King Charles III's Coronation LIVE Updates: King Charles III was crowned the King of England at Westminster Abbey during a historic coronation ceremony on Saturday, 6 May, close to 70 years after his mother, Queen Elizabeth II.
Queen Camilla was crowned, presented with the royal sceptre annd the rod of equity and mercy, and was further enthroned.
The main ceremony itself was led by the Archbishop of Canterbury, who placed St Edward's Crown on the King's head, formally making Charles the King of England.
With over 100 heads of state among the 2,300 guests, King Charles made a pledge to maintain the Protestant faith in the UK and protect the rights of the Church of England as outlined by Parliament.
The ceremony drew tens of thousands of spectators, with many camping overnight to secure prime spots for the mile-long parade that featured 7,000 troops and 19 military bands - the highest number at any state event since Queen Elizabeth II's 1953 coronation.
With Britain making last-minute arrangements for the upcoming ceremony, the global spotlight shifted towards the royal family that has witnessed numerous transformations lately, including the decision of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle to relinquish their senior royal roles, and the demise of Queen Elizabeth II, who held the throne for the longest duration in the country's history.
You can watch the live-stream of King Charles' III Coronation here:
In a procession, King Charles and Queen Consort Camilla arrived from Buckingham Palace for their Coronation ceremony at Westminster Abbey. The Abbey is filled with politicians, celebrities, faith leaders, and Commonwealth leaders before the event, scheduled to begin at 11:00 BST.
Despite the rainy weather, people waiting on The Mall to witness the spectacle are enjoying a festive atmosphere under their umbrellas.
On the other hand, some leading members of Republic, an anti-monarchy group, were among the six individuals arrested near Trafalgar Square.
Following the ceremony, there was another larger procession, and the royal couple appeared on the Palace balcony. However, Prince Harry was not to be seen at the balcony.
A planned fly-past had to be scaled down at the last moment due to adverse weather conditions.
A Royal Balcony Wave
King Charles III and Queen Camilla were cheered on by the crowd as they appeared on the Buckingham Palace balcony, joined by page boys including Prince George, and two of Camilla’s ladies-in-waiting.
Other royal family members, including the Prince and Princess of Wales and their children, joined the pair.
All Eyes on Buckingham Palace
All eyes have now turned to a Buckingham Palace balcony, where the King and queen will soon appear and wave to thousands of supporters, who've gathered for a glimpse of the newly crowned monarch.
US President Biden Congratulates Charles and Camilla
US President Joe Biden congratulated King Charles III and Queen Camilla on their coronation on Saturday, paying tribute to the "enduring friendship between the U.S. and the U.K."
"I am proud the First Lady is representing the United States for this historic occasion," Biden added.
King Receives Salute from the Troops
The king has stepped out on the west terrace of Buckingham Palace to receive a salute from the troops, who gave the salute and the national anthem was subsequently played.
Royal Procession Approaches Buckingham Palace
The Gold State Coach carrying King Charles and Queen Consort Camilla is approaching Buckingham Palace and we will now see the pair disappear inside, but only after a Royal Salute from the British and Commonwealth troops.
Coronation Procession on Course to Buckingham Palace
There is now a coronation procession from Westminster Abbey to Buckingham Palace. The king’s carriage has departed the abbey.
The King's carriage has departed Westminster abbey and is now a part of a coronation procession to Buckingham Palace. The procession will include one of the largest military parades in the UK.
The British Ministry of Defence said that that it involves 19 military bands, 250 horses and 4000 Armed Forces personnel, representing 33 Commonwealth countries.
Newly Crowed King and Queen Leave Westminster Abbey
King Charles III has left the abbey, carrying the orb and sceptre, and is heading to his carriage as the abbey bells are ringing out. Queen Camilla is seated in the carriage beside him.
Lord Indarjit Singh Seen Walking in Religious Procession
Lord Indarjit Singh was seen walking in the procession of religious peers to hand over a key item of regalia, a royal coronation glove, to King Charles III.
He was alongside Lord Syed Kamall (56), who is of Indo-Guyanese heritage and a representative of the Muslim faith, Lord Narendra Babubhai Patel, a representative of the Hindu faith and Baroness Gillian Merron who represented the Jewish faith. Each of them handed over an item of regalia to King Charles III.
Singh is the founder of the Network of Singh Organisations (NSO) in the UK. He was honoured with a CBE by the late Queen Elizabeth II for his services to interfaith harmony in the country.
He has also been an acquaintance of King Charles for many years, and have shared dialogue about religious harmony.
Dozens Gather for "Not My King" Protest
Meanwhile, dozens have gathered for a "Not My King" protest in Cardiff City Centre, following King Charles' Coronation.
The crowd has gathered against the monarchy, an alleged attack on democracy and the cost of living crisis.
Phil, a protestor from Cwmbran, explained why she is protesting the Coronation and said, "I've always believed in grassroots democracy... In the middle of a cost of living crisis they're spending £150 million on a ceremony for a billionaire."
The Kohinoor's conspicuous Absence
As per British Royal tradition, the crown adorned with the Kohinoor diamond, traditionally worn by the Queen Consort, this time, Camilla, is absent during the coronation of King Charles III.
Alternatively, she wore Queen Mary’s crown instead, described by the Royal Collection Trust as “composed of a silver frame, lined with gold, and set with 2,200 diamonds, mainly brilliant-cut, with some rose-cut.”
According to reports, it was a conscious decision taken by Buckingham Palace as the Kohinoor is a symbolic reminder of Britain’s colonial conquests.
Queen Camilla Crowned, Enthroned
Queen Camilla was crowned, presented with the royal sceptre and the rod of equity and mercy, and was further enthroned.
Heir to the Throne, William Pays Homage to King Charles
Prince William paid homage to his father during the coronation ceremony
The heir to the throne, William knelt before his father and said:
"I, William, Prince of Wales, pledge my loyalty to you, and faith and truth I will bear unto you, as your liege man of life and limb. So help me God."
King Charles III Crowned
As the Archbishop of Cantebury places St Edward's Crown on the King's head, Charles is formally the King of England.
The Crowning Nears
The investiture stage of the ceremony is the most symbolic, as it leads up to the crowning moment.
First, the King is given a shimmering golden coat to wear, called the Supertunica. He sits in the Coronation Chair, and various regalia are presented to him.
The Most Sacred 'Anointing' Stage
Next comes the anointing stage. A screen was placed between Charles and the rest of the attendees as the service reaches it most sacred bit.
The King's ceremonial robe will now be removed, and he will sit in the Coronation Chair with a gold cloth draped over it.
The Archbishop of Canterbury will anoint the King's hands, breast, and head with holy oil made according to a secret recipe containing ingredients like ambergris, orange flowers, roses, jasmine, and cinnamon.
However, the oil for Charles will not have any animal-derived components.
Rishi Sunak Reads Prayer From Bible
UK prime minister Rishi Sunak made a bible reading from the Epistle to the Colossians, in a series of prayers as part of the coronation.
Charles Takes Coronation Oath
During the Coronation ceremony, the Archbishop of Canterbury acknowledges the diverse faiths observed in the United Kingdom by affirming that the Church of England will endeavor to create an atmosphere where individuals of all faiths can live freely.
Next, Archbishop Welby performs the Coronation Oath - a mandatory legal requirement. He asks King Charles to confirm his commitment to upholding the law and the Church of England throughout his reign.
The King places his hand on the Holy Gospel, vowing to "perform and keep" those promises.
Additionally, Charles III takes the Accession Declaration Oath, confirming his status as a "faithful Protestant".
'God Save King Charles'
During this part of the ceremony, which is known as the recognition, Charles faces all four points of the compass and be presented with the words “I here present unto you King Charles, your undoubted King," as they said, "God Save King Charles."
‘I Come Not To Be Served but To Serve,’ Says King Charles
At the beginning of the service, a child has approached Charles III and said “Your Majesty, as children of the kingdom of God we welcome you in the name of the King of kings.”
Charles replied:
"In his name and after his example I come not to be served but to serve.”
The archbishop of Canterbury has then given a welcome and will now give an address.
King Charles Enters Westminster Abbry
King Charles III has entered Westminster Abbey for the historic coronation ceremony.
The music being played was originally composed for the Coronation of Edward VII in 1902, and it includes a Latin cry of 'long live Charles' and 'long live Camilla.'
King Charles III, Queen Consort Camilla Arrive
The time for the coronation nears as King Charles' carriage arrived outside Westminster Abbey. The royal couple will enter through the building's Great West Door - before proceeding through the nave.
More About Charles' Carriage
The gilded crown on the top of the Diamond Jubilee State Coach was carved from oak from the British ship, HMS Victory, and the coach’s interior is inlaid with samples of woods, metals and other materials from buildings and places with specific connections to Britain and its history.
These include several Royal Residences including Buckingham Palace, Kensington Palace, Windsor Castle and the Palace of Holyroodhouse; cathedrals including St Paul’s and Westminster Abbey; and historic ships, such as the Mary Rose.
A Historic Coronation Site Steeped in History
The site for the for the historic coronation is Westminster Abbey, which has been the site of every British Coronation since that of William The Conqueror in 1066.
King Charles III and his wife, Queen Camilla, will follow in the footsteps of this grand tradition in a service themed “Called to Serve”.
King Charles Leaves for Westminster Abbey
King Charles III has set off from Buckingham Place as part of the King's Procession, an outbound journey to Westminster Abbey. The return journey is called the Coronation Procession.
The royal couple are travelling in the Diamond Jubilee State Coach, originally commissioned for the late Queen Elizabeth II in 2012.
The procession involves around 200 members of the armed forces, centered around the Sovereign's Escort of The Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment.
Another 1,000 route liners from the forces are flanking them.
Who’s Performing the Coronation Ceremony?
The Act of Consecration, also known as the anointing ceremony, will be conducted by the Archbishop of Canterbury prior to the investiture and crowning. The Chrism oil will be utilized during this ceremony.
Justin Welby, 67, is the most senior cleric in the country and will crown and anoint the new king and queen. He has remained the spiritual leader of the Church of England since 2013.
The Schedule
The King's procession is set to begun in an hour from Buckingham Palace at 10:20 am BST (2:50 pm IST). The King and queen consort will be taken to Westminster Abbey for the service at 11:00 am (3:30 pm IST).
Here is the full schedule:
2:25 pm: Members of foreign royal families arrive at the abbey.
2:35 pm: Members of the British royal family arrive.
3:30 pm: The two-hour coronation ceremony begins.
4:30 pm: Charles will be crowned by the Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby.
5:30 pm: The Coronation Procession from Westminster Abbey to Buckingham Palace begins, with Charles and Camilla travelling in the Gold State Coach.
Prince William, Charles' son and heir, along with his wife Kate and their three children, will travel in the first carriage behind Charles.
6:15 pm: The Coronation Procession reaches Buckingham Palace. Charles and Camilla will proceed to the garden for the Royal Salute from members of the armed forces before joining other members of the royal family on the Buckingham Palace balcony.
Anti-Monarchy Protestors Arrested
In contrast to the celebratory atmosphere at The Mall, anti-monarchy protests led by the Republic, which is the UK’s leading republican movement, are also taking place at Trafalgar Square on King Charles III’s procession route.
Graham Smith, the chief executive group, along with five other anti-monarchy organisers were arrested by the MET police. They were arrested at about 7.30 am, while hundreds of anti-monarchist protesters were gathered at the site with large flags and wearing yellow T-shirts with anti monarchy slogans.
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