17 Books to Read to Prepare for King Charles's Coronation

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As we gear up for the coronation of King Charles, there's no better time to learn about the history of coronations and about the man who will be crowned on May 6, 2023. Both King Charles and Queen Camilla are avid readers, and Charles himself has even authored a few books (and written forewords for others).

"To me, reading is a great adventure. I’ve loved it since I was very small and I’d love everybody else to enjoy it as much as I do," Camilla said in 2021. "You can escape and you can travel and you can laugh and you can cry. There’s every kind of emotion that humans experience in a book."

Why not pick up a book about Charles, Camilla, and the coronation? Here are some picks—for all ages!

Charles III: A King and His Queen

Royal photographer Chris Jackson's beautiful new photo book is a tribute to King Charles and Queen Camilla. "I try my hardest to photograph not just these formal moments, but hopefully, some of them more candid moments, behind the scenes, and something a little bit different. I hope that the book gives you an insight into their character," Jackson tells T&C.

More: En

Prince Charles: The Passions and Paradoxes of an Improbable Life

Royal biographer Sally Bedell Smith first met Charles in 1991 at a polo match in Windsor. In the ensuing years, she would write a biography of his first wife, Diana, Princess of Wales, and of his mother, Queen Elizabeth, before deciding to turn her attention to Charles himself. She spent four years interviewing friends, family members, Palace officials, and more. "His status was determined from birth," she writes in the intro. "How he dealt with that fate in the twentieth and twenty-first centuries is the story of a most improbable life."

Our King: Charles III: The Man and the Monarch Revealed

A more recent biography of Charles is by royal reporter Robert Jobson, and features interviews with the King himself. "This is my attempt to tell the true story of his remarkable journey from a shy prince to our first king of the twenty-first century," Jobson writes.

King Charles III: Celebrating His Majesty's Coronation and Reign

This biography is meant for kids (ages 5 to 9 years) and is filled with delightful illustrations as it describes the life of Charles. Per the publisher, "Going beyond just the basic facts, young readers will love learning astounding, lesser-known information like how before becoming King, Charles was a magician, as well as what being king really entails."

The Queen: A Life in Pictures

The moment of Charles's coronation is also the time to reflect on Queen Elizabeth life. This beautiful book, authored by T&C contributing editor Victoria Murphy, takes readers through the reign of Elizabeth II.

Spare

Before you scoff at Prince Harry's memoir being included on a list of books to read ahead of the coronation: reading about the King, from the perspective of his younger son, is enlightening. In Spare, Harry gives readers a full portrait of his father—one that is definitely worth reading.

Coronation: A History of the British Monarchy

British historian Roy Strong has authored a definitive history of coronations, aiming to put each coronation since the 10th century into "its political, social, religious and cultural context."

God Save The King: The Sacred Nature of the Monarchy

If you're looking for a more religious history of coronations, historian Ian Bradley focuses on the Christian aspect of the ceremony. In God Save the King, Bradley "explores the archetype of sacred kingship, its origins in primal religion, its central role in both the Old and New Testaments of the Bible and its representation in modern popular culture." He also traces the history of Christian monarchy in the British Isles, and writes about the relationship between the Church and the monarchy.

Harmony: A New Way of Looking at Our World

King Charles joins other members of the royal family in penning books. In Harmony, he writes about the environment, climate change, and agriculture—some of his favorite topics. "This is a call to revolution," he writes in the introduction. "The Earth is under threat. It cannot cope with all that we demand of it. It is losing its balance and we humans are causing this to happen."

More books by royals

Camilla: From Outcast to Queen Consort

The upcoming coronation is not just that of King Charles—but that of his wife, Queen Consort. This biography traces Camilla's journey to be accepted in royal circles, and author Angela Levin chatted with her friend, staff, and more. "I wanted to bridge the gulf between her public image and what she is really like," Levin notes.

More books about Charles & Camilla

King Charles III

This guidebook to Charles focuses on everything you need to know about the British king—from a timeline of his life, to his children and grandchildren, to coronation traditions. Pitkin, the publisher, has a long history of royal guidebooks; one of their earliest publications was on Queen Elizabeth's wedding day in 1947.

King Charles (Little People, BIG DREAMS)

"Little Charles always knew that, one day, he would have a big job to do..." This Little People, Big Dreams book follows the life of King Charles, with words by Maria Isabel Sánchez Vegara, and illustrated by Matt Hunt, and is meant for ages 4 to 7.

Highgrove: An English Country Garden

A beautiful (and royal) addition to your coffee table stack is this look at Charles's gardens at Highgrove House. Charles, then the Prince of Wales, authored this book, and it offers behind-the-scenes glimpse into what he's planted over decades at his home. Per Rizzoli, "Like a personal tour through each of the seasons, the Prince of Wales, along with Bunny Guinness, describes the thinking behind each planting, lessons learned from trial and error, the highlights and triumphs, as well as future plans."

Charles & Camilla: Portrait of a Love Affair

If you're curious about King Charles and Queen Camilla's relationship, royal writer Gyles Brandeth looks at their history over the decades. It's not fully up-to-date—it was published in 2007, just after their wedding in 2005—but it still remains an interesting look at the story of Charles and Camilla.

It's Up to Us: Building a Brighter Future for Nature, People & Planet (The Children's Terra Carta)

This children's book about the environment features a foreword by King Charles, where he writes, "Children have a unique curiosity for Nature and for this amazing planet we call home." Another key to understanding the British king: His deep care for the world and its future.

Music and Ceremonial at British Coronations

Key to the coronation ceremony is the music played during the event. It is, author Matthias Range writes, "the prime example of the combination of a great state occasion and an elaborate religious act," so the music's role is important to understand. It does not analyze the music at the upcoming coronation—which will have the first-ever gospel choir!—but instead ends the analysis with Queen Elizabeth.

Royal Coronations

This is part of a series on illustrated introductions to British history, and focuses specifically on royal coronations.