Behind the scenes of King Charles’ Coronation event

With the weight of the world watching, on Saturday 6th May, Identity delivered the historic Coronation of His Majesty King Charles III and Queen Camilla. 

We spoke with Milo Gabric, Project Delivery Director at Identity, to hear what went on at the King’s coronation behind the scenes and how we delivered a monumental event fit for a King.

What were the challenges of the coronation event and how did you overcome them?

With an event of this scale and magnitude, there are many potential points of failure that had to be considered and managed. 

One of the biggest challenges we faced was timing, we were tasked to deliver this monumental event, an occasion that hasn’t occurred in 70 years, in the space of four months. 

It was truly an event like no other, and the logistical challenges – with only 110 days’ lead time – were immense, including accommodating thousands of spectators along the ceremonial route, managing a procession featuring 7,000 military personnel and 150 horses, and overseeing the presence of 2,000 guests and VVIPs.

As the event involved hundreds of stakeholders, including government, the Royal Household, police, soldiers, Westminster Abbey, TFL, the City of London and GLA, stakeholder management was a key part of this project. Everybody was working to the same timeline, with an integral part to play, so it was important to coordinate with each other. 

There was also complexity around working within the historical venue of Westminster Abbey, as we had to deliver an impeccable and safe event that respected the building in which it was held. This involved protecting the venue, as well as considering practical elements such as seating, broadcasting and lines of site. 

Perhaps the greatest challenge was coordinating all of the moving parts, and ensuring a seamless event that was organised to the exact second. 

Sourcing production equipment in a busy period, ensuring correct protocol when looking after Heads of State, members of the Royal Family and VVIPs, and managing large crowds was a true challenge, but one that we were honoured to take on. 

What were the key objectives?

As it was such a rare event, we didn’t have a blueprint to work from, so we had to create one. 

The importance of this historic occasion could not be underestimated; it needed to reflect the Monarch’s role today and for the future, while being rooted in long standing traditions and pageantry, and it was essential that the event was both a critical and commercial success, to uphold the country’s reputation on the world stage, to bring maximum value to UK tourism and the economy, and to create amazing memories for everyone watching and taking part.

Our objectives were to seamlessly bring all the stakeholders together to deliver a once-in-a-lifetime event to millions of people around the world.

It was inspiring to see how all of the teams working on this project overcame monumental challenges and how calm and effective the day was for such a large public event.

What contributed to the success of the coronation event?

People made this event what it was.

We mobilised 100 Identity employees, 1,000 volunteers, 140 suppliers, 8,500 security and stewarding staff and 30 health and safety professionals, working as one team to create a once-in-a-generation celebration fit for a King.

Everyone working on this project understood the significance of the assignment and came with a positive can-do attitude. That, combined with the sheer hard work of the delivery teams resulted in the hugely successful King Charles III coronation service. 

The amount of human capital that went into solving complex logistical challenges was major, with everyone working together to pull off a spectacular event. 

What unique or innovative elements went into the event?

Together with The Royal Household and Westminster Abbey, we designed the Coronation Theatre: the focal point for the ceremony. Using innovative digital 3D mapping of 18.5 billion data points, we ensured every detail of the theatre would fit seamlessly. 

From the size and scale of the altar to how many people could be accommodated. Exact replicas of the ornate woodwork were installed, alongside gold and blue carpet, integrating traditional and modern build techniques to create a beautiful, safe and practical event space.

Using this modern technology helped to protect the infrastructure of the historic Abbey and preserve its integrity.

How did you ensure a positive experience for all?

We provided dedicated welfare and Quiet Spaces, accessible viewing areas and toilets, changing places, hearing loops, BSL interpreters, on-screen captions, universal signage, and a social story on the website to help visitors plan their day. Our sustainability-first event design included reusable recyclable assets, water-refill points, and food donations to local charities.

How did you measure the success of the King’s Coronation event?

Given the complexity of the event, the fact it went as seamlessly as it did from both a broadcast and live audience point of view is a success in itself. 

For us, human experience is a vital metric. The unique experience of everyone involved on the day, from the guests in the Abbey, to the military, to the public lining the procession route – their experience and memories that are taken away is the true marker of value for an event of this nature. 

We’re always listening, learning and challenging things so that we can get better and more efficient over time. Managing multiple stakeholders, dynamics, opinions, requirements and objectives to deliver experiences that deliver value and linger long in our collective memories. 

We were honoured to receive an Event Production Award for best major event operator for the Coronation. This award recognised an exceptional event which delivered a safe and positive attendee experience within the production and delivery of outdoor and live events. 

The Coronation captivated the world and was testament to our one-team approach; every second of our 59,000 hours’ work was carried out with unwavering commitment to quality, safety, sustainability, inclusivity and social value to create a uniquely memorable human experience that will stay in the hearts and minds of audiences in the UK and worldwide, for decades to come.

Learn more about our work delivering exceptional global events.

About the author

Milo Gabric is Project Delivery Director at Identity. Milo has over 20 years’ experience in corporate, private, and public events. He has delivered large-scale global live and virtual events across varying industries and sectors such as sports, product launches, incentives, conferences, and private UHNW experiences. His clients have included Unilever, Rolls Royce, INEOS, Bentley, Microsoft, LEGO, Mercedes-Benz, and AstraZeneca. Milo has also worked on the US PGA Tour’s Presidents Cup, ICC Cricket World Cup, and Volvo Ocean Race.