The Coronation of King Charles III took place in London on Saturday May 6th amidst much pomp and ceremony.
The former Prince of Wales began his reign as King upon the death of his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, on 8th September last year. The delayed Coronation allowed for a period of mourning for the late Queen but also provided sufficient time for preparations to be made.
It was, after all, a spectacular occasion, steeped in history and celebrated the world over.
Thousands of people lined the 1.3mile route from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Abbey to see the procession. Millions also tuned in to watch it on television. TV viewing figures peaked at 20.4 million as the King was crowned at mid-day.
Invited guests included dignitaries from all over the world with Salem Abdullah Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, Minister of Foreign Affairs, attending on behalf of Kuwait.
The weather was typically British, but even the inclement conditions couldn’t dampen the spirits of those taking part in the celebrations. Many had slept in The Mall overnight, determined to secure the best viewing position for the Royal Procession the following day.
Of course, it wasn’t just King Charles who was crowned. His wife, Camilla, now known as Queen Camilla, was also crowned in the elaborate ceremony. She wore a recycled crown reset with diamonds from Queen Elizabeth II’s personal jewellery collection.
The second procession featured almost 4,000 military personnel and saw the King’s sister, The Princess Royal, lead 6,000 members of the Armed Forces from Westminster Abbey to Buckingham Palace. Her role was that of ‘Gold-Stick-in-Waiting’ and although this is now largely a ceremonial duty, it still carries the responsibility of ensuring the monarch’s personal safety.
Back at Buckingham Palace, much to the delight of the thousands of onlookers, members of the royal family appeared on the palace balcony. The iconic Red Arrows then performed a dramatic red, white and blue fly-past to mark the historic occasion.
The Coronation itself was the highlight of three days of jubilation, with further events taking place on Sunday and Monday of the official bank holiday weekend in the UK.
Communities were encouraged to host street parties on Sunday 7th May for what was referred to as the ‘Coronation Big Lunch’. The aim was to bring people together not just to celebrate but to unite communities and combat loneliness.
Later that day, the Coronation Concert took place at Windsor Castle in front of 20,000 spectators. Performers included Katy Perry, Lionel Ritchie and Take That with the audience also being treated to a breathtaking drone display. The dazzling light show depicted a blue whale, an owl, butterflies and a rabbit, highlighting the King’s commitment to conservation and the environment.
Much to the delight of the crowd, the Prince of Wales took to the stage to pay tribute to his father, thanking him for his commitment to the monarchy. In a touching address, he also gave thanks to the key workers who had helped the country through the Covid pandemic.
Referring to his grandmother, he said: “She would be a very proud mother.”
Surprisingly, it was the setting itself that stole the show. It was the first time an event of this magnitude had been held at Windsor Castle and the magnificent backdrop was a constantly changing spectacle of light and colour.
Monday 8th May saw thousands take part in ‘The Big Help Out’. Designed to encourage people to volunteer their time by helping others, it was a community initiative involving groups such as The Scouts, the Royal Voluntary Service and various faith groups across the UK.
‘Service’ was a common theme throughout the Coronation. During the ceremony itself, the King said: “I come not to be served, but to serve.” Prince William also included this statement in his address: “At the heart of the pageantry is a simple message – service.”
Thus, ‘The Big Help Out’ was all about supporting others. Some chose to help those less fortunate than themselves. Others, with the future generation in mind, assisted with conservation. Whatever they chose to do, it was another way of getting involved and ensuring it was truly an occasion to remember.
Long live the King!
