The world is eagerly anticipating the coronation of King Charles III, and now details of the stunning regalia he will wear during the ceremony have been revealed.
The heavy and priest-like golden robes were created for his great-grandfather George V, and include layer upon layer of glittering vestments.

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During the service, Prince William will assist by placing a ceremonial robe on his father. The King will wear a long shimmering gold-sleeved coat called the Supertunica, which was created for George V in 1911 and has been worn at successive coronations, including by the late Queen Elizabeth II. The Supertunica weighs about 2kg (4.4lb) and is made of cloth of gold, which is silk thread wrapped in thin pieces of gold or silver gilt metal, and is embroidered with stylised arabesques and floral motifs.

Layered on top of the Supertunica, there will be a floor-length cloak called the Imperial Mantle or Robe Royal, which was made for George IV in 1821 and weighs between 3-4kg (6.6-8.8lb). The mantle fastens across the chest with a golden eagle clasp and is made of cloth of gold, embellished with motifs including fleur-de-lis, imperial eagles, and national floral emblems of red-pink roses, blue thistles, and green shamrocks. The priest-like style of the Imperial Mantle is meant to symbolise the divine nature of kingship, and it has been worn by previous monarchs, including Queen Elizabeth II during her coronation in 1953.

The weight of the ceremonial robes comes on top of the crown, which weighs about 2.23kg (nearly 5lbs). The garments are usually kept in the Tower of London and form part of the coronation regalia. It is tradition for recent monarchs to reuse garments, just as King Charles is, but they usually have a new coronation sword belt and glove to be used during the ceremony.

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In a move aimed at making the event more sustainable, the King has decided to reuse the belt and glove worn by his grandfather, George VI – the last male monarch. The sword belt from 1937, also known as the Coronation Girdle, is made of embroidered cloth of gold and has a gold buckle stamped with national emblems. Meanwhile, the single coronation glove, also known as the Coronation Gauntlet, will go on King Charles’ right hand while he holds the Sovereign’s Sceptre with Cross during the crowning. It is made of white leather, and the large cuff is embroidered in the form of national emblems, including the Tudor rose, thistle, shamrock, oak leaves, and acorns.

King Charles will arrive at Westminster Abbey in George VI’s crimson red Robe of State, which he will remove for his anointing. Then for the investiture, he will put on a sleeveless white garment called the Colobium Sindonis – Latin for shroud tunic – and will also be given a long, narrow embroidered band of gold silk which goes around the shoulders, known as the Coronation Stole. At the end of the service, the King will change into George VI’s purple Robe of Estate to leave the Abbey.