Crowning GLORY

The King plans on less pomp and pageantry

It's not just a slimmed-down monarchy King Charles III is keen on - the new monarch also wants a pared-back coronation.

Now details of his coronation plan, Operation Golden Orb, have revealed what next year's ceremony could look like, with one courtier saying it will be very different to the coronation of the Queen, back in 1953.

"The King has stripped back a lot of the coronation in recognition that the world has changed in the past 70 years," says the palace source. It will be a more simple and diverse ceremony, adjusted to reflect modern Britain. It will also be noticeably shorter - around an hour long, rather than the almost four hours it took to crown the Queen.

The occasion to be held on May 6 - will still include plenty of pomp and pageantry, with the 1762 Gold State Coach being used for the procession and key rituals like the anointing of the monarch taking place. But some traditions, such as the time-consuming presentation of gold ingots, will be axed.

The dress code is likely to be more relaxed, with peers allowed to wear suits rather than ceremonial robes, and women unlikely to be instructed to wear tiaras.