Thousands have descended on central London to bear witness to the coronation of King Charles III and Queen Consort Camilla at Westminster Abbey, with millions more watching on around the world.It’s the first coronation ceremony in over 70 years, following the incredible reign of the late Queen Elizabeth II.
Now, her son King Charles III has been crowned in the ceremony honouring almost a millennium of tradition.
Here’s how the coronation unfolded.
The 17th-century St Edward’s Crown is carried to the coronation ceremony at Westminster Abbey.(Reuters: Phil Noble/Pool)
King Charles and Queen Camilla travelled to Westminster Abbey in the Diamond Jubilee State Coach.(Reuters: Piroschka van de Wouw/Pool)
An anointing screen was erected for King Charles during his coronation ceremony.(Reuters: Yui Mok/Pool)
Prince Harry entered Westminster Abbey behind his cousins, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie, and their husbands.(Pool)
Prince Harry was placed a few rows back from his immediate family, instead sitting alongside his cousins in the third row.(AP Photo: Victoria Jones/Pool)
Sam Kerr led the Australian delegation into Westminster Abbey.(Getty Images: Jeff J Mitche
Prince George was one of King Charles’s pages of honour.(Reuters: Yui Mok/Pool)
Prince George was extremely careful as he handled his grandfather’s robe.(Reuters: Aaron Chown/Pool)
Standing by Prince George were Queen Camilla’s pages of honour, including her grandsons Freddy, Louis and Gus, all 13 years of age.The boys carried the same responsibility as Prince George, carrying the train of their grandmother’s robes down the aisle ahead of the King.
The pages of honour stood behind the monarchs and other key figures as the coronation ceremony progressed.(AP Photo: Yui Mok/Pool)
Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis were seated in the front row of the coronation.(Reuters: Yui Mok/Pool)
King Charles III holds the two sceptres and wears the ring, glove and the St Edward’s Crown.(AP Photo: Jonathan Brady/Pool)
After being anointed with holy oil and presented with some of the crown jewels, King Charles was officially crowned by the Archbishop of Canterbury placing the St Edward’s Crown upon his head.The 360-year-old crown is the centrepiece of the Crown Jewels. It stands just over 30 centimetres tall and weighs over 2kg.Once the crown was on, the Archbishop led a chant of “God Save the King”, the Abbey bells rang, trumpets sounded and gun salutes were fired across the country.
Prince William kissed his father on the cheek after swearing his loyalty.(Reuters: Yui Mok/Pool)
The pledge of allegiance was then sounded out by the thousands in attendance at the Abbey as one:
“I swear that I will pay true allegiance to Your Majesty, and to your heirs and successors according to law. So help me God,” the congregation echoed. Queen Camilla was then also anointed with holy oil and crowned in a simpler ceremony, which did not include an oath.
Queen Camilla was crowned with Queen Mary’s Crown.(Reuters: Yui Mok/Pool)
Around 4,000 military personnel from 39 countries joined the coronation procession.(AP Photo: Vadim Ghirda)
A full house on the balcony
The famous balcony wave to the thousands crammed into the Mall seemed to disappoint only the royals who, while clearly expecting a military flyover in all its glory, were treated to a “scaled-back” operation due to the wet weather.
Rather than the 60-strong aircraft display, a smaller arrangement of helicopters buzzed overhead followed by the RAF Red Arrows.
Nevertheless, after a brief moment of confusion, the King gave an enthusiastic wave as he looked down on the masses of people cheering and waving their Union Jack flags.
The royals wave to onlookers from the balcony at Buckingham Palace.(AP Photo: Petr David Josek)
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The Royal Air Force Red Arrows flew over Buckingham Palace.(AP Photo: Petr David Josek)
