King Charles and Queen Camilla crowned in historic Coronation (2024)

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  • Coronation of King Charles III

By Sean Coughlan, royal correspondent and James Gregory

BBC News

King Charles and Queen Camilla have been crowned on a historic day of pageantry, capped by cheering from crowds in front of Buckingham Palace.

Thousands packed the Mall despite the rain, after a deeply religious Coronation service at Westminster Abbey and a huge procession through London.

The King and Queen waved from the Palace balcony as the RAF Red Arrows painted the sky red, white and blue.

But the BBC understands Prince Harry was not invited to join them.

The Duke of Sussex had been at the ceremony in the abbey earlier, sitting two rows back from his brother Prince William - the first time they had been seen together since Harry's sensational memoir, Spare, was released. He left for the US straight afterwards.

The King's day began shortly after 10:00 BST, with the procession to Westminster Abbey in the horse-drawn Diamond Jubilee State Coach, past cheering crowds and an honour guard of 1,000 members of the armed forces.

Image source, POOL

Faith leaders and commonwealth leaders began the processions, with the King and Queen following behind.

The two-hour ceremony - the first to crown a monarch in 70 years - was watched on TV around the world, as well as some 2,300 people inside the abbey.

After the crown was placed on Charles's head cries of "God Save the King" were heard inside and outside, and gun salutes were made across the UK.

Celebrity guests were among those inside Westminster Abbey - including actress Emma Thompson and US singer Katy Perry.

US First Lady Jill Biden and her granddaughter Finnegan arrived in a three-car motorcade, although President Biden did not travel to the UK. French President Emmanuel Macron and First Lady of Ukraine Olena Zelenska were also in the abbey, as were Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and leaders of the Commonwealth countries.

In all, 90 heads of state attended, the Foreign Office said.

The Coronation's main theme was the importance of service.

"I come not to be served, but to serve," the King said in his first prayer after reaching the abbey.

Charles was proclaimed as the "undoubted King" in the first stage of the ceremony. The congregation was then asked to show their homage and service, shouting "God Save the King".

Yet among the music and oaths, there were moments of complete silence as each stage of the ancient ceremony finished.

Traditions rarely seen elsewhere in modern life were maintained - such as the inclusion of the orb and sceptre and the carrying of the gilded Sword of State.

In one part of the service, the King was screened from public for the anointing - seen as the most sacred part of proceedings.

This was where the King was anointed with holy oils by the Archbishop of Canterbury. The need for privacy, the Palace said, was because it "has historically been regarded as a moment between the Sovereign and God".

While waiting for the anointed King to reappear, choristers sang Handel's Zadok the Priest - performed at every coronation since 1727.

Image source, PA Media

Prince William also made a pledge of loyalty to King Charles, and kissed him on the cheek, before members of the congregation were invited to offer their own support.

Returning to the Palace, it was a spectacle of pomp and pageantry as the newly crowned King and Queen travelled up The Mall in the Gold State Coach flanked by thousands of servicemen and women.

In total, 4,000 armed forces personnel and 19 military bands took part - making it the biggest state occasion since the coronation of the late Queen in 1953.

Despite the very English weather - constant rain - there was a celebratory atmosphere on The Mall, with periodic Mexican waves and police officers being cheered.

Among the thousands of spectators, many of whom camped overnight for the best viewing spot, was Alexandra Hornyak, 57, from Montreal, Canada.

"I've known for years that I would want to attend this day, and the day that it was announced, I was driving to the office, and my husband just called me and said 'May 6'," she told the BBC.

"I knew exactly what it was. And I jumped on the phone to get a hotel reservation and we went from there."

Hours later, the Prince and Princess of Wales tweeted a video of the family's day, writing, external: "What. A. Day. Thank you to everyone who made it happen."

Image source, Reuters

Image source, PA Media

While the vast majority of the assembled crowd came out to cheer the King, there was also a sizeable protest from Republic, the group campaigning to abolish the monarchy and replace it with an elected head of state, and others.

Around six protesters, who were unloading a van of placards, were arrested. In total, the Metropolitan Police said it arrested 52 people for affray, public order offences, breach of the peace and conspiracy to cause a public nuisance around the Coronation.

Acknowledging concerns about the arrests, Commander Karen Findlay defended Scotland Yard's actions, saying: "Our duty is to do so in a proportionate manner in line with relevant legislation."

Anti-monarchy groups had defended their right to protest, but the police warned that "tolerance for any disruption, whether through protest or otherwise, will be low".

"The reports of people being arrested for peacefully protesting the coronation are incredibly alarming", said Human Rights Watch UK director Yasmine Ahmed.

The Metropolitan Police had 11,500 officers on duty in what it said would be its biggest ever single-day deployment.

The Coronation did not formally change the King's status. Charles became King of the United Kingdom and 14 other realms in September, when his mother Queen Elizabeth II died after 70 years on the throne.

Since then, months of intense planning went into the celebrations - the 40th coronation to take place at Westminster Abbey since 1066.

This time, the ceremony emphasised diversity and inclusion, with more multi-faith elements than any previous coronation, with contributions from Jewish, Muslim, Buddhist and Sikh representatives.

A Bible lesson was read by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, who is Hindu, and music was sung in Welsh, Scottish Gaelic and Irish.

Image source, Reuters

Image source, Getty Images

What else happened around the UK on Coronation day?

Additional reporting by Marie Jackson, Alys Davies and Aoife Walsh.

If you're watching the coronation today please share your stories by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk, external.

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If you are reading this page and can't see the form you will need to visit the mobile version of the BBC website to submit your question or comment or you can email us at HaveYourSay@bbc.co.uk, external. Please include your name, age and location with any submission.

Related Topics

  • UK Royal Family
  • Coronation of King Charles III
  • Queen Camilla
  • King Charles III
King Charles and Queen Camilla crowned in historic Coronation (2024)

FAQs

Will Camilla be Queen's mother if Charles dies? ›

So, what would happen to Camilla's title if King Charles were to pass away? Basically, she'd retain the Queen title in some capacity but would go from Queen Consort to Queen Dowager.

What happens if Camilla outlives Charles? ›

According to reports, Queen Camilla would likely take on the title 'Queen Dowager' which means 'the widow of a king'. Notably, all widows of kings become queen dowagers but some get the title of queen mother if their children are reigning heirs.

When did Camilla get crowned? ›

The Coronation of Their Majesties King Charles III and Queen Camilla took place at Westminster Abbey on Saturday 6 May 2023.

Did Queen Elizabeth approve of Charles and Camilla? ›

Queen was full of love for Charles and his new wife and secretly went above and beyond to cement her approval, according to Royal aide Harrold, who worked within Charles' household for seven years between 2004 and 2011.

Why did the queen not attend Charles and Camilla's wedding? ›

As sovereign, Queen Elizabeth was head of the Church of England and decided it was not appropriate for her to be at the wedding of two people who divorced their previous partners.

Why was Philip not king consort? ›

Why was Prince Philip never king consort? Unlike the royal women, the husbands in the monarchy have not taken the title of king. This is for two reasons: Traditionally, the title of king can only be inherited, and because the king always outranks the queen.

What will Kate be called when William is king? ›

When Prince William is King, Kate will indeed become Queen Consort. In short: Yes, Kate will be Queen, but there are different types of queens you should probably know about.

What is Queen Consort Camilla's last name? ›

Camilla (born Camilla Rosemary Shand, later Parker Bowles, 17 July 1947) is Queen of the United Kingdom and the 14 other Commonwealth realms as the wife of King Charles III.

Why is Camilla called queen and not Queen Consort? ›

Because Queen Elizabeth II ascended when her father, King George VI died in 1952, she is a Queen, whereas Camilla is a Queen by marriage, making her consort. However, it is thought that the royal family only called her Queen Consort initially to distinguish her from Queen Elizabeth II immediately after her death.

Was Camilla at Diana's wedding? ›

On July 29, 1981, Charles and Diana got married. Camilla attended their wedding. According to royal biographer Andrew Morton, Camilla immediately caused a rift between Charles and Diana when Diana allegedly found an engraved necklace intended for Camilla while opening wedding gifts.

Why did Charles marry Diana? ›

“It was a collision between different aspirations and ideas. The royal family wanted Charles to get married because he was 30, and they wanted a particular kind of girl,” Holden tells PEOPLE. “She needed to be young, she needed to be aristocratic, and she needed to be without a past. It was a very pragmatic decision.

Is Camilla older than Charles? ›

1947. Camilla Shand is born on July 17th, making her 16 months older than her future husband, Prince Charles Philip Arthur George, born November 14, 1948. The daughter of a British Army officer, Camilla grows up socializing with royals and attends Queens Gate school in London and finishing schools in Switzerland.

Why was Prince Albert not king consort? ›

She became Queen of Great Britain in 1837 and married Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha in 1840. However, Albert was not given a British Peerage and Prime Minister Lord Melbourne advised the Queen against giving him the title 'King consort'.

What is the title of the Queen Mother? ›

Status. A queen mother is often a queen dowager, a widow of a king, who is simultaneously a former queen consort and the mother of the current monarch. As there is only one monarch, there can only be one queen mother.

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