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The King is due to be crowned next year on Saturday, May 6, just eight months after ascending the throne following the death of his mother Queen Elizabeth II.
The coronation ceremony is due to be conducted by the Archbishop of Canterbury in the presence of the Royal Family, Commonwealth leaders, members of Parliament and charity representatives at Westminster Abbey.
Conservative MP Tobias Ellwood told the Daily Mail on Tuesday, October 11, that “a bank holiday would help strengthen our transition to a new era”.
Business Secretary Jacob Rees-Mogg also supported an additional bank holiday, telling The Telegraph last week: “The coronation is an important symbolic act with constitutional resonance about the stability of our system. To have a day off for that is perfectly reasonable, and the effect on growth will not be enormous.”
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer has called for the early May bank holiday – on Monday, May 1 – to be moved back a week to create a three-day weekend over the coronation. His spokesperson said it “would certainly be a good way for the country to celebrate the coronation”.
READ MORE: Charles coronation will reflect King’s role in modern society
In a poll that ran from 10am on Thursday, October 13, to 11:30am on Tuesday, October 18, Express.co.uk asked readers: “Should there be a bank holiday for King Charles III’s coronation?”
Overall, 4,943 people cast their votes with the vast majority, 67 percent (3,334 people) answering “yes” in favour of a bank holiday for the coronation next year.
Meanwhile, 30 percent (1,463 people) said “no” there should not be a bank holiday, and a further three percent (146 people) said they did not know.
In the dozens of comments left below the accompanying article, readers took part in a lively debate on the King’s upcoming coronation.
Likewise, username tory333 said: “Country loses too much money . Move May 1st holiday. Kier is right .
While username washing machine said: “No to an extra bank holiday as we already have one on May 1.”
Prime Minister Liz Truss’ official spokesman said last week: “Obviously, this will be a historic event. We are carefully considering our plans. All options remain on the table.”
England has among the lowest number of bank holidays in Europe with just eight in a traditional year, compared to France’s 11 and Spain’s 14. Additional bank holidays were granted in 2022 to mark the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee and State Funeral. As the coronation falls at a weekend, the bank holiday would be on the next working day.
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