London (CNN)The sacred oil that will be used to anoint King Charles III at his coronation May 6, has been consecrated at a Christian holy site in Jerusalem, Buckingham Palace has announced.
The "chrism oil" was created using olives harvested from two groves on the Mount of Olives, a mountain ridge to the east of Jerusalem's Old City, which holds religious importance to Christians.
Olives from the Monastery of Mary Magdalene and the Monastery of the Ascension were pressed just outside Bethlehem, where Christians believe Jesus was born, according to a statement.
The chrism oil was consecrated in a special ceremony held by the Patriarch of Jerusalem and the Anglican Archbishop of Jerusalem.
The Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, said he wanted to see a new oil produced from the olives from the Mount of Olives since planning for the coronation began.
"This demonstrates the deep historic link between the Coronation, the Bible and the Holy Land. From ancient kings through to the present day, monarchs have been anointed with oil from this sacred place. As we prepare to anoint The King and The Queen Consort, I pray that they would be guided and strengthened by the Holy Spirit," he said in the statement.