King Charles and Queen Camilla have been crowned on a historic day of pageantry, as tens of thousands of people braved the rain to get a glimpse of the newly crowned king at the famous balcony of Buckingham Palace.
This is the first coronation in Britain for 70 years since the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II, Charles’s mother, in 1953. The 74-year-old Charles, succeeded his mother as king of the United Kingdom and 14 other realms including Canada and Australia when Queen Elizabeth died last September.
Spectacular scenes in London on #Coronation Day.
— The Royal Family (@RoyalFamily) May 6, 2023
Travelling in the Diamond Jubilee State Coach, accompanied by The Sovereign’s Escort of Household Cavalry, The King and The Queen have arrived at Westminster Abbey for the Coronation Service. pic.twitter.com/BDkklcj9pA
The centuries-old tradition of crowning
Some 2,300 people were invited to the congregation, including members of the royal family, as well as international representatives from 203 countries, including approximately 100 global dignitaries.
King Charles III’s first remarks at the beginning of the two-hour royal event were, “I come not to be served, but to serve.”
In an archaic ritual, the king was anointed with holy oil and swore the oath of kings, before the archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, placed St Edward’s 360-year-old crown on his head, and said “God save the king”. Charles’s wife Camilla, 75, was also crowned with Queen Mary’s Crown.
Charles was seated on the 700-year-old Coronation Chair, believed to be Europe’s oldest piece of furniture. He was crowned at Westminster Abbey where the coronation ceremonies have occurred for the last nine centuries.
𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐫𝐨𝐰𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐟 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐊𝐢𝐧𝐠
— The Royal Family (@RoyalFamily) May 6, 2023
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
Prince William, the eldest child of King Charles, bowed and kissed his father after paying the “homage of royal blood”, in which he declared himself “your liege man of life and limb”.
In contrast, the king’s younger son, Prince Harry, attended the ceremony alone, without his wife and children, and did not take part in any formal ceremonies.
A huge military procession followed gun salutes as thousands of soldiers roared three cheers. The Red Arrow painted the sky red, white, and blue as the king and queen waved from the balcony of Buckingham Palace to cheering crowds who gathered on The Mall boulevard.
After the service, Charles and Camilla departed in the four-tonne and 260-year-old Gold State Coach built for George III, the last king of Britain’s American colonies, to ride to Buckingham Palace in a one-mile procession of 4,000 military personnel from 39 nations.
😍
— The Royal Family (@RoyalFamily) May 6, 2023
On a scale not seen on the streets of London for 70 years, the #Coronation Procession made its way from Westminster Abbey to Buckingham Palace. pic.twitter.com/mgnfgivcBA
The ceremony also included a reading from the Bible by UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.
Star-studded guest list
Approximately 100 heads of state from around the world and dozens of members of foreign royal families traveled to London for the event.
Representatives from nine European monarchies, the royal families of Bhutan, Jordan, Tonga, Thailand’s king, the Japanese crown prince, the Māori king from New Zealand attended the ceremony.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, French President Emmanuel Macron, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, U.S. First Lady Jill Biden, European Commission President Ursula Von der Leyen, and European Council President Charles Michel all attended the service. Ukrainian President Zelensky’s wife Olena and Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal are also in London this week to attend the event.
Lovely to see @FLOTUS and @ZelenskaUA this evening 🇺🇸🇺🇦 #Coronation pic.twitter.com/a9F0g9Eoje
— The Prince and Princess of Wales (@KensingtonRoyal) May 5, 2023
Celebrity guests included actress Emma Thompson and US singer Katy Perry.
World leaders congratulate Charles and Camilla
Leaders from around the world sent congratulations to Britain’s King Charles III and Queen Camilla on their coronation.
United States President Joe Biden, whose country was represented at the lavish ceremony in London by First Lady Jill Biden, paid tribute to the “enduring friendship between the US and the UK”.
Chinese President Xi Jinping and his wife Peng Liyuan sent a congratulatory message to King Charles and Queen Camilla. Xi urged to expand mutually beneficial cooperation and deepen people-to-people and cultural exchanges.
French President Emmanuel Macron, who attended the ceremony with his wife, sent his congratulations to Charles and Camilla, calling them “friends of France“.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, who is in Kenya for a visit, also welcomed the newly crowned monarch’s interest in tackling climate change.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, termed the coronation “a testament to the enduring strength of the British monarchy”.
The Coronation is a testament to the enduring strength of the British monarchy. A symbol of stability and continuity.
— Ursula von der Leyen (@vonderleyen) May 6, 2023
My congratulations to King Charles III and Queen Camilla. pic.twitter.com/rhLM9iAFrG