King Charles III -- the eldest son of the late Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh -- officially became the king of Great Britain following his crowning on Saturday at London’s Westminster Abbey. Beside him was his wife, Queen Camilla, 75, who was also anointed, albeit behind a screen, in a form similar to that of late Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother in 1937.
Charles 74, was proclaimed Britain’s monarch in an ascension ceremony, two after his mother Queen Elizabeth passed away in September 2022. The 96-year-old was Britain’s longest-reigning monarch.
A screen covered Charles, and the anointing wasn't visible on television or to most people in the abbey, except for a few senior members of the clergy. It was then followed by a presentation of the coronation regalia, as well as sacred objects, like the orb and scepter, that symbolize the monarch’s power and responsibilities.
As the new king was crowned, chants of "God Save the King" echoed through the abbey. After Charles was crowned, the traditional homage of the peers was replaced by an 'homage of the people,' in which those present at the abbey, as well as those watching on television, were invited to affirm their allegiance to the king.
In act referred to as the 'Homage of Royal Blood,' Prince William, the Prince of Wales and heir to the throne, pledged his loyalty to his father.
Camilla was then anointed.
The expected pomp and pageantry, which dates back more than 1,000 years, was on full display with royal regalia, including five symbolic swords, two scepters and the Sovereign’s Ring, designed with a sapphire and a ruby cross set in diamonds.
Charles was crowned king with the St. Edward’s Crown, the centerpiece of the Crown Jewels viewed by millions of people every year at the Tower of London. It features a 4.9-pound sold gold frame set with rubies, amethysts, sapphires, garnets, topazes and tourmalines, as well as a purple velvet cap and ermine band. It was worn by Elizabeth during her coronation and has been refitted for her son. At the end of the ceremony, he switched to the lighter Imperial State Crown for the procession back to Buckingham Palace.
Just before Charles headed off in the Gold State Coach for a procession on the streets of London, the leaders and representatives of faith communities delivered a greeting in unison. Apparently, the greeting wasn't amplified out of respect for those who are observing the Jewish Sabbath and are barred from using electrical devices, Lambeth Palace confirmed.
Buddhist, Hindu, Jewish, Muslim and Sikh leaders took part in various parts of the coronation; the first time a monarch was crowned in a ceremony that included the active participation of faiths other than the Church of England. The Archbishop of Canterbury’s office described it as an act of Christian worship that reflected contemporary society. The ceremony also featured female bishops for the first time, as well as hymns and prayers sung in Welsh, Scottish, Gaelic and Irish Gaelic, as well as English.
The celebration concluded with the Red Arrows, the Royal Air Force’s aerobatics team, wowing the crowds as they flew past and left red, white and blue trails in the sky.
While there were as many as 2,800 guests, one member of the British royal family was noticeably absent. Proverbial prodigal son and the Duke of Sussex, Prince Harry, 38, attended the event without his wife the duchess of Sussex, Meghan Markle, who stayed behind in California with the couple’s two children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet. The coronation date also falls on Archie’s fourth birthday.
As the king and the key royals joined a magnificent military procession after the ceremony, Harry stood waiting outside the abbey until a car arrived to drive him away. He was also reportedly not invited to appear at the ceremonial wave by the royal family from the Buckingham balcony. The Duke of Sussex reportedly kept his visit to his country brief and headed swiftly back to California.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have publicly feuded with the royal family. The king’s younger son and the former American actress stepped back as senior royals in 2020.
Harry, who arrived to the festivities alone, did not take part in the service. Charles’ younger brother, Prince Andrew, also had no role in the ceremony. The Duke of York gave up royal duties after revelations of his friendship with late American financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The 63-year-old was stripped of his military titles and patronages.
Elsewhere, police arrested some anti-monarchy activists including leading members of the group Republic, who were arrested near Trafalgar Square.
WATCH the highlights of King Charles III's coronation celebrations.