In a two-hour service resplendent with pomp and circumstance as well as symbolism dating back hundreds of years, the congregation declared “God Save the King” after the crown was placed upon his head by the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby. A trumpet fanfare reverberated around the Abbey before the national anthem God Save the King was sung.
The Coronation marked the start of three days of celebrations across the United Kingdom which will see a concert at Windsor Castle, street parties across the nation and a day of volunteering for good causes.
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The King ascended the throne after the death of his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, in September last year, making him the oldest new monarch in British history.
Like his mother’s coronation 70 years earlier, a light rain fell in London as members of the Royal Family, heads of state, film and pop stars, as well as invited members of the public arrived at Westminster Abbey opposite the Palace of Westminster.
The streets of the capital – from The Mall outside Buckingham Palace to Whitehall and Parliament Square – were lined with thousands of wellwishers, many of whom had camped out overnight to secure a ringside seat of the historic day.
American singers Katy Perry and Lionel Richie arrived at the Abbey as guests of the King. Mr Richie, 73, who like Ms Perry will perform at Sunday’s concert, told the media he was “walking into history” for the “greatest show on earth”.
Despite the importance of the “special relationship”, it emerged that Mr Biden had nothing on his schedule, according to the White House. The president’s decision not to attend prompted criticism from Donald Trump who described it as “disrespectful”.
However, Mrs Biden and her granddaughter Finnegan Biden, were wearing blue and yellow, an apparent nod to the flag of Ukraine and the West’s solidarity in the country’s attempts to defend itself against the Russian invasion. Also in attendance was Olena Zelenska, Ukraine’s First Lady.
Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex, arrived at the Abbey 20 minutes before the coronation ceremony began at 11am GMT. His wife, Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, remained in America where she was looking after the couple’s two children. He flew into the UK late on Friday evening for what is believed to be only a 24-hour visit.
The prince, along with the Duke of York, had no formal roles in the Coronation because they are no longer working royals and so did not wear military uniform.
Rishi Sunak, the British Prime Minister who gave a reading during the coronation ceremony, and his wife Akshata Murty, were among the guests, along with Tony Blair, the former British prime minister who turned 70 on Saturday. Former prime ministers Gordon Brown, David Cameron, John Major, Boris Johnson and Liz Truss also filed into the Abbey.
Among the celebrated British actors in the congregation were Dame Maggie Smith, Dame Emma Thompson, Dame Judi Dench and Stephen Fry. Emmanuel Macron, the French president, and his wife, Brigitte, were also among the heads of state, who included Ursula von der Leyen, the president of the European Commission, and Justin Trudeau, the Canadian Prime Minister.
The King and Queen travelled from Buckingham Palace in the Diamond Jubilee Coach, built in Australia for the late Queen’s commemoration of her 60th anniversary reign in 2012. The carriage weighs three tonnes, is 18ft long and fitted with heating and air conditioning.
They processed with more than 4,000 Armed Forces personnel from 40 Commonwealth countries – including the Royal Navy, Royal Marines, British Army and Royal Air Force – making up the largest military procession in London for 70 years.
The Prince and Princess of Wales, William and Kate, arrived behind their eldest son Prince George who was one of the King’s pages of honour.
They were followed by their daughter Princess Charlotte and their younger son, Prince Louis, who smiled and waved as he arrived at his grandfather’s Coronation.
Upon the arrival of the King and Queen at the Abbey, the choir sang “Vivat Regina Camilla!” and “Vivat Rex Carolus!”, Latin for “Long live Queen Camilla!” and “Long live King Charles!”.
A specially-commissioned red leather-bound Bible was presented to the King, upon which he swore oaths to govern with justice and mercy, and uphold the churches established by law in the United Kingdom.
The formal Presentation of the Bible to the sovereign dates back to the joint Coronation of William III and Mary II in 1689.
A new element of the Coronation saw the King repeatedly underline his commitment to serve, rather than be served.
Eight singers from the Ascension Choir performed Alleluia (O Sing Praises), becoming the first gospel group to perform in Westminster Abbey for a coronation. The choir had performed at the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s wedding five years ago.
The most sacred part of the Coronation involved the King being anointed with Holy Oil behind specially erected screens to shield the ceremony from the public. Zadok the Priest by George Friderik Handel was performed with the chorus “God Save the King!”.
Shortly before noon, King Charles became the seventh monarch to wear the gold St Edward’s Crown.Moments after the King was crowned, Mr Biden used his @POTUS Twitter account to congratulate the monarch.
He wrote: “Congratulations to King Charles III and Queen Camilla on their Coronation. The enduring friendship between the U.S. and the U.K. is a source of strength for both our peoples.
“I am proud the First Lady is representing the United States for this historic occasion.”
Earlier, a number of Republican protesters carrying placards stating “Not My King” were arrested.
Graham Smith, the head of the anti-monarchist group Republic, was among those arrested near Trafalgar Square in the heart of the capital city.
The decision by the Metropolitan Police was rounded on by the campaigners who accused officers of curtailing their right to freely protest.
Campaign group Liberty said the arrests of protesters ahead of the Coronation “sets a dangerous precedent for us as a democratic nation”.
Human Rights Watch, a non-profit campaign group, said the arrests were “something you would expect to see in Moscow not London”.