds and will visit London after the festivities.

Back at The King Charles pub in Kings Worthy, there is also the expectation that this is just a beginning. Visitors to the pub this weekend will be greeted with billboards advertising coming events, including outdoor performances of “Romeo and Juliet.”

“This is the start of the summer for us,” Ms. Anchor said.

Eshe Nelson is a reporter in London, where she writes about companies, the British economy and finance. More about Eshe Nelson

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King Charles' Coronation to give massive £8 BILLION boost to UK economy

It’s estimated consumers will spend an extra £1.76bn in shops - equivalent to £87 per person over the Coronation bank holiday weekend, as they prepare for celebrations and street parties

• 00:00, 2 May 2023

The British economy is set to see a huge boost of over £8 billion over the upcoming Coronation bank holiday weekend.

To mark to occasion, it’s expected that people will be spending £3.22bn more than they do during a typical May bank holiday. Usually the British public spend £4.80bn on these weekends.

The King Charles III Coronation Report from savings site VoucherCodes.co.uk, found factors towards the much-needed £8.01bn uplift include retail spend.

It’s estimated consumers will spend an extra £1.76bn in shops - equivalent to £87 per person over the Coronation bank holiday weekend, as they prepare for celebrations and street parties.

The majority of this spend - £1.17bn - will be seen by supermarkets , convenience stores, and corner shops as shoppers stock up their fridges.

Meanwhile, Coronation decorations, souvenirs and memorabilia also set to sell in droves as the nation prepares for the celebrations.

With 2.3 million people expected to descend on the capital, and another 125,000 visitors coming from abroad to watch the Coronation procession.

Britain’s tourism sector is also set for an increase of £0.25bn, or £60 per traveller, as they splurge on travel and accommodation for the weekend.

Over the course of the three-day weekend, a whopping 35.5 million pints of beer, 5.3 million bottles of wine, 2.4 million bottles of fizz, and 200,000 bottles of the British classic, Pimms are set to be drunk in venues across the UK.

This is expected to help provide a £120 million raise for pubs across the UK, according to figures from the British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA).

It comes as pubs are set to benefit from extended opening hours for the occasion, with the venues being allowed to stay open until 1am between May 5 and 7 - two hours later than usual.

Boozers will be celebrating the event with special events including parties and one-off menus and beers in a bid to attract customers amid pressures around the cost of living crisis.

Emma McClarkin, chief executive of the BBPA, said: “Our brewers and pubs are looking forward to the King’s coronation being a time for communities across the country to join in celebration - and what better place to do that than at your local?

“There are few things about public life that stand the test of time from one generation to the next, and the welcoming of a new monarch is undoubtedly a time to reflect on this and note how our much-loved pubs remain at the heart of their communities, just as they have done for centuries.

“In a critically difficult time for our industry, we hope people will mark this historic national celebration by visiting their local, one iconic British institution supporting another.”

The boost in spend comes as 25.1m people in the UK say they plan to celebrate the once-in-a-lifetime occasion.

An estimated 15.8m say they will watch the May 6 Coronation on TV, while 15.7m will attend a street party or social gathering.

Anita Naik, savings expert at VoucherCodes.co.uk, said: “As our report shows, many Brits will be making the most of their time off work by joining in with Coronation celebrations, shopping, and visiting their local bars, restaurants and pubs, so there’s no doubt there will be a sense of excitement in the air.”

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How Much King Charles' Coronation Will Cost, According to Royal Experts

One line item makes up the bulk of the coronation costs.

If you ask five people how much King Charles’ Coronation on May 6 at Westminster Abbey is going to cost, you’ll get five different answers. (Trust us—we did just that.) The truth? “We are probably not going to get a cost until the royal family’s financials are published next year,” royal expert Victoria Arbiter tells Marie Claire exclusively. “That doesn’t stop people throwing around all kinds of facts and figures. But there’s no official word, so take all of those with an almighty spoonful of salt. Not a grain of salt—a spoonful.”

The biggest cost of all will likely be security, Arbiter says. “Any time you have a large number of people put together—the Olympics, the World Cup, Trooping the Colour—there will be a large security presence,” she says. “You have to. And it’s not just about protecting the royal family, but the public as well. Security costs will amount for the highest costs.”  

While the exact cost has yet to be confirmed, “experts are projecting a total expenditure of about 100 million pounds,” Rachel Bowie, cohost of Royally Obsessed , a Gallery Media Group podcast, tells Marie Claire . “For reference, the Queen’s Coronation in 1953 would have cost about 50 million pounds by today’s money value. Charles’ is estimated to come in at double the cost, mainly due to security needs that have significantly more requirements than seven decades ago. It’s true that the government foots the bill for an occasion like this, but the tourism boom that results should more than make up for it.”

Kinsey Schofield, host of “To Di for Daily” podcast, tells Marie Claire that she doesn’t expect the Coronation to be as expensive as Her late Majesty’s Platinum Jubilee last June or her funeral in September: “Charles is specifically trying to rein in costs and shrink things down,” she says. “Even the procession route is, aside from it being more sustainable to shorten the route, it’s cheaper security-wise to shorten the route. The cost is dramatically different than the Jubilee or the Queen’s funeral.” And, as Bowie mentions, tourism equals incoming money; Schofield adds “it’s positive PR for the country. They’ll have results as far as return on investment.” 

The King has his eye on not just sustainability but affordability, Arbiter says. For example, the chairs that the King will use date back to his mother’s 1953 Coronation. “It’s all about the King wanting to observe traditions, while at the same time making sure he is aligning with his vision for a sustainable future,” she says. “The man puts his money where his mouth is. The chairs were reupholstered, and the Queen’s cypher was removed. We are seeing a Coronation that has been adapted for the modern age.”

And, in addition to an eye for cost-cutting where possible, another unspoken ROI is national pride, Arbiter says: “The country will come together, as well as the Commonwealth realms, with unity and a national pride that is kind of lacking these days,” she says. “For me, there is something really rather wonderful about that, the sense of unity we had when the Queen passed and her son stepping into her shoes—incredibly difficult shoes to fill. He has made sure about including representatives of our nation as it exists today, and I’m really hoping people get on board with that on Saturday—and that the feeling of pride continues Tuesday once the bank holiday is over. Rather than the doom and gloom and people hating on the royal family again, this is something new—a chance [for the King] to make his own mark on the institution of the monarchy. This is just extraordinary stuff we are incredibly privileged to witness.”

“The Coronation is hugely exciting,” longtime royal photographer Chris Jackson tells Marie Claire . (His latest book, Charles III: A King and His Queen , is out now.) “The celebration is not just for everyone in the U.K., but also the Commonwealth and the world. It’s nice to look back on the Platinum Jubilee and use that as a template. It’s a really exciting time, and, personally, I will never forget the huge crowds on the Mall [for the Platinum Jubilee]. It was absolutely amazing and such a great atmosphere. I’m looking forward to a bit of that again—[the situations] are very different, but equally exciting.”

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Jackson has been photographing the King and Queen for over 20 years and will be onsite on Saturday photographing the ceremony. “There is a groundswell of excitement with the U.K. flags going up,” he says. “It’s always exciting and great to be at the epicenter of moments of national celebration. It’s the most historic event I’ll ever get the opportunity to see. I’ve never photographed a Coronation before, but the nature of royal photography is that there are a lot of unknowns. I’d never photographed a Platinum Jubilee before, and never will again. Getting my head around new events and experiences is something I’ve gotten used to over the last few years.”

If you're currently outside the U.K., you can use a VPN like  ExpressVPN —which has a  30-day free trial —to watch the coronation live on the BBC, which aired Queen Elizabeth II 's coronation in 1953.

Rachel Burchfield is a writer, editor, and podcaster whose primary interests are fashion and beauty, society and culture, and, most especially, the British Royal Family and other royal families around the world. She serves as Marie Claire’s Senior Celebrity and Royals Editor and has also contributed to publications like Allure, Cosmopolitan, Elle, Glamour, Harper’s Bazaar, InStyle, People, Vanity Fair, Vogue, and W, among others. Before taking on her current role with Marie Claire, Rachel served as its Weekend Editor and later Royals Editor. She is the cohost of  Podcast Royal , a show that was named a top five royal podcast by The New York Times. A voracious reader and lover of books, Rachel also hosts  I’d Rather Be Reading , which spotlights the best current nonfiction books hitting the market and interviews the authors of them. Rachel frequently appears as a media commentator, and she or her work has appeared on outlets like NBC’s Today Show, ABC’s Good Morning America, CNN, and more. 

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How much will King Charles's Coronation cost and who pays for it?

4 May 2023, 12:20 | Updated: 4 May 2023, 13:40

By Zoe Adams

King Charles and wife Camilla are set to be coronated in front of the world on May 6th but how much does such a lavish royal event cost? And is it the UK tax payer who funds it?

The royal family are preparing for the biggest date in their 2023 calendar, King Charles III 's Coronation , where he and wife Camilla Parker-Bowles will be crowned King and Queen of England .

Set to be a luxury and lavish affair, Charles has invited huge figures from all over the world, including his son Prince Harry , and will also host an expensive Coronation Concert in honour of his new title.

A royal procession , which will shut down much of London , and a Red Arrows flyover are also included in the schedule of events.

However, while the event is set to be costly, King Charles has insisted it be cost of living conscious as he continues to make steps to reduce the cost of changing monarchy including the new stamps and money rollout .

Read more: King's Coronation flypast date, times and route: Exactly where you can see the Red Arrows

Read more: Coronation timetable: A complete schedule of timings and events for King Charles's weekend

So how much exactly is Charles's Coronation going to cost? And who pays the bill? Here's everything you need to know.

How much is King Charles III's Coronation going to cost the UK?

At present, no exact sum has been given on how much the coronation will cost but it's been estimated at £100million.

The Operation Golden Orb committee, who plan the whole event, revealed that even though they were trying to save money, it would still cost a huge sum of money.

Queen Elizabeth II's Coronation in 1953 cost £1.5million which equates to around £50million today.

A source told The Sun : "In today’s money the 1953 coronation cost around £50million but estimates for King Charles’s are twice that because of things like security, which weren’t such a big issue back then.

“But worldwide TV rights will more than cover the cost and it will be a massive boost to tourism. Hotels are already being booked out for the coronation weekend.”

Who will pay for the King's Coronation?

The event will be paid for by the British government which is essentially a cost for the British tax payer.

However, both the government and the king are aware how this could make the UK feel and are "mindful of ensuring that there is value for the taxpayer".

As the sovereign of our Head of State, the government pay for the event, unlike royal weddings which are paid for by the royal family.

Going forward in his reign, King Charles has promised to begin the era of a more financially viable royal family.

Also, the King's Coronation is expected to bring in around £1billion for the UK economy.

Everything you need to know about the King’s coronation

What is King Charles's personal net worth?

It's reported that Charles is worth around £400 to £480 million, with some suggesting he could even have up to nearly £2billion including assets and personal wealth.

The majority of his money is said to be inherited from the Queen, of which he was the sole beneficiary of, including her wealth, art collection, jewellery and private royal homes.

Their portfolio of mansions and homes, including Buckingham Palace, Windsor Castle and more equals around £23million.

There is also the Sovereign Grant - a personal percent of profits from the Firm's assets which reportedly paid Charles £86million last year. However, this is supposedly used for maintenance of the palaces and castles.

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Does British tourism really need the royal family?

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Love them or loathe them, the royal family are up there with red telephone boxes and scones when it comes to images of Britishness. Souvenir shops are full of their faces, newspapers across the world discuss them, and television dramas based on their lives have never been more popular.

Whenever people are critical of the royal family, the oft-repeated retort is “but think of the tourism!”. This has been particularly common rhetoric recently, as many people question how a country facing mass strikes and a crippling cost of living crisis can afford the estimated £100 million cost of King Charles III’s coronation.

In a recent YouGov poll , 51% did not believe the coronation should be paid for by taxpayers. For young people, this figure was even higher, at 62%. But supporters will often use tourism as justification for lavish expenses.

This piece is part of our coverage of King Charles III’s coronation . The first coronation of a British monarch since 1953 comes at a time of reckoning for the monarchy, the royal family and the Commonwealth.

For more royal analysis, revisit our coverage of Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum jubilee , and her death in September 2022 .

The royal family does bring tourism to the UK. The economic consultancy Centre for Economics and Business Research estimated that the coronation weekend would lead to a £337 million boost from tourism and pub spending.

But if the royal family were to disappear, would the UK’s tourism industry suddenly implode?

2011 research by Visit Britain found that around 60% of tourists to the UK are likely to visit places associated with the royal family. While there is no more recent specifically royal data, in 2022 Visit Britain found that history and heritage was the biggest pull factor to tourists .

And while the international perception of Britain is certainly intertwined with the royal family, this does not tell us whether a reigning royal family is necessary for tourism. After all, the history surrounding the monarchy and places associated with them would still be here even if the royal family was not. Ottoman palaces of Istanbul remain wildly popular attractions 100 years since the collapse of the caliphate, as are the royal châteaus of France or imperial palaces of China.

Lack of royalty does not seem to have affected these countries’ appeal, each of which attract more tourists annually than the UK.

A special relationship

The USA is the UK’s largest tourist market , and American tourists do seem to be very fond of things associated with British royalty.

But this may change with the new monarch. In a poll taken in February 2021 , before the death of Queen Elizabeth II, a whopping 68% of Americans viewed her favourably. The same poll found only 34% had a favourable opinion of Charles – but this has changed in his favour following his accession to the throne, according to a poll taken before the coronation which gave him a 50% approval rating in the US. That said, 62% of people in the US said they did not care about the coronation very much or at all.

Outside America, the UK’s next largest tourist groups have significantly less interest in the royal family. The holiday firm Travelzoo found in 2016 that just 19% of German, 15% of French and only 10% of Spanish travellers want to come to the UK because of the British monarchy.

Where do tourists go?

Typically, when commentators discuss the royal contributions to tourism, they talk about significant events such as weddings, jubilees, coronations and funerals. Even though these events attract huge crowds, they happen rarely and are unrepresentative of the tourism industry as a whole. Research has found that royal weddings massively improve a country’s image and brand awareness, but are not comparable to major mega events such as the Fifa World Cup, the Super Bowl or the Olympics.

Even though royal places are popular, they are far from our most popular attractions. Of Britain’s ten most visited free and paid-for attractions in 2021, none were royal attractions. The highest ranking royal attraction was the Tower of London, making only 17th on the list.

Typically, Chester Zoo attracts more visitors than Windsor Castle or Buckingham Palace, although these statistics do not differentiate between domestic and international tourists. In the most recent Windsor visitor survey , the majority of its tourists came from overseas.

Anti-monarchy group Republic has disputed the widely cited figure that the monarchy generates £500 million in tourism income for the UK annually – which itself would be only a small fraction of Britain’s £127 billion tourism economy.

The group also questions why royalty barely feature on British tourism campaigns or advertisements, if they are so vital to the tourism economy.

It is impossible to deny that royalty adds to the UK’s appeal as a tourist destination – the history and associated heritage is famous worldwide. However, what is questionable is whether a reigning monarchy is necessary for this attractiveness to continue.

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Coronation Street’s Ken to feel guilty over Amy after big windfall

Ken has the money to replace his granddaughter's inheritance.

Coronation Street spoilers follow.

Coronation Street 's Ken Barlow will struggle to hide his guilt in upcoming scenes, knowing he has the money to replace granddaughter Amy's inheritance.

Amy recently lost her entire £40,000 inheritance to Rowan Cunliffe's cult The Institute, after convincing a sceptical Ken to transfer the money as a business investment.

However, Amy soon regretted the decision and broke away from the cult last week, following a traumatic "malware session" in which she was blindfolded and bombarded with verbal abuse.

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In scenes airing on the ITV soap next week, Amy tells Ken that she will have to work more hours if she's ever going to replace her inheritance money.

Ken struggles to hide his guilt knowing that he could help, given his recent £50,000 premium bond win.

When Cassie arrives, Ken tells her about the money and how he's thinking of giving it to Amy, but will Cassie change his mind?

Related: Coronation Street reveals Paul's final week in 20 new spoiler pictures

Elsewhere next week, Leanne Battersby is set to turn against Rowan and make an attempt to get Amy's money back.

In the upcoming the scenes, Leanne will discover some files on Rowan's computer, including the secret dossier of evidence that he has been building on Nick and Toyah's affair .

Leanne tells Amy that she has emailed herself the files. Could the contents of then help Amy get her money back?

Jane Danson , who plays Leanne, recently explained Leanne's reaction to Rowan's secret files, saying the "penny just drops" as she realises that Toyah was right about the cult leader's dodgy dealings all along.

Coronation Street airs on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 8pm on ITV1 and streams on ITVX .

Read more Coronation Street spoilers on our dedicated homepage

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Anatomy of an Artwork: Konstantin Yuon's The Kremlin at Night

Konstantin Yuon’s The Kremlin at Night on the Eve of the Coronation of Tsar Mikhail Fedorovich was executed in the mid-1910s, the artist’s most sought-after period. Dominated by the majestic ecclesiastical and secular buildings of the Kremlin, this historical painting commemorates the coronation of the first Romanov Tsar in 1613. Exhibited twice in Russia in the early 1910s, it will be offered in Sotheby’s Russian Pictures sale on Tuesday 6th June.

Click through to learn more about this fascinating work.

Russian Pictures 6 June 2017 | London