On May 6, the coronation of Charles III as the new King of England will take place, an unprecedented event that will culminate in an intimate reception at Buckingham Palace, a far cry from the lavish banquets that took place more than two centuries ago.

It is not surprising when one considers that this ceremony, which originated in the 11th century, has changed over time, retaining only the most traditional structure: the new monarch takes his vows, is anointed with holy oil, receives a sword, a globe, a scepter and finally his crown.

But coronation banquets, filled with hundreds of dishes and drinks – the leftovers of which were distributed among the townspeople – had long been one of the most popular royal festivities.

The coronation banquet of King George IV

When we talk about banquets, we inevitably think of the coronation of King George IV, who according to World History was the last to celebrate his accession in this way in 1821.

These types of events were huge and on that occasion the royal family had to build 23 temporary kitchens next to Westminster Hall to keep up with the evening.

The food itself had to be a show, so it was served in an ornate way like in sculptures, wine fountains were even placed.

How many events are expected for the coronation of the new king in England

And it is that, as published by Gastrolab, for the banquet of King George IV about 160 drinks and 3,271 cold dishes were served, the pressure was so great that the organizer, the Earl Mariscal, toured the room on horseback to make sure see that everything was ready on time.

The guards of the Tower of London wear uniforms that refer to King Charles III

The event was undoubtedly etched in the memory of the English royal family, although perhaps it was the stress experienced that caused these festivities to be canceled after the coronation.