Here’s a wrench in the works of international sports: the coronation of King Charles III. That big event, scheduled to take place on May 6 (a Saturday), has already wreaked havoc on the final day of the 2022-23 Championship, League One and League Two season, and caused some calendar shifts.
In deference to the occasion, the last day of the League One season will now start on May 7, and League Two's final day will kick off on May 8.
According to SportBible, the coronation is no small matter, either logistically or politically. It is to take place in London's Westminster Abbey (where coronations and ceremonies of state have been hosted for over 900 years) and dignitaries from around the world will attend. The BBC says the current capacity of the Abbey is 2,200 guests, with that figure the maximum number of guests expected to be present.
Say what you will about the royal family but this much is true: It has a lot of pull and a lot of respect among the citizenry and apparently in the sports world, too; after all, back in September all English soccer was postponed on the weekend after the death of Queen Elizabeth II.
But solemnity doesn’t hold up for long in the face of capitalism and by October, the oddsmakers of the UK were busy at their books, taking wagers on the date for the coronation. At first, the odds-on favorite was June 3, but that would have presented a logistical nightmare; it was also the date of the FA Cup final, something that, like the coronation, would require a large police presence, draw a lot of tourism and generate a lot of traffic.
Another complication: Prince William, now the heir to the throne, is the president of the FA. As FA president, Prince William would typically attend the cup final, something he would be unable to do if his father's coronation were to take place on the same day.
Pundits speculated that the final would be moved to another date; however, the May date for the coronation was chosen instead.
But whether in the UK or around the world, there’s nothing like the excuse for a party, and in the sports world, nothing like the excuse for a tie-in. Accordingly, there is a worldwide Coronation of King Charles Virtual 5K. Participants can run (or walk, or proceed regally; after all, it’s a virtual event) and celebrate the day.
Want to make it an especially memorable event? There’s this collectible water bottle, these T-shirts, this tote and just about anything else you want.
It’s not the first time a royal occasion has been used to promote sports. Back in 2018, the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle inspired both countless leisure travel packages and sports events. Runner’s World, for example, published info on The Prince Harry Stag Do Run, held the night before the wedding. On the day of the event, there was the Royal Run 5K/10K that could be run any time throughout the month of May, when the wedding took place, and even included a medal that was sent out upon completion. Bonus round: it benefitted the Princess Diana Memorial Fund. (There were plenty of other tie-in 5Ks, including the Regal Run, Chase the Royal Rainbow (a color run, or as they would say in England, a colour run.)
The coronation has also spurred tourism; in fact, as the travel site The Points Guy points out, it is a great excuse for the upscale experience:
“If you’re looking for a London trip to mark King Charles III's coronation in style — and happen to have a spare $15,868 (13,000 British pounds) burning a hole in your butler’s pocket — we have just the offer for you. The capital’s impeccably gilded Hotel Café Royal is offering guests a “Crown Jewels Experience” from April 1 through Oct. 1. It includes an overnight stay in the Royal Suite and other regally outrageous touches for what can only be described as a princely sum.”
You don’t get a ticket to the coronation (even for that price) but you do get a nice substitute:
“The package also includes a VIP trip to the Tower of London after regular visiting hours. A chauffeured limousine drops you off for your personal tour led by one of London's iconic beefeater guards. Following the tour, guests will be whisked off to a champagne reception and private viewing of the real crown jewels and royal collection at the Jewel House.
“Treasures on display at the Jewel House include the largest diamond in the world, the 17th-century solid gold St. Edward’s Crown and Sovereign’s Orb, used during coronations, and the 20th-century Imperial State Crown,” according to the hotel. It’s surely enough to sate the appetite of the most frenzied royalist.”
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