A historic day of spectacle culminated in the coronation of King Charles and Queen Camilla to loud applause from spectators in front of Buckingham Palace.
After a highly spiritual Coronation service at Westminster Abbey and a massive procession across London, thousands of people filled the Mall despite the rain. The RAF Red Arrows painted the sky red, white, and blue as the King and Queen waved from the balcony of the Palace.
The route of the horse-drawn Diamond Jubilee State Coach to Westminster Abbey, past ecstatic spectators and an honour guard of 1,000 members of the armed forces, signalled the start of the King’s day shortly after 10:00 BST. The processions were led by commonwealth and religious officials, with the King and Queen coming next. The two-hour ritual, which was the first to crown a king in 70 years, was seen by about 2,300 people inside the abbey and on televisions all across the world. Cries of “God Save the King” and gun salutes could be heard inside and outside the palace as Charles was given the crown.
In the first part of the ritual, Charles was referred to as the “undoubted King.” The assembly was then instructed to display their devotion by chanting “God Save the King” as a sign of respect.
The anointing, which is regarded as the most sacred element of the ceremony, was performed with the King shielded from the people for one part of the rite. Here, the Archbishop of Canterbury anointed the King with holy oil. It “has historically been regarded as a moment between the Sovereign and God,” according to the Palace, which explains the need for secrecy. Choristers sung Handel’s Zadok the Priest, which has been performed at every coronation since 1727, as they waited for the crowned King to reappear.
As they made their way back to the Palace, the freshly crowned King and Queen rode up The Mall in the Gold State Coach, flanked by thousands of service members. The King’s position did not technically alter with the Coronation. In September, when his mother Queen Elizabeth II passed away after 70 years in power, Charles was crowned King of the United Kingdom and 14 other nations. Since then, there have been months of meticulous preparation for the festivities, which marked the 40th coronation to take place at Westminster Abbey since 1066. With contributions from Jewish, Muslim, Buddhist, and Sikh delegates, this coronation’s emphasis on diversity and inclusivity featured more multifaith aspects than any previous coronation.
