London, UK: In a grand and highly religious ceremony held at Westminster Abbey in London, King Charles III has been crowned, marking a significant moment in British history.
Marking a symbolic union of monarchy, church, and state, the coronation ceremony has attracted dignitaries from various parts of the globe and thousands of onlookers have flocked to London to witness the grandeur of the occasion. The event is the first coronation to take place in Britain in 70 years, thus making it a momentous historical milestone. Following a two-hour service attended by world leaders and celebrities, members of the royal family are making their way back to Buckingham Palace.
In a slightly different form, Queen Camilla has undergone her own coronation ceremony. Similar to King Charles III, Queen Camilla has been anointed with holy oil by the Archbishop of Canterbury, but without a screen, reflecting the unique nature of the anointing of a consort compared to a reigning monarch.
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Her Majesty is crowned with Queen Mary’s Crown. pic.twitter.com/ROa9Q2nK2t
— The Royal Family (@RoyalFamily) May 6, 2023
Police made several arrests of anti-monarchy protesters near the procession route, following their controversial promise to take a “robust” approach towards demonstrators. Following his coronation at Westminster Abbey, King Charles III left the venue and entered the Gold State Coach, which has been used in every coronation since William IV in 1831.
The coach, drawn by eight Windsor Grey horses, will take the newly-crowned king back to Buckingham Palace, following the same route as the procession preceding the coronation service. However, the coronation procession is expected to be much larger in scale, featuring Armed Forces from across the Commonwealth and the British Overseas Territories, along with all Services of the Armed Forces of the United Kingdom, The Sovereign’s Bodyguard, and Royal Watermen, as stated by the royal household.
As King Charles III’s coronation draws massive crowds in London and millions tune in from home, some Britons are questioning the expenditure on such a lavish event while the country continues to grapple with a cost of living crisis.
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