Wait, King Charles’s Coronation Is Costing How Much?!

In just a few days, King Charles III, 74, will be crowned the new monarch during his coronation ceremony (alongside his wife, Camilla Parker Bowles, 75). The royal family has been planning for this historical event for years, and after seeing sneak peek reveals of the festivities, it’s become clear to royal fans and non-fans alike that the coronation carries a massive price tag.

Per a video published by ABC News, the royal’s coronation reportedly costs taxpayers a whopping $125 million. Many high-profile guests will be in attendance, including the U.S. First Lady, Jill Biden. It has also been confirmed that Prince Harry, 38, will be going to his father’s crowing ceremony, but he will not be joined by his wife, Meghan Markle, 41, and their two children: Archie, 3, and Lilibet, 1. 

Though the hefty cost for the coronation ceremony has received some backlash and criticism due to the living crisis in London, Time Magazine points out that the celebration is set to be “a more scaled-back affair” than previous coronations, with fewer guests and a shorter time frame. The news outlet also states: “The higher price tag this time around is attributed at least in part to security, which would not have been as big of a concern decades ago.”

According to The New York Times, the 1953 coronation event for the late Queen Elizabeth II was reported to be the most expensive ceremony ever at the time. Per the publication, the festivities cost an astounding $2 million (the adjusted price for that today would be $70 million). Charles’s version may be scaled back but appears to be costing almost double that of his mother’s.