The limousines with King Charles III. and King Consort Camilla drive to Buckingham Palace ahead of their coronation ceremony.
(Photo: dpa)
London A few hours before the coronation of King Charles III. onlookers in London got their first glimpse of the monarch. Tens of thousands of Royal fans flocked to central London for this. Charles and Queen Camilla arrived at Buckingham Palace in their state limousine in the morning to prepare for the ceremony. Crowds along The Mall boulevard cheered the couple who had spent the night at nearby Clarence House.
The carriage with King Charles III. and Queen Camilla has left Buckingham Palace for Westminster Abbey. A short version of the national anthem “God Save The King” was played. The pair covered the two-kilometer route pulled by six white horses in the Diamond Jubilee State Coach.
Built in honor of Queen Elizabeth’s 60th Jubilee in 2012, the ornate carriage has heating, air conditioning and better vibration dampening, according to the PA. Both Charles (74) and Camilla (75) have had back problems in the past.
Charles has been king since his mother’s death on September 8, 2022. The coronation merely symbolizes his assumption of office. It is the first coronation of a British monarch in 70 and the first of a king in 86 years.
(Photo: dpa)
First politicians have arrived at Westminster Abbey. Among them were French President Emmanuel Macron, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, former British Prime Ministers Boris Johnson, Tony Blair and Liz Truss, US First Lady Jill Biden, US Climate Commissioner John Kerry and Ukrainian President’s wife Volodymyr Zelensky, Olena Selenska.
Boris Johnson, former Prime Minister of Great Britain, and his wife Carrie Johnson arrive ahead of King Charles III’s coronation ceremony. King Consort Camilla at Westminster Abbey.
(Photo: dpa)
The first participants entered the church in central London just after 8.30am (CEST). The most important guests, including heads of state and members of the royal family, were not due to arrive until around 11:30 a.m., with the royal couple arriving shortly before the service began at 12 p.m
Hundreds have already spent the night along The Mall to get good seats. Some die-hards have been camping there for days. Many wore hats, glasses, wigs or clothes in the colors of the British flag.
Royal enthusiasts gather in Hyde Park for the coronation of King Charles III. to follow on screens.
(Photo: dpa)
Guests from more than 200 countries
More than 2300 guests will follow the service in the church, plus millions on the screens. Representatives from 203 countries are expected, including around 100 heads of state. Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier will represent Germany.
The famous church, which hosted the state funeral for Charles’ mother Queen Elizabeth II in September, opens its doors hours before the ceremony begins. There the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, later received 74-year-old Charles and 75-year-old Camilla.
Coronation procedure slightly changed after criticism of oath of allegiance
After sharp criticism of a call by the Church of England for a public oath of allegiance to King Charles III. the controversial passage in the service has been slightly changed at short notice. The Archbishop of Canterbury, as spiritual leader of the Anglican Church, will now “invite” the congregation to show their support for the monarch. At first it was said that he would “call on” the people of Westminster Abbey and the millions on the screens to loudly swear allegiance to the king. This innovation had been criticized as divisive and anachronistic.
Charles agreed to the change, British media said on Saturday. His friend and official biographer Jonathan Dimbleby told Britain’s PA news agency that the king found the tribute, dubbed the ‘Homage of the People’, ‘abhorrent’.
The planned part was intended to replace the tradition of other royals and nobles kneeling and paying homage to the king. The Church of England said it hoped the significant change would result in a “great cry across the nation and around the world in support of the King”. The people, wherever they stood, should say: “I swear true allegiance to Your Majesty, and to your heirs and successors according to the law. So help me God.” The anti-monarchy organization Republic criticized that the formula acknowledged Charles’ brother Prince Andrew, who is eighth in line to the British throne and is extremely unpopular because of his involvement in an abuse scandal.
Activists: Anti-monarchy arrested at protest against coronation
During protests against the coronation of King Charles III. According to activists, six people have been arrested. Among them was the head of the Republic organization, Graham Smith, activist Luke Whiting told the British news agency PA on Saturday. Photos and videos posted by the Alliance of European Republican Movements on Twitter showed police officers checking some people’s documents. The demonstrators wanted to protest against the monarchy along the procession route with yellow flags and the inscription “Not my king”.
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