As a thank you gift from King Charles III, around 400,000 Coronation Medals will be handed out to the UK armed forces personnel and emergency frontline workers taking part in the historic ceremony on Saturday.
The UK government unveiled the design of the medal, which will be handed out to everyone actively contributing and supporting the Coronation, including choristers, police officers, military personnel and St. John Ambulance personnel, as well as those directly involved in the delivery of the mega event.
The design features a double portrait of King Charles and Queen Camilla on the front and a version of their Royal Cypher, a laurel wreath and the date of the Coronation on the reverse. The ribbon is made up of red, blue and white vertical stripes – the colours of the UK’s Union Flag and are made of nickel silver and plated in nickel.
“This medal is a symbol of the critical role our emergency services will play in this potentially once in a lifetime opportunity to honour our new King,” said UK Home Secretary Suella Braverman.
“However, it rightly also goes further and recognises not just those who are helping at the Coronation, but the heroes across our emergency services, such as the police, fire and rescue services, that go to work every day to protect and support us all,” the Indian-origin minister said.
The medals will also be given to serving frontline members of the police, fire, emergency services, prison services and armed forces that have completed five full calendar years of service.
The double portrait of the King and Queen Consort on the front of the newly unveiled Coronation Medal was designed by Martin Jennings.