On Saturday, Charles was crowned King of the United Kingdom amid stunning pomp and spectacle at Westminster Abbey in London, in a solemn religious ritual dating back over a thousand years. Westminster Abbey has been the location of every British Coronation since that of William The Conqueror in 1066 and King Charles III and his wife, Queen Camilla, following in the footsteps of this historic history in a service themed ‘Called to Serve’. The following are some highlights from the great ceremony.
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Charles III was sworn in as King and crowned in front of almost two thousand guests and dignitaries in Westminster Abbey and millions more around the world. Gun salutes rang out across the United Kingdom as Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby put St Edward’s Crown on the King’s head.
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Prince William, the next in line to the throne, swore loyalty before kissing his father on the cheek. Camilla, his wife, has been crowned Queen. Following the death of his mother, Elizabeth II, Charles ascended to the throne on September 8, 2022.
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Travelling in the Diamond Jubilee State Coach, accompanied by The Sovereign’s Escort of Household Cavalry, The King and The Queen arrived at Westminster Abbey for the Coronation Service. Guests and dignitaries from all over the world are seated and ready to witness their coronation at the Abbey, were crownings have taking place for nearly a thousand years.
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Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby will officiate during the service. The Dean of Westminster will present St Edward’s Crown to the Archbishop of Canterbury, who will bless King Charles before he is crowned. The Archbishop will lead the Westminster Abbey congregation in praying, “God save the King.”
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During his Coronation ceremony on Saturday, King Charles III took the second oath, the Accession Declaration Oath, stating that he is a “faithful Protestant.” The Archbishop of Canterbury acknowledged the diversity of faiths observed in the United Kingdom, stating that the Church of England “will seek to foster an environment in which people of all faiths may live freely.”
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Rishi Sunak made history on Saturday by being the first Indian-origin British Prime Minister to read at the Coronation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla at Westminster Abbey in London. In keeping with the recent practise of UK Prime Ministers reading from the New Testament at State occasions, the 42-year-old British Hindu leader read from the Epistle to the Colossians, which reflects the idea of service to others.
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Throughout the week, massive throngs of royal fans gathered along The Mall outside Buckingham Palace in London. Over 11,000 police officers have been stationed in the capital to respond to any attempted disruptions. Thousands of British Armed Forces members are making their way to locations to take part in the festivities, with troops pictured arriving and departing from London’s Waterloo station.