The coronation of George III and his wife Charlotte as king and queen of Great Britain and Ireland took place at Westminster Abbey, London, on Tuesday, 22 September 1761, about two weeks after they were married in the Chapel Royal, St James's Palace.

The day was marked by errors and omissions; a delayed procession from Westminster Hall to the abbey was followed by a six-hour coronation service and then a banquet that finally ended at ten o'clock at night.

In July 1761, it was decided that the King would marry the 17-year-old Princess Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, who lacked interest in political affairs much to George's favour.

Outside, temporary stands giving a view of the procession between the hall and the abbey were erected by enterprising builders, some seating up to 1,500 people, while renting a house which overlooked the scene for the day, could cost up to £1,000.

The coronation proved to be an anticipated affair, for the morning of the ceremony was marked with crowded streets as well as overflown inns, rooms, and homes waiting for the appearance of the new king and queen.

At around 9:00 am, George and Charlotte departed from St James's Palace and were carried separately to Westminster Hall in sedan chairs, where invited nobility, government officials and members of the royal household had gathered.

[21] The King and Queen entered the Abbey shortly after 1:30 p.m., with the dignity of the royal couple and the “reverent attention which both paid to the service” being favourably commented on.

This point in the service was reached at 3.30 pm; it was accompanied by trumpet fanfares in the abbey and a man perched high on the roof gave a signal for the firing of gun salutes in Green Park and on the other side of the city at the Tower of London.

[25] After changing out of their ceremonial robes, the king, queen, nobles and bishops processed back to Westminster Hall in the same order in which they had come; the service had lasted six hours and it was dark by the time that they left the abbey.

[29][30] During the sermon, the congregation in the nave who were unable to hear it, began to eat, mainly cold meat and pies, and drink wine brought with them and given out by servants; the ensuing clatter of cutlery resulted in an outburst of laughter.

[36] The music seems to be the only element of the coronation to have gone without a hitch, perhaps because Boyce held three full rehearsals in the abbey, to which the public were admitted by ticket, the last being on the day before the service.

The distinguished diners had to sit in the dark until, on the entry of the king and queen, all 3,000 candles were lit almost at once by means of a network of linen tapers[38] which, while spectacular, showered the guest with flakes of ash.

Although the Privy Council had forbidden bonfires to be lit on coronation night for safety reasons, this seems to have been widely ignored, despite the patrolling troops of cavalry.

Elsewhere, Coronation Day was marked by thanksgiving services in churches, civic banquets, fireworks and feasts laid on for the poor by wealthy benefactors.