Coronation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla at Westminster Abbey – May 6, 2023
On a momentous day in British history, King Charles III and Queen Camilla have been crowned at Westminster Abbey, marking the beginning of a new royal era in the country. The ceremony was attended by more than 2,300 guests, including over 100 heads of state, and involved a procession from Buckingham Palace to the Abbey, with tens of thousands of people cramming the route to catch a glimpse of the royal couple.
The coronation ritual was an elaborate and archaic ceremony, not seen in Britain since 1953, where the king was anointed with holy oil and swore the oath of kings. Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby then placed St Edward’s crown on the king’s head, to the traditional cry of “God save the king”.
During the ceremony, the king pledged to maintain the Protestant religion in the UK and preserve the rights of the Church of England. He also promised to govern the UK and the 15 Commonwealth countries, where he is also head of state, according to the law and to “cause law and justice, in mercy, to be executed”.
The coronation ceremony was not without controversy, however. Ahead of the procession, a number of anti-royalist protesters, including the head of the UK’s leading anti-monarchy campaign group, Republic, were arrested. Up to 2,000 people gathered in Trafalgar Square beneath a statue of Charles I, chanting and holding yellow placards reading “not my king”.
In addition, there was a last-minute change to the wording of the homage of the people, which had been included for the first time in the ceremony. The king’s friend Jonathan Dimbleby had described the original wording as “abhorrent”. Instead of calling on “all persons of goodwill” to swear to “pay true homage… to their undoubted king”, Welby changed the wording to stress it was a voluntary and personal act.
Nonetheless, the ceremony was a highly significant moment for the 74-year-old king, who has been heir to the throne since the age of three. It also marked the culmination of an extraordinary journey for Queen Camilla, who married Charles in 2005, after the first marriages of both had ended in divorce. From youthful royal girlfriend to vilified mistress to Duchess of Cornwall to queen consort – after her coronation, she would be known as Queen Camilla, Buckingham Palace said.
Although the coronation ceremony has no legal or constitutional significance, it was a symbolic beginning of a new chapter in the history of the British monarchy. The newly crowned king was greeted as he left the abbey by representatives of various religious communities, who said they united in thanksgiving and service for the common good.
The ceremony ended with the royal couple returning to Buckingham Palace, where they stepped out into the rain to greet the crowds below before watching a scaled-back flypast. It was a momentous day for King Charles III and Queen Camilla, and for the British people who witnessed the historic event.
Coronation Day 06 MAY 2023
The coronation of King Charles III was a grand spectacle that attracted tens of thousands of people from all over the United Kingdom. However, it was not without controversy. The Metropolitan Police faced criticism for their handling of anti-monarchy protesters, with 52 arrests made for a range of offenses including conspiracy to cause a public nuisance, affray, breach of the peace, and public order offenses.
Metropolitan Police commander Karen Findlay acknowledged the public’s concerns about the arrests but defended Scotland Yard’s actions. She stated that protest is lawful but can be disruptive, and their duty is to police it in a proportionate manner in line with relevant legislation. They also have a duty to intervene when protests become criminal and may cause serious disruption, and this depends on the context. Findlay added that the coronation is a once-in-a-generation event and that is a key consideration in their assessment. Despite the criticisms, a protest involving large numbers went ahead with police knowledge and no intervention.
Home Secretary Suella Braverman thanked the police for their hard work in ensuring the coronation passed without incident and was enjoyed by tens of thousands of people in London. However, Tory MP Lee Anderson’s comments drew ire when he told anti-monarchy activists to “emigrate.” Anderson appeared to side with the police, especially against protesters near Buckingham Palace who were holding up signs reading “Not My King.”
Historian David Olusoga stated that the coronation was a “huge effort to show the diversity of faith within Britain” and had echoes of the medieval age. Olusoga added that the ceremony reflected the deep religious history of the country, and it was difficult with a 1,000-year-old ceremony to reflect the fact that Britain is one of the more secular nations in the world.
The coronation ceremony itself was a lavish and archaic ritual not seen in Britain since 1953, with King Charles III anointed with holy oil and swearing the oath of kings. The ceremony involved 2,300 guests, including more than 100 heads of state, and a mile-long parade with 7,000 troops and 19 military bands. Tens of thousands of people camped overnight to secure a good view of the procession route from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Abbey. However, some anti-royalist protesters booed the king as he passed, and up to 2,000 people gathered in Trafalgar Square chanting and holding yellow placards reading “Not My King.”
After honoring his father during the service, Prince William gave his father a kiss. Harry, Duke of Sussex, arrived at the coronation alone because his wife, the Duchess of Sussex, and their young children chose to stay at home in California rather than attend.
Despite the controversies, the coronation was a magnificent procession and ceremony that paid tribute to Britain and its monarchy. The public were controversially invited to pledge allegiance to the monarch, but the wording was changed at the last moment due to criticisms. The king and queen and other members of the royal family were cheered by a crowd outside Buckingham Palace when they made a balcony appearance.
Read also:
Coronations in the United Kingdom
The Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II
The coronation of Tsar Nicholas II and A Dark Day in Russian History
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