ROYAL FAMILY

What happens if it rains on King Charles’ coronation day?

It might rain in London over the coronation weekend.

HENRY NICHOLLSREUTERS

On the brink of the royal coronation, which takes place Saturday, May 6, Buckingham Palace is carefully monitoring the forecast.

King Charles is scheduled to be crowned Saturday alongside his wife, who will be crowned Queen Camilla, at the historic Westminster Abbey in London.

The coronation will go on despite rain

There is precedent for a rainy coronation.

London’s Met Office reminded royal watchers there was rain on Queen Elizabeth’s coronation day, which was in June 1953.

There was even more rain at her father’s coronation, when King George VI’s crowning ceremony in May 1937 saw almost half an inch of rain, as per The Times.

The Met Office also said that King Charles’ great-grandfather, King George V, had the most excellent weather conditions of any coronation on modern record, with a sunny day on June 1911, and a high of 62 °F.

Everyone waiting on the weather report

Prince William made a hopeful comment about the weather while at the Dog & Duck Pub Thursday, where he went on a date with his wife, Kate Middleton.

Crossing fingers for the weather!” the prince said to the locals at the establishment, as per People.

The royal family spent Friday in rehearsal for the coronation at the abbey, and royal watchers are already flooding to the city, with the streets lined with people settling into their spots to catch a glimpse of the procession.

King Charles and his family will start the procession at Westminster Abbey and make their way to Buckingham Palace, where they will wave to the civilians from the balcony.

The BBC estimates that hundreds of thousands of people will travel to the city for the ceremony.

What does the forecast say?

With the months of preparations on both the royal family and the public’s side, one looming question remains: is it going to rain this Saturday?

The Meteorological Office of London is forecasting rain, but at least the temperature will be mild.

“The weather across the U.K. looks unsettled today, with showers or longer spells of rain for many,” the broadcast said. “Some heavy, thundery downpours are expected on Friday and Sunday.

“[Saturday is] forecast to be another cloudy, wet day for many,” the weather service added.

Steven Keates, Met Office Deputy Chief Forecaster, elaborated on the weather conditions for the upcoming coronation weekend.

“A further area of rain is expected to move into southwest England early on Saturday, moving east and north through the day with some heavy bursts at times,” the forecaster said. “This is likely to bring some rain to London by around lunchtime.”

“Further north in Scotland, northern England, and Northern Ireland, it will be a day of sunshine and showers before the more persistent rain moves northwards overnight,” he continued. “It will feel humid, especially in the south, with highs of 17°C [62.2° F] possible in London.”

Most viewed

More news