Charles III crowned as new British King

King Charles III has been crowned at London’s Westminster Abbey, on a day of ancient ceremony and military spectacle that drew on a millennium of the nation’s history. 

Global leaders and foreign royalty on Saturday attended the event at the Abbey — scene of royal coronations since William the Conqueror was crowned in 1066 — at the start of a day of celebrations. 

The ceremony, the first since Queen Elizabeth was crowned in 1953, was attended by about 2,000 guests. 

King Charles and Queen Camilla were crowned at 12.02pm to acclamation of “God save the King”. The service was presided over by Justin Welby, the Archbishop of Canterbury. 

Charles III is supreme governor of the Church of England as well as monarch of the UK and 14 Commonwealth realms. In a reminder of Britain’s turbulent religious past, the monarch opened the service with the oath: “I, Charles, do solemnly and sincerely in the presence of God profess, testify, and declare that I am a faithful Protestant.” 

Rishi Sunak, UK prime minister, gave a bible reading from the Epistle to the Colossians and the congregation intoned: “God Save King Charles.” However leaders of a number of faiths in Britain played a role in the ceremony. 

The face of Britain has changed considerably since Queen Elizabeth’s coronation. Sunak is a Hindu while Sadiq Khan, the mayor of London, and Humza Yousaf, Scotland’s first minister, are Muslims. 

Ahead of being crowned, King Charles was anointed by the archbishop — away from public view — with holy oil from the Mount of Olives in Jerusalem. 

Some 7,000 military personnel gathered in London ahead of the biggest parade by the armed forces for 70 years, many of them arriving in full uniform at Waterloo station. 

Other events will include a military fly-past by 60 aircraft and the royal family will appear on the balcony of Buckingham Palace at around 2pm to greet the crowds. 

London’s weather was mixed with forecasts of rain during the day, similar to the meteorological conditions that greeted Queen Elizabeth II’s coronation. 

The country has been given a Bank Holiday weekend to mark the event, and street parties are planned across the country. Some anti-monarchy protesters were arrested in London and the event was surrounded by a huge security presence. Organisers also planned for the possibility of protests aimed at visiting world leaders. 

The head of the campaign group Republic, Graham Smith, was arrested in Trafalgar Square. The group said five other demonstrators were also arrested while unloading placards near the coronation route. “So much for the right to peaceful protest,” the group said. 

A suggestion by the Archbishop of Canterbury, that the public should be invited to take part by saying an oath of allegiance to the king had caused some controversy. Jonathan Dimbleby, the broadcaster and a friend of King Charles, said he thought the monarch would find the idea “abhorrent”. 

The build-up to the ceremony -- the religious confirmation of Charles's accession after the death of his mother Queen Elizabeth II last September -- has been mostly celebratory.

But even before Charles, 74, and Queen Camilla, 75, left Buckingham Palace aboard the Diamond Jubilee State Coach for a rainy procession to the abbey, police arrested dozens of protesters using new powers rushed onto the statute book to crack down on direct action groups.

The anti-monarchy movement Republic -- which wants an elected head of state -- said six of its organisers were detained, while climate activists Just Stop Oil said 19 of its number were held.

Nevertheless, dozens of Republic activists held aloft banners on the route of the procession route, declaring: "Not My King."

Both Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International voiced concern at the arrests.

"This is something you would expect to see in Moscow, not London," HRW said.

London's Metropolitan Police has some 11,500 officers on the streets in one of its biggest ever security operations. It has warned that it has an "extremely low threshold" for protests.

The coronation is the first since 1953 and the first of a king since 1937. It is only the second to be televised and the first in colour and streamed online.

It will see the St Edward's Crown -- a solid gold, sacred symbol of the monarch's authority used only once in the reign -- placed on Charles's head at 1100 GMT to cries of "God Save the King".

Trumpet fanfares will sound through Westminster Abbey and ceremonial gun salutes will blast out across land and sea to mark the first coronation of a British monarch since 1953 -- and only the fifth since 1838.

Bells will peal in celebration at churches across the land, before liveried soldiers on foot and horseback stage a 7,000-strong military parade stretching through the streets of the capital.

- Changes -
Much of the two-hour Anglican service, led by the Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby, would be recognisable to the 39 other monarchs crowned at Westminster Abbey since 1066.

But while many of the intricate rituals and ceremony to recognise Charles as his people's "undoubted king" remain, the king has sought to bring other aspects of the service up to date.

There are women as bishops for the first time, while leaders of Britain's non-Christian faiths and its Celtic languages will play a prominent role.

As king, Charles is supreme governor of the Church of England but heads a more religiously and ethnically diverse country than the one his mother inherited in the shadow of World War II.

He has also sought to make the 2,300-member congregation more reflective of British society, inviting ordinary members of the public to sit alongside heads of state and global royalty.

In another change, the coronation themes mirror his lifelong interest in biodiversity and sustainability.

Seasonal flowers and foliage have been brought, from the wind-battered Isle of Skye in northwest Scotland to Cornwall at the tip of England's southwest coast, to fill the abbey.

Ceremonial vestments from previous coronations will be reused, and the anointing oil will be vegan.

- Opposition -
Britain's Prime Minister Rishi Sunak described the coronation as "a proud expression of our history, culture and traditions".

But not everyone is convinced: polling indicates waning support for the monarchy, particularly among younger people.

Charles's eldest brother Prince Andrew -- sidelined due to his friendship with the late convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein -- was booed as he headed to the abbey.

Overseas, Charles's position as the hereditary monarch and head of state of 14 Commonwealth countries looks increasingly fragile.

Jamaica and Belize both signalled this week that they are moving toward becoming republics, while Australia, Canada and others may eventually follow suit.

Britons struggling with the soaring cost of living have meanwhile questioned why taxpayers should stump up for the coronation, with the bill estimated to be over £100 million ($126 million).

- Support -
Yet the huge crowds of royal fans that have been building all week on The Mall outside Buckingham Palace indicate that the royals still have a central role in British culture and history.

Many of those camping out to watch have flown in from abroad, underlining the royal family's untouched position as Britain's leading global brand.

Christine Wilen travelled from Niagara Falls in Canada for the event.

"I'm very excited to be here, to be part of this history," said Wilen, wearing a visor and sweatshirt in Canadian colours.

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© Agence France-Presse