The Rules of the Coronation: Differentiating Convention from Practice and Custom

Abstract The coronation of a new monarch is a constitutional event governed by unwritten rules. To understand which aspects of the coronation are constitutionally significant—and which are better understood as the product of tradition or novel approaches—this article examines how three types of unwritten rules structure the ceremony: conventions, customs and practices. The article argues that the central elements of the coronation service—notably the oath, investiture, anointment and public recognition of the new monarch and consort—rise to the level of constitutional convention. Who attends the coronation and where it is held, in contrast, are framed by customs that are no longer constitutionally binding. The most recent coronation of King Charles III on 6 May 2023 also highlights how new practices are incorporated into the ceremony to reflect political and cultural changes surrounding the Crown, such as the adaptions of the oath and the inclusion of multiple faith leaders.