After a lifetime as the heir to his late mother, Queen Elizabeth II, King Charles III, 74, became the oldest royal yet to be crowned at London’s Westminster Abbey.
Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby put the solid-gold St Edward’s Crown on Charles’ head at 12:02 p.m. (1102 GMT) as a sacred and ancient emblem of the monarch’s power.
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Welby also crowned Charles’ wife, Camilla, 75, completing a stunning metamorphosis from royal mistress to “queen consort” and now queen.
Cries of “God Save the King” burst out from the crowd of 2,300 people, who included royalty and political leaders from all around the world.
French President Emmanuel Macron, who attended the ceremony, stated, “Proud to be with you on this historic day.”
Hundreds gathered to celebrate on the volcanic island of Tanna, where Charles’ late father, Prince Philip, is revered as a native deity, in the Pacific nation of Vanuatu.
Trumpet fanfares were heard at Westminster Abbey, as were gun salutes across the United Kingdom and beyond.
In the second horse-drawn parade of the day, the royal family appeared on the balcony to applause and more cries of approval from tens of thousands of well-wishers braving a spring downpour.
Some had been camping for days. Due to inclement weather, a ceremonial fly-past was cancelled. French President Emmanuel Macron, who attended the ceremony, stated, “Proud to be with you on this historic day.”
Hundreds gathered to celebrate on the volcanic island of Tanna, where Charles’ late father, Prince Philip, is revered as a native deity, in the Pacific nation of Vanuatu.
Trumpet fanfares were heard at Westminster Abbey, as were gun salutes across the United Kingdom and beyond.
In the second horse-drawn parade of the day, the royal family appeared on the balcony to applause and more cries of approval from tens of thousands of well-wishers braving a spring downpour.
Some had been camping for days. Due to inclement weather, a ceremonial fly-past was cancelled.
The anti-monarchy organisation Republic, which advocates for an elected head of state, reported that six of its organisers were detained, while climate campaigners Just Stop Oil reported that 19 of its members were detained.
Nonetheless, scores of Republic activists carried banners proclaiming “Not my king” along the march route. Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International, and other advocacy organisations have criticised the arrests.
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“This is something you would expect to see in Moscow, not London,” HRW said.
Hundreds of people chanted “down with the crown” at an anti-monarchy rally in Edinburgh. Protesters also gathered in Cardiff, the Welsh capital.
