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Not everyone is entitled to the extra bank holiday this year.
Plans for King Charles’s coronation, coined Operation Golden Orb, are under way across the country.

Buckingham Palace has released details of how the spectacle will unfold over the bank holiday weekend, with everything from a star-studded concert to volunteering initiatives.
The grand ceremony will feature the largest military ceremonial parade in 70 years, with more than 6,000 men and women of the armed forces expected to lead King Charles and Queen Camilla to and from Westminster Abbey.
Meanwhile, world-famous composers Lord Andrew Lloyd-Webber and Patrick Doyle have created a “jubilant and uplifting” coronation march at Westminster Abbey on 6 May.

Whether you plan to raise a toast to the new King, or just kick back and enjoy the day off work with your friends and family – here’s everything you need to know about your rights as an employee.

Is the King’s coronation a bank holiday?
In November, the Government announced a bank holiday in honour of the King’s coronation, in line with the bank holiday given for the late Queen’s coronation in 1953.

The coronation will take place on Saturday 6 May. However, the bank holiday itself will happen on Monday 8 May.

Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak, said: “The coronation of a new monarch is a unique moment for our country. In recognition of this historic occasion, I am pleased to announce an additional bank holiday for the whole United Kingdom next year.”
“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.”

Will I get the day off work for the coronation?

HR expert Nicky Jolley from hr2day highlights that the coronation bank holiday, which is an extra bank holiday, is not something everyone is entitled to, explaining that it all depends on the wording of your contract.

She says: “If it says ‘plus eight bank holidays’ then your employer would be well within their rights to say that an employee has to work.”

“If the wording of the contract says ‘plus bank holidays’, the employer is obligated to grant the coronation bank holiday, because it is an official bank holiday as decreed by Government.”

If your employer asks you to work the bank holiday and you don’t want to, Ms Jolley suggests “having an open dialogue with a view to reaching a mutual agreement rather than a confrontational challenge”.

“If a business can grant the bank holiday, we would always recommend it does […] because it’s important to employee wellbeing.”

She highlights that the UK has the lowest number of bank holidays in Europe, with England typically having eight days off, while some countries having as many as 15.

England and Wales bank holidays 2023
• Monday 1 May – Early May bank holiday
• Monday 8 May – Bank holiday for the coronation of King Charles III
• Monday 29 May – Spring bank holiday
• Monday 28 August – Summer bank holiday
• Monday 25 December – Christmas Day
• Tuesday 26 December – Boxing Day

Scotland bank holidays 2023
• Monday 1 May – Early May bank holiday
• Monday 8 May – Bank holiday for the coronation of King Charles III
• Monday 29 May – Spring bank holiday
• Monday 7 August – Summer bank holiday
• Thursday 30 November – St Andrew’s Day
• Monday 25 December – Christmas Day
• Tuesday 26 December – Boxing Day

Northern Ireland bank holidays 2023
• Monday 1 May – Early May bank holiday
• Monday 8 May – Bank holiday for the coronation of King Charles III
• Monday 29 May – Spring bank holiday
• Wednesday 12 July – Battle of the Boyne (Orangemen’s Day)
• Monday 28 August – Summer bank holiday
• Monday 25 December – Christmas Day
• Tuesday 26 December – Boxing Day

For the first time since 2019, both Christmas Day and Boxing Day will be marked with bank holidays on the correct days this year, after falling on the weekend for three years in a row.