The coronation of Charles III - an astrological breakdown
- What this day meant for him and his entire kingdom
Introduction
On the occasion of the coronation of King Charles III, the first coronation in the United Kingdom in almost 70 years (and therefore probably the first of its kind for many of us), I thought it would also be a good start to bring this blog to life.
Whether one is interested in the British royal family or not, it is probably undeniable that it is a huge international event. I am not particularly knowledgeable about this subject myself, but the transits on this special day caught my attention and I hope I can explain to you in this article why.
Since such an occasion like this does not happen every day, it is perfect to examine it astrologically. There are many different ways to look at and interpret the coronation and its consequences. What energies were present on that day? Was this day even astrologically worth mentioning for Charles at all? And what does this new reign mean for the United Kingdom? These are all questions that I would like to address today.
With such a complex construct as the royal family, it is almost a bit difficult to say where to start. Weddings, births, funerals, numerous relationships and reigns, it almost seems like you could occupy yourself with the subject forever - also astrologically. Today, however, I will try to focus solely on the recently completed coronation, although some background research and explanations using various horoscopes are probably unavoidable. This could also be the first part of a long series...
Let's first take a look at the chart of the moment of the coronation:
Coronation day
Coronation King Charles III
Sa, 06.05.2023 12:00 London, England
This is basically the birth of his reign. We can interpret such horoscopes like those of people. Like this we can find out what is important in the life (of this reign) or what may be difficult. This is the starting point if we want to understand the astrological background of the event in more detail.
As we can see, even the hour seems to have been very royal. A Leo AC and a concentration of planets near the MC. So the time quality was definitely a noble one, one of success, career, and proud ascent. Let’s look at the most important constellations on this day:
Despite the many planets in the 10th house, this is not a Stellium, but this does not lessen its importance. This is the house where you are seen, where you have success, and also the house of image and career. Especially with Jupiter near and the Sun here, it was a very lucky moment that promises only good things. Most of these planets are in Taurus, a very calm, peaceful, and down-to-earth sign that can also be very stubborn. This is confirmed in general by the strong earth emphasis and the stark representation of fixed signs. Saturn (planet of structure and rules) also throws a supportive sextile onto the planets, as does the Gemini Venus in the 11th house (a very popular, social and friendly aspect). It is important to recognize this because it generally indicates a calm and stabilizing time in which little will change and traditions and a peaceful, harmonious image take precedence.
The emphasis here is however on the word image, so it is probably more about maintaining such an appearance. For example, we have a Uranus-Sun conjunction, a very unpredictable and unconventional aspect. Charles himself is often referred to as a revolutionary, atypical, or "green" king. The sun often represents how we present ourselves, what is expected or who we want to be, therefore this could be solely an image matter. Yet, this conjunction could also indicate unforeseen and sudden events. Whether it is his own coronation, or perhaps that of a new king already soon.
I also suspect that the main focus might be on appearance and reputation because of the distribution of the planets on the zodiac. Here we see that almost all planets are placed on the southern hemisphere (i.e., the upper one). The so-called day side, the side that is shown publicly and is “in daylight”. On the northern hemisphere, however, the night side, we only have the Moon in Scorpio in the 4th house (deep, powerful feelings, true, unfiltered emotions, matters concerning the family) and Pluto in the 6th house (deep transformations, powerlessness/power, everything hidden, especially in the area of health or work). Both throw rather challenging aspects onto the planets in the 10th house and seem to act more subconsciously or at least away from the public eye. The 12th house is also a house of the unconscious and secrets, with Mars here, aggression, tensions or conflicts, but also subtle influence and hidden power could undermine the peaceful appearance of the 10th house.
This will probably not come as a surprise to anyone, as these have been patterns that we have known from the royal family for a long time now. However, we see that the Lunar Nodes strive from the IC to the MC, away from the roots, tradition, and family towards the MC, towards independence, into the public eye, and also to some extent into peace and relaxation. This will be the main challenge for this reign, and with Jupiter nearby, there is a good chance that this task will also be fulfilled.
Now let's take a look at Charles' birth chart, as we can already see many parallels here:
Charles III's birth chart
King Charles III
Su, 14.11.1948 21:14 London, England
It is immediately noticeable that there is a similarity between the two horoscopes. We also have a Leo ascendant here, representing his very proud and royal appearance. We also have the Moon and Sun in opposite signs, but instead of the Sun in Taurus and the Moon in Scorpio (like in the chart of the coronation), this time they are switched, with the Sun in Scorpio and the Moon in Taurus, facing each other once again.
Born on the day of the Sun, a Leo Ascendant, Jupiter, Mars, and the Sun in the 5th house, it couldn't get any more royal than that. He appears very proud outwardly and generally has a very assertive and self-confident character. Although he may sometimes appear more reserved in the media, his chart does not look like that at all. With his Sun and Mercury in Scorpio and its ruler Pluto in the 1st house, it makes sense that he does not like to play with open cards and may also function a lot in the background.
He is quite fiery and does not seem particularly rational, he is probably of an unpredictable nature, which could already be seen in how he found, but also left, his first wife. Despite this, Scorpio and Leo are very convinced signs that are often stubborn and usually get what they want, even if it takes a long time. The Taurus moon would also support this, as he had to be patient again and again because of his mother (Moon - planet of the mother, who was a Taurus). Despite his sometimes somewhat hasty and almost compulsive nature, waiting and patience are certainly not foreign words to him. He is tenacious and stubborn and can certainly be quite capricious from time to time. The theme of power, value, and self-preservation is recurring in the horoscope.
Another parallel that we can recognize with the coronation horoscope is the main occupation of the northern hemisphere (in contrast to the chart of the coronation). Charles seems to give very little away about himself in general. Scorpios are notoriously mysterious people, and with Mercury in this sign, his communication also seems to often be rather obscure and indirect. This is particularly evident in the opposition to his Moon. If one sees this as a symbol for his mother, one could recognize that she was the one who was mainly in the limelight and enjoyed success (10th house) while he was rather in her shadow (Moon here as the highest point). However, the opposition between the Moon (in a critical degree) and Mercury could also be an indicator for him having difficulty verbalizing and expressing his true feelings.
In addition to these aspects, we have an unaspected Sun, which usually describes our identity, what we want to be, and what we stand for. However, since it is unaspected, he probably has difficulty to access these topics, and surely hardly any answers to them. Since a lot of planets (like Mercury, Venus or Neptune) can be found in the 4. house - the house of family - it doesn’t come as a surprise that he probably often depended on his family and their opinions when it came to his decisions in life. Including who or what he wanted to be - voluntarily or not.
We can also find the Uranus topic again in this chart. In the 11. house it makes him appear very unconventional in the media or with his friends and maybe often stands out from the crowd (since he was also responsible for quite a few scandals). Looking at the whole chart in general though, it is safe to say that recognition, security, and independence are the most important things for him.
With Pluto in the 1st house, a Taurus moon, and generally many fixed signs, certainty and control are probably particularly important to him. His almost fairytale-like family tradition (Neptune-Venus at the IC) brings many advantages with it, including being in control in most situations and often being, or at least feeling, superior to others (sextile Pluto). His Saturn position in the 2nd house brings a lot of responsibility with it when it comes to valuable things (like money or the land that belongs to him), but also a fear of losing them and a strong uncertainty when things do not go according to plan or habit (Saturn in Virgo).
The timing of the coronation is actually astrologically so fitting that one could almost suspect an astrologer planned it. Although that could of course be the case, let's take a look at why this event was not only dependent on the day:
Synastry King Charles + day of his coronation
One could wonder why the timing of the coronation was chosen, although Charles already had to take up his office on the day of his mother's death. Even if the comparison sounds somewhat obscure, I see this process similar to a pregnancy. The first moment Charles was officially named the new king was the start, the conception, but it was about six months later that he was actually crowned. Almost like a birth, he is only really starting his new life now.
When his mother died, his Saturn entered the 8th house and Jupiter formed a trine with his AC as it approached the MC. At the time of his coronation the transit Saturn is in opposition to his natal Saturn and therefore now completely in his 8th house. The house of inheritance and deep transformation. Especially a Saturn-Saturn opposition always stands for new beginnings or for a conclusion and leaving behind the old. This opposition last took place in 1994, exactly two years after the official separation and two years before the divorce from Lady Diana. So also a time of departure and change.
At the exact time of the coronation we find the sign Leo on the AC, so an hour full of pride and dignity. But also of power, if we consider that it directly falls onto Charles' Pluto (which is also aspected by the transit Sun). So the moment was in the truest sense of the word an "empowerment" or "taking on power".
In addition, there is a concentration of planets, including the Sun (Uranus also in conjunction, so really a time of change, of the new) and the lucky Jupiter, which all fall into his 10th house - the house of career, reputation, or the public eye.
For me, however, his Lunar Node Return is one of the most interesting constellations on this day. Charles experienced this transit only three times before in his life: in July 1967, when he started his first degree in archaeology (which he later dropped to switch to history - why is not known), then in February 1986, during which time he is said to have contacted Camilla again despite his marriage to Lady Diana, and then again in August 2004, shortly before his wedding to Camilla.
The Lunar Nodes are assigned different meanings. They originally stem from Vedic astrology and often have to do with fate, destiny, in this case also with the purpose and often the meaning of life. The path we are supposed to take in this lifetime.
This all sounds very mystical and abstract, but it really seems like every time these return to their old positions, what had been due for a long time finally happens. Like only then does he find the courage to finally assert himself, as if he takes the things like he would like to have them and does them the way he simply wants to. This is also quite typical of him. Not only is he of a fiery nature, where the barrel may simply overflow from time to time. He might have a short temper (Mars in Sagittarius), but that doesn't stop him from pushing through his plans anyway. Nevertheless, there were always many setbacks that probably didn't make it too easy for him to always follow his instincts and do what he wanted to do. Especially constantly being in the spotlight and with such a dominant mother, it doesn’t surprise that when his Lunar Nodes returned, he felt an inner drive to stand up for his wants and needs.
The reason for this is the position of his lunar nodes in the 10th house. For non-royals, this position often calls for breaking away from the parental home and their standards, expectations, and rules, to build something of their own, to follow their own path and to achieve self-realization, especially in their career. This can certainly be applied to Charles' life. Although he will probably never completely detach himself from this heritage, he has certainly tasted a bit of freedom and self-assertion during these times. And now his waiting has paid off once again.
In summary, it’s safe to say that this date was certainly not just a coincidence. A new era has begun for Charles and his kingdom, and it will surely not be boring, even if most of it may take place behind the scenes. Charles is undoubtedly an influential and powerful man and has perhaps been underestimated by many so far. It remains to be seen how this reign will develop, but it is certain that the era of his mother will continue to cast a shadow onto him for some more time. May it be historically or emotionally.
picture source: Astrocontact Astroplus