The recent coronation of the new British monarch, Charles III, was watched by more than 14 million viewers on BBC channels. Although this figure is impressive, the total audience is expected to be much smaller than that of the coronation or funeral of his mother, Elizabeth II.
On average, 13.4 million viewers, out of a population of 67 million, followed the event on the two main British public broadcasters. However, the number of viewers increased to more than 14 million at the moment Charles III received the crown, according to the BBC press service.
It is important to note that the other television channels did not report their audience figures. On the other hand, the funeral of Elizabeth II, held in September, had an average audience of more than 26 million viewers, with a peak of 28 million viewers, of which 18.5 million were broadcast by the BBC.
The coronation of Charles III was a half-heartedly prepared occasion, with polls showing limited interest against a backdrop of runaway inflation. Despite this, it is hoped that the new monarch will be able to address the political and social challenges currently facing the UK.
It is important to mention that the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II in 1953, the first to be broadcast on television, was watched by 27 million people in the United Kingdom, according to Buckingham Palace. In addition, the funeral of Princess Diana, one of the most important events in the recent history of the United Kingdom, was followed by 32 million viewers across the country.