Photo: King Charles III and wife, Queen Camilla, watch the crowd from the balcony of Buckingham Palace after the coronation ceremony, in London.
King Charles III, Queen Camilla officially crowned in London
King Charles III and his wife, Queen Camilla, were both formally crowned on Saturday in a historic ceremony at London’s Westminster Abbey.
The coronation ceremony steeped in centuries of tradition but with a few small tweaks for the modern age.
The ceremony held in front of about 2,000 invited guests including some world leaders and a global audience of millions watching on TV or livestream.
Though Charles officially became king following the death of his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, on Sept. 8, 2022, Saturday’s ‘coronation ceremony consecrated and celebrated his ascent to the throne.
The event was like so many of the country’s monarchs before him. The last coronation was 70 years ago when Charles’ mother was crowned.
The lavish affair was awash in robed clergy, prayers, majestic music and the high-pitched singing voices of young boys and girls.
The coronation is a weekend-long affair with many activities planned.
While it is reported to be a scaled back version of what was originally planned, it is still believed to carry a multi-million-dollar price tag for the British taxpayers.
Charles is the first monarch to pray aloud at his coronation.
His prayer said in part: “Grant that I may be a blessing to all thy children, of every faith and belief, that together we may discover the ways of gentleness and be led into the paths of peace.”
Millions of people around the world were able to witness the coronation on television and the internet.
