- AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino
VIVA – King Charles III was crowned monarch of the United Kingdom on Saturday to replace his late mother, Queen Elizabeth II who passed away on last September 8, 2022.
At 74 years old, Charles becomes the oldest monarch to ever take the British throne. The coronation of King Charles III was marked by the pinning of the diamond-encrusted St. Edward's Crown in a traditional royal ceremony at Westminster Abbey.
Charles was joined by royal family members, representation for 203 nations and territories, 200 members of the British military, and other public figures for the service.
Many people have never seen a British monarch crowned. Queen Elizabeth II’s coronation ceremony was on June 2, 1953.
Penobatan Raja Charles III di Westminster Abbey, Sabtu, 6 Mei 2023.
- AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth, Pool
Moreover, King Charles and Queen Camilla stepped out onto the balcony of Buckingham Palace Saturday with other senior members of their family to watch a military fly-past and greet members of the public. They were joined by other "working" members of the royal family, including William and Kate, the Prince and Princess of Wales, and their children.
As part of the "slimmed down" coronation day events requested by the king, not all members of their large family joined them.
Prince Harry will not appear at the private lunch for royal family members. He also did not appear on the balcony, which was reserved for "working" members of the royal family.
It is known that the coronation day was attended by more than 2,000 guests, including world leaders, royals, and celebrities. Outside, thousands of soldiers, tens of thousands of spectators, and some protesters gathered.
This is the culmination of a seven-decade journey for Charles as the heir to the throne to become king.
Beyond the fanfare of King Charles III's coronation, protesters gathered outside to chant "Not my King" at the celebration of an institution that they say represents privilege and inequality, in a country with worsening poverty and broken social bonds.
Despite this, thousands of people from across the United Kingdom and around the world camped out overnight along the 1.3-mile (2-kilometer) route that the king and his wife, Camilla, took to reach the abbey in a gilded horse-drawn carriage.
The church buzzed with excitement and was filled with fragrant flowers and colorful hats as the congregation of international dignitaries and royals arrived.
Among them were US First Lady Jill Biden, French President Emmanuel Macron, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, eight former British prime ministers, as well as celebrities including Judi Dench, Emma Thompson, and Lionel Richie.
