Charles III and Camilla crowned at Westminster Abbey

This Saturday, May 6, King Charles III is crowned in London at Westminster Abbey. A historic ceremony, while the United Kingdom has not known such an event since 1953 and the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II.

The ceremony is led by the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, 67. The first stage is that of recognition where the “people” must recognize the new sovereign as their king. The sacred song Kyrie, eleison resounds, interpreted in a version in Welsh.

After the King’s Prayer, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak reads an excerpt from St. Paul’s first letter to the Colossians, taken from the New Testament. Now it’s time for the Archbishop of Canterbury’s sermon after an Alleluia sung by the group that officiated at Meghan and Harry’s wedding in 2018, the Ascension Choir.

Eight months after becoming king, Charles III was crowned this Saturday at Westminster Abbey. The Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, laid St Edward’s crown on the head of the new king.

William, Prince of Wales and heir kneels before his father and pledges loyalty to him. This is the « tribute of the royal blood ».

« I William, Prince of Wales, pledge my loyalty and faith and truth to you. I will bear them as the trusted man of your life and physical integrity. God help me, » William says before to kiss his father and touch his crown.

After Charles, it’s Camilla’s turn to be crowned. The 75-year-old queen, divorced from her first husband, is Charles’ second wife.

After the coronation service, Charles III and Queen Camilla return to Buckingham Palace in a grand procession, known as the ‘Coronation Procession’, this time accompanied by a motorcade of nearly 4,000 servicemen in ceremonial clothes.

The carriage awaits the king in front of Westminster. This time it is the Gold State Coach, the carriage used for each coronation. It also served in the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee last year.

The President of the United States tweeted during the ceremony a message of congratulations to Charles III. “Congratulations to King Charles and Queen Camilla on their coronation. The enduring friendship between the United States and the United Kingdom is a source of strength for our two peoples. I am proud that the First Lady represents the United States for this historic occasion.

Important dates in the life of Charles III

– November 14, 1948: Charles Philip Arthur George was born at Buckingham Palace, London, during the reign of his grandfather, King George VI. Charles is the first child of Princess Elizabeth and her husband, Philip, Duke of Edinburgh.
– February 6, 1952: death of King George VI. Elizabeth becomes queen on the death of her father and Charles, crown prince.
– June 2, 1953: At age 4, Charles attended the coronation of his mother, Elizabeth II, at Westminster Abbey, London.
– July 26, 1958: Elizabeth II grants him the title of Prince of Wales, which generally goes to the first son of the sovereign. Charles is 9 years old.
October 1967-1970: At the University of Cambridge, Charles studies anthropology, archeology and history.
– February 19, 1970: the prince’s first major speech on the environment, at the age of 22, a passion he still has today, for more than fifty years.
– 1970: brief romance with Camilla Shand, before Charles enlists in the Royal Navy. Camilla Shand will marry Andrew Parker Bowles in July 1973.
– 1971-1976: Charles served alternately in the Air Force and the Royal Navy.
– 1977: first meeting with Lady Diana Spencer, then 16 years old. At the time, Charles was dating his older sister, Sarah.
– February 24, 1981: announcement of the engagement of Diana, 19, and Charles, 32.
– July 29, 1981: Wedding of Prince Charles and Diana Spencer at St. Paul’s Cathedral, London.
– June 21, 1982: birth of the royal couple’s first son, Prince William.
– September 15, 1984: birth of the second son of Prince Charles and Lady Diana, Prince Harry.
– 1986: Charles resumes his affair with Camilla Parker Bowles. Diana will also admit infidelities. The « Wales war » raged for several years through books and tabloids.

– December 9, 1992: the Prime Minister, John Major, announces to Parliament the separation of the royal couple.
– 1993: start of the construction of Poundbury (south-west of England), a village imagined by Prince Charles, notoriously critical of modern architecture.
– August 28, 1996: divorce from Charles and Diana, after fifteen years of marriage.
– August 31, 1997: Diana dies in a car accident in Paris.
– April 9, 2005: Civil marriage of Prince Charles and Camilla Parker Bowles at Windsor Town Hall. The Queen does not attend but then hosts a reception at Windsor Castle.
– September 8, 2022: Prince Charles becomes King of the United Kingdom on the death of Queen Elizabeth II, he will now bear the name of Charles III.
– March 29, 2023: First trip abroad for King Charles III and Camilla, to Germany. The first part of the trip, in France, is canceled due to social tensions.
– May 6, 2023: Coronation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla at Westminster Abbey.

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Gabriel MIHAI

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