cstate bees, representatives of the European royal families, politicians and dignitaries of the Commonwealth countries, but also volunteers, doctors and nurses make up the elite of two thousand guests present today at the Coronation of Charles III and Queen Camilla, in Westminster. An historic event that the new sovereign – the 40th to be crowned in the famous abbey since 1066 – wanted to organize without too much pomp and which will be broadcast live by the English broadcaster BBC, with an audience of hundreds of millions of people worldwide.
The procession of King Charles and Queen Camilla
The arrival of the guests was carefully timed to avoid crowds at the abbey gates, which opened shortly after 7 in the morning. At 10:20 English time (11:20 Italian), Charles and Camilla will start the Royal processiontraveling on the Diamond Jubilee State Coachinstead of the ancient, but less comfortable, Gold State Coach. And passing through The Mall and Trafalgar Square, Whitehall and Parliament Street, they will arrive at Westminster Abbey at exactly 10:53, greeted by the large crowd lurking on the sidewalks for days.
The beginning of the Coronation rite
At 11 am in England, Charles, in military uniform, and Camilla will enter the famous abbey, through the Great West Door, the door on the western side. The ritual will begin with music chosen personally by the sovereign, including new pieces composed by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Greek Orthodox music in honor of his father Philip. Prince George, 9 years old and second in line to the throne after his father William, will be one of the king’s pageboysaccompanied among others by Gus, Louis and Freddy, Camilla’s grandchildren.
King Charles III and Queen Camilla will be crowned in Westminster (Getty Images)
Reconnaissance and Oath next to Coronation Chair
For the first time in a Coronation, which in this case will last just under two hours, important roles will be played by representatives of different faiths and by female priests. The ceremonial is divided into phases. During the Reconnaissance, Carlo, standing next to the Coronation Chair (King Edward’s Chair), dating back seven centuries, will be presented to his people, to the chorus of God Save The King. This will be followed by the oath, in which the sovereign will promise to serve his people and to defend the Anglican faith.
The Mystery of the Anointing of King Charles
A particularly sacred moment is that of the Anointing, in which Carlo will see his ceremonial clothes removed and will sit on the Coronation Chair to receive a special oil from Jerusalem and poured from a golden container – the ancient Ampulla – with crosses on the head, torso and hands. This stage is hidden from the public by a screen placed around King Edward’s chair.
Charles III at Buckingham Palace for the first of his Garden Parties, May 3, 2023 (Getty Images)
The moment of the Coronation of King Charles
An hour later, at 12 precisely, the king will be crowned during the Investiture. Charles will first receive the royal orb, the coronation ring, the scepter with the cross and the one with the dove, to symbolize the various responsibilities of peace and loyalty of the monarch towards his people. Then the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, will lay on his head St Edward’s Crown – the only time Charles will be allowed to wear it during his reign. And at the same time, the salute of cannons and Royal trumpets will be heard throughout the British territory.
Millions of subjects and fans of the monarchy are expected in central London for the Coronation (Getty Images)
The exclusive role of Prince William, the future king
During the final part – the Enthronement – Charles will sit on the throne. And unlike past coronations, his son William will be the only duke to kneel and swear allegiance to his father sovereign, kissing his right hand. Another novelty: for the first time in the history of coronations, subjects will be invited to pledge allegiance to the monarch, a decision that turned out to be rather controversial and therefore subsequently defined as non-compulsory.
Then it will be the turn of the Queen Consort Camilla
She also received the anointing, Camilla will be crowned with Queen Mary’s crown, wife of George V and great-grandmother of Charles. And she will finally sit on the throne of England, sovereign in all respects after dropping the title of Consort. A much simpler and shorter ceremony, hers, which unlike her husband’s does not include an oath.
The Procession of Return to Buckingham Palace
At 2 pm Italian time, the ritual will end. After changing his crown and putting on the Imperial State one, Charles will leave Westminster in the company of Camilla and to the sound of the national anthem. Together they will climb the famous Gold State Coachthe almost three centuries old golden carriage, used for all Coronations, and will start the second procession of the day. Behind them will travel another carriage with the heir to the throne George, his little sister Charlotte and his little brother Louis.
George, Louis and Charlotte in a carriage at Queen Elizabeth’s Platinum Jubilee, June 2022 (WireImage)
The output (in a few working Royal) on the balcony for the flypast
Charles wanted to shorten the route, limiting it to just over two kilometres, about half of what, in 1953, had been approved by Elizabeth for her Coronation. And at 15:30, here is the highlight for the subjects and fans of the monarchy around the world: the king and queen will appear with a very select group of working Royal, including the Princes of Wales, on the balcony of Buckingham Palace to witness the spectacular acrobatics of the Red Arrows British.
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