Britons will get a special bank holiday next year on May 8 for King Charles’s coronation, PM reveals

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Britons will get a special bank holiday next year on May 8 for King Charles’s coronation, Rishi Sunak reveals

  • King Charles’s Coronation will take place two days beforehand, on May 6
  • Mr Sunak said the bank holiday would be ‘in recognition of this historic occasion’
  • Tory MPs had been debating whether to move May 1 bank holiday or create an extra one, amid reports government is worried day off could cost £1bn
  • Holiday will be like the one that marked Queen Elizabeth II’s Coronation in 1953

By Brendan Carlin Political Correspondent For The Mail On Sunday

Published: | Updated:

Britons will get a special ‘Coronation’ bank holiday next year, Rishi Sunak has revealed.

The Prime Minister yesterday declared there would be an extra UK-wide bank holiday on Monday, May 8, ‘in recognition of this historic occasion’.

King Charles’s Coronation will take place two days beforehand, at Westminster Abbey, on Saturday, May 6.

Britons will get a special ‘Coronation’ bank holiday next year, Rishi Sunak has revealed. King Charles’s (pictured last month) Coronation will take place two days beforehand, at Westminster Abbey, on Saturday, May 6

The move follows a debate among Tory MPs over whether to move the early May 1 bank holiday or create an extra one. But it also comes amid reports the Government was worried an additional day off could cost the economy more than £1 billion.

Mr Sunak said the extra bank holiday – like that of the holiday that marked Queen Elizabeth II’s Coronation in 1953 – would be an opportunity for families and communities across the country to come together.

‘The coronation of a new monarch is a unique moment for our country,’ he said.

‘In recognition of this historic occasion, I am pleased to announce an additional bank holiday for the whole United Kingdom next year.

Mr Sunak said the extra bank holiday ¿ like that of the holiday that marked Queen Elizabeth II's Coronation in 1953 ¿ would be an opportunity for families and communities across the country to come together. Pictured: The Queen appears after her coronation in 1953

Mr Sunak said the extra bank holiday – like that of the holiday that marked Queen Elizabeth II’s Coronation in 1953 – would be an opportunity for families and communities across the country to come together. Pictured: The Queen appears after her coronation in 1953

The Prime Minister (pictured meeting King Charles on Nov. 4) yesterday declared there would be an extra UK-wide bank holiday on Monday, May 8, 'in recognition of this historic occasion'

The Prime Minister (pictured meeting King Charles on Nov. 4) yesterday declared there would be an extra UK-wide bank holiday on Monday, May 8, ‘in recognition of this historic occasion’

‘I look forward to seeing people come together to celebrate and pay tribute to King Charles III by taking part in local and national events across the country in his honour.’

The Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, Oliver Dowden, said: ‘The coronation combines the sacred and the solemn but it is also celebratory.

‘This bank holiday will once again give people across the United Kingdom the opportunity to come together as families and communities to welcome His Majesty to the throne as we mark this important day in our nation’s long history.’