Who decides if we get a bank holiday for King Charles III’s coronation?

King Charles III will be crowned next year at a historic ceremony. (Picture: Jane Barlow/PA Wire)

After much speculation, we finally have a date for when King Charles III will be crowned.

Following the sad passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, King Charles III is now the monarch.

After a meeting of the Accession Council (whose members include privy councillors, great officers of state, some senior civil servants, etc.) he officially took up the title of head of state at the start of September.

However, this is not the same as a coronation ceremony, during which the new monarch will be crowned on Saturday, May 6, 2023.

While the eyes of the world are likely to tune in for this event of national importance, there is a separate issue on the minds of many of the British public – Will we get a bank holiday to mark the occasion and who makes that call?

Here is what we know so far.

Who decides if we get a bank holiday for King Charles III’s coronation?

According to the Commons Library, bank holidays are created or changed by royal proclamation.

However, by convention, the monarch acts on the advice of Ministers, and The Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) is the Government department responsible for bank holidays.

This essentially means that the government approves bank holidays, with King Charles III making it official.

If a bank holiday is to be moved, the monarch simply proclaims it on a different day.

This notice is usually given in the official public record, The Gazette.

Could we get a bank holiday for King Charles III’s coronation?

At the moment, it’s not clear if we will get a bank holiday for the coronation.

Though rumours and speculation continue to circle, with the coronation set for Saturdat, May 6, 2023, there would seem to be two logical choices for the bank holiday – Friday, May 5 or Monday, May 8.

Additionally, some have been calling for a bank holiday to be moved, while others think one should be added.

However, concerns have been raised over making Friday, May 5, 2023, a holiday due to the local elections scheduled for Thursday, May 4 and the potential for vote counting to go on into the next day.

The Association of Electoral Administrators is currently seeking early clarification from the government.

Local elections could complicate the timing of any bank holiday for the coronation. (Picture: Richard Baker / In Pictures via Getty Images Images)

Peter Stanyon, the organisation’s chief executive, said: ‘A potential Friday bank holiday on May 5, 2023, may cause logistical issues, particularly around recruiting the large numbers of staff needed to work at election counts.

‘With the coronation being such an historic occasion, people will of course want to celebrate with family and friends and take part in local and national events.

‘A bank holiday on Monday, May 8 would be much more manageable from an electoral perspective.

‘Regardless of the decision, we would welcome certainty as soon as possible.’

It was reported recently that a No. 10 spokesperson said that the government was ‘carefully considering all plans’ and that ‘all options remain on the table.’

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Will we get an additional bank holiday next year? Time will tell.