A recent YouGov poll indicates that over half of the population in Britain is against the government funding King Charles’s Coronation. The poll was conducted a few

weeks before the coronation, which is scheduled to take place on May 6th at Westminster Abbey. Out of the 4,200 adults surveyed, 51% were against the government funding the event, 32% were in favor of it, and 18% were unsure.

The majority of those aged between 18 and 24 (62%) were against the government funding the coronation, while 43% of those over 65 believed in the government funding the event. Critics argue that the cost of the coronation, which will run into millions of pounds, will be borne by taxpayers, and they consider it a waste of public money, especially given the ongoing cost-of-living crisis and wage strikes by public servants like doctors and teachers.

The budget for the coronation has not been disclosed by the government, but it is likely to be expensive. The Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II in 1953 cost £912,000, which would be equivalent to about £20.5 million in today’s money. Similarly, the Coronation of King George VI in 1937 cost £454,000, which would be approximately £24.8 million today, making it the most expensive coronation in the last three centuries.

Oliver Dowden, the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, has stated that King Charles and the government are committed to ensuring that the coronation provides value for taxpayers and will not be excessive. More information about the total cost and funding breakdown will likely be made available after May 6th, as has been the case with previous jubilees and similar events. Photo by Northern Ireland Office, Wikimedia commons.