History was made today as King Charles III and Queen Camilla were crowned in a Coronation full of symbolism and pageantry. The King hosted a scaled-back celebration, in keeping with his new role as ‘monarch in modern-day Britain’. Despite a stripped-back guestlist and a shorter service to that of his late mother’s, the reported £100-million-pound event was still rooted in long-standing tradition.
While millions of royal fans tuned in to watch the celebration across the world, some 2,000 guests were invited to witness it first-hand inside the grand Westminster Abbey.
The event brought together around 100 heads of state, kings and queens from across the globe, celebrities, everyday heroes and family and friends of the couple.
The majority of the royal family was also there to support the King and Queen – including Prince Harry who managed to make an appearance before dashing home to his son’s birthday party. In true British fashion, the extraordinary procession was greeted by rain and saw around 7,000 personnel take part in the largest military ceremonial operation of its kind in a generation. Months of meticulous planning and preparation went into the Coronation and now it has finally come to a close, we have taken a look at some of the best moments from the monumental occasion. While all eyes were undoubtedly on King Charles and Queen Camilla, their grandchildren arguably stole the show at times.
Princess Charlotte melted hearts when viewers spotted her sweet gesture for brother Prince Louis. The siblings were spotted holding hands as the ceremony got underway at the abbey this morning. During the sweet moment, Charlotte could be seen with her hand on top of her brother’s while she bowed her head, and the excited Prince looked on. Eagle-eyed viewers later noticed five-year-old Louis appeared to be dazzled by his mum’s occasion wear as she wore a traditional robe for the service. In one particularly sweet moment, the little boy was captured staring up at his mum, with his mouth wide open in awe.
Prince William swore his loyalty to his father in a solemn rite, kneeling to give an oath of allegiance to his father. He said: “I, William, Prince of Wales, pledge my loyalty to you and faith and truth I will bear unto you, as your liege man of life and limb. So help me God.” He then stood up, touched the crown and gave his father a kiss on the cheek. The King appeared to be moved by his son’s gesture as he nodded and appeared to say a few words to him.
The Princess of Wales wowed royalists when she arrived at the abbey in a show-stopping ivory dress complete with a royal blue robe and stunning leaf headpiece.
As part of her outfit, Kate paid a subtle tribute to her late mother-in-law, Princess Diana, as she donned a pair of pearl and diamond earrings that had once belonged to Diana and had been gifted to her by her the then-Prince Charles just before their wedding in 1981. And it wasn’t just Diana who received a sweet nod from Kate with her outfit choice either, as she also honoured her late grandmother-in-law, Queen Elizabeth II, as she wore the George IV Festoon Necklace. The necklace was made in 1950 at the request of King George VI for his daughter, the now-late Queen.
The Princess was also twinning with her daughter Charlotte as the pair dazzled in similar sparkly headpieces.
THE CROWNING;
It was the moment we had all been waiting for when King Charles was finally crowned – and became the 40th reigning sovereign. The pivotal moment came at midday, when the Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby placed the St Edward’s Crown upon Charles’ anointed head. The King prayed to be a “blessing” to people of “every faith and conviction”. The archbishop had to adjust the weighty crown for a few seconds on top of the monarch’s head. Once complete, it prompted a fanfare, as the abbey bells rang out as well as a Gun Salute fired by The King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery stationed at Horse Guards Parade. Soon after her husband, Camilla had her own special moment when Queen Mary’s crown was placed on her anointed head by the Archbishop. While his wife Meghan Markle stayed home in California to look after their children and celebrate Archie’s birthday, Prince Harry managed to be there in support of his dad – even if it was just for a few hours. The Prince was shown walking into the abbey alongside sisters Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie.
Curled from: The Mirror
Picture Credit: BBC news
