Charles III was crowned today, Saturday, as King of Britain, in Westminster Abbey, in the largest official celebration the country has seen in 70 years, featuring ceremonies characterized by grandeur and pageantry dating back a thousand years.
The coronation ceremonies for Charles III began early in the capital, London, making him the 40th monarch, succeeding his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, who ruled for 70 years and passed away seven months ago at the age of 96. The event was attended by 2,200 people, including heads of state and prominent figures.
After the royal procession from Buckingham Palace, which included a global presence of leaders, heads of government, Commonwealth representatives, and dignitaries, the coronation ceremonies took place in Westminster Abbey, involving Christian rituals lasting two hours.
Prince Harry attended the ceremonies without his wife Meghan or their children, who remained in the United States, where his eldest son Archie is celebrating his fourth birthday today.
After the ceremony, Charles and Camilla departed in the four-ton golden royal carriage designed for George III, the last monarch of the American colonies under British rule, returning to Buckingham Palace in a procession that spanned a mile and included four thousand soldiers from 39 countries in ceremonial uniform. King Charles appeared on the balcony of Buckingham Palace with his wife Queen Camilla, their eldest son and heir, Prince William, and other senior royal family members, but his younger son Prince Harry was absent.
Harry had no official role in today’s coronation ceremony, and his attendance was in doubt until earlier this year after he revealed details regarding his disputes with the family in his book titled "Spare." A spokesperson for the British Ministry of Defense disclosed that an aerial display of military aircraft to celebrate King Charles’s coronation was scaled back due to weather conditions. With cloud cover and rain over Buckingham Palace, changes were made to the air show, initially scheduled for 1:30 PM GMT, which was subsequently conducted with helicopters and the RAF Red Arrows display team.
Charles took the throne of Britain following his mother Queen Elizabeth's death in September and, at the age of 74, became the oldest British monarch to wear the "St. Edward's Crown," crafted 360 years ago, when he sits on the 14th-century throne in Westminster Abbey in London.
**Before the Coronation: Arrest of Anti-Monarchy Group Leader**
A spokesperson for the anti-monarchy group Republic stated that "the British police arrested the group's leader, Graham Smith, just before the coronation ceremony of Charles III today." London Police Commissioner Mark Rowley warned on Friday that "no disturbances will be allowed" in central London, where thousands gathered to watch the royal processions.
A photo posted on Twitter showed Smith sitting on the ground surrounded by a group of police officers. One officer at the scene near Trafalgar Square stated that "three republicans were arrested for possessing paint materials."
**Additional Arrests**
Later, the British police reported that they had arrested 52 people during King Charles's coronation, and all were still in custody.
**Sunak Lauds the Coronation Ceremony**
British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak praised the ceremony, describing it as "a showcase of the nation's history and a testament to its modern character," stating that "no other country could muster such a spectacular display." He emphasized that it represents pride in the country's history, culture, and traditions, a vibrant testament to the modern character of the country, marking the beginning of a new era.
