The world watched and massive crowds gathered in the streets of London in anticipation of the Coronation Service of King Charles III and Queen Camilla at Westminster Abbey on Saturday.
The once-in-a-lifetime ceremony started at 11.00 am GMT, designed to “reflect the Monarch’s role today and look towards the future, while being rooted in longstanding traditions and pageantry,” the Royal Family website states.
The service and processions were streamed on U.K. national television, radio and online, and shown on large screens at screening sites in London and around the country.
Livestreams of the coronation events were broadcast by networks around the world.
King and Queen’s procession in London
Ceremonial processions took place in London before and after the Coronation Service, the first one starting at 10.20 am GMT.
King Charles III and Queen Camilla traveled in procession from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Abbey, a route known as “The King’s Procession,” in the Diamond Jubilee State Coach, drawn by 6 Windsor Grey horses, while the Household Cavalry provided the Sovereign’s Escort.
The King’s Procession traveled along The Mall, through Admiralty Arch, passing to the south of the King Charles Island statue in Trafalgar Square before turning onto Whitehall, headed towards the east and south sides of Parliament Square, to arrive at Westminster Abbey where the Coronation service at Westminster Abbey began at 11 am GMT.
The moment Charles III is crowned King
This was the first Coronation Service to have taken place in the U.K. in 70 years.
Around 2,200 people, including senior royals and world leaders, watched on from inside Westminster Abbey.
𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐑𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐠𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧
The King turns to each of the four points of the compass before The Archbishop of Canterbury proclaims him the ‘undoubted King’. The congregation shouts ‘God Save King Charles!’. pic.twitter.com/g6PiBLVjKu
— The Royal Family (@RoyalFamily) May 6, 2023
For the first time at a coronation, the new monarch also prayed for grace to be “a blessing to all… of every faith and belief”.
𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐫𝐨𝐰𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐟 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐊𝐢𝐧𝐠
The Archbishop of Canterbury places St Edward’s Crown on The King’s anointed head. The clergy, congregation and choir all cry ‘God Save The King’.#Coronation pic.twitter.com/kGrV3W0bky
— The Royal Family (@RoyalFamily) May 6, 2023
After the Coronation service, which was conducted by the Archbishop of Canterbury, the new King and Queen returned to Buckingham Palace as part of a larger ceremonial procession, known as “The Coronation Procession.”
The procession arrived at Buckingham Palace at 1.30 pm GMT, where Their Majesties received a salute from the United Kingdom and Commonwealth Armed Forces in the Buckingham Palace Gardens, and appeared on the Buckingham Palace balcony.
Three cheers for Their Majesties!#Coronation pic.twitter.com/7cMWlPBEkI
— The Royal Family (@RoyalFamily) May 6, 2023
At 2.30 pm GMT, there was a majestic Coronation flypast by the Armed Forces over The Mall and Buckingham Palace.
Greek Byzantine chants and historic garments at King Charles III’s coronation
According to the Order of Service, when Charles III sat in the Coronation Chair, the Byzantine Chant Ensemble sang in Greek, in recognition of His Majesty’s father Prince Philip, the late Duke of Edinburgh, while the Sword of State was exchanged for the Sword of Offering by the Lord President of the Council.
The King was crowned with St. Edward’s crown, a centuries-old and priceless relic, and reused historic items of clothing from the Royal Collection, worn by previous monarchs at past Coronations.
These included items from the Coronation Services of King George IV in 1821, King George V in 1911, King George VI in 1937 and Queen Elizabeth II in 1953.
At the moment the Crown was placed on the Head of The King in Westminster Abbey, The King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery fired a six Gun Salvo on Horse Guards Parade.
God Save The King! @BritishArmy @RoyalFamily @DefenceHQ @DCMS @theroyalparks pic.twitter.com/rO0yrUeB8B
— The Army in London (@ArmyInLondon) May 6, 2023
Although it is customary for the Supertunica and the Imperial Mantle to be reused, Charles III also reused the Colobium Sindonis, Coronation Sword Belt and Coronation Glove worn by his grandfather King George VI, “in the interests of sustainability and efficiency,” a statement described.
King Charles III, formerly known as The Prince of Wales, became King on the death of his mother Queen Elizabeth II on 8 September 2022.
In addition to his official and ceremonial duties in the United Kingdom and overseas as The Prince of Wales, the new monarch has taken a keen and active interest in all areas of public life for decades and been instrumental in establishing more than 20 charities over 40 years.
His Majesty supports a wide variety of causes relating to the environment, rural communities, the built environment, the arts, healthcare and education.
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