Nohe has certainly not disappointed the ceremonial for the Coronation of King Charles III. Halved in terms of time compared to that of Queen Elizabeth, back in 1953, and despite the streamlining of the Royal Family desired by the sovereign himself, the rite has preserved all the traditions and sacredness of the occasion. With that pomp that only the Windsors can produce.
King Charles III and Queen Camilla on the balcony of Buckingham Palace, May 6, 2023 (Getty Images)
The arrival of King Charles III and Queen Camilla
The gates of Westminster had already been opened at 7 in the morning to allow the staggered arrival of the more than 2 thousand guests at the historic Coronation. More than one hundred heads of state, representatives of over 200 countries, including those of the Commonwealth, hundreds of volunteers and VIPs such as the actress Emma Thompson, composer Andrew Lloyd Webber and singer Lionel Richie. And among the choirs and the evocative music of the abbey we witnessed upon the arrival of Charles and Camilladressed in white, under the incessant rain of a typical May day British.
Everything went smoothly at the Coronation of King Charles
After months of rehearsals at Buckingham Palace, where a replica of the abbey had been built, the ceremonial went off without a hitch. The king and queen underwent all the sacred rites the occasion dictatedreceiving the iconic, very precious regalia, from the golden orb to sceptres and rings, symbols of their service to the nation and their loyalty to their subjects. Particularly moving is the moment of the anointing, hidden from the public by a series of screens made by an Italian company.
Charles III and Camilla, finally crowned
The positioning of the crowns – the very heavy one of Saint Edward for Charles, the lighter and modified one for the occasion of Queen Mary for Camilla – went without problems. Only Camilla, now queen in all respects, appeared a little worried and adjusted her hair several times. And when she went to take it off behind the altar, away from the gaze of the public, she had it fixed by her hair stylist.
The Coronation of King Charles in Westminster (Getty Images)
The page boy George does… honor to grandfather Carlo
If William, Prince of Wales, touched during his oath to his father the king, sharing with him an affectionate smile, little George, 9 years old and page boy of honour, was the real revelation of the ceremony. While grandfather Carlo paraded inside the abbey, all his eyes were focused on William and Kate’s eldest son who, together with other little pages, held up the train of the precious mantle. An example of impeccable composure, unlike his irrepressible little brother Louis, who in the meantime, in the front row, was driving his parents to despair with his tantrums.
Prince George (centre), pageboy at his grandfather Charles’s coronation (Getty Images)
Harry, the great forgotten
In the third row, away from the important Royals, Prince Harry hid in the crowdexchanging a few jokes with cousins Beatrice and Eugenia and following the ceremony with clear emotion, especially when everyone started singing the anthem God Save The KingGod save the king.
If he hadn’t walked away from the court three years ago, Harry, the second son of the monarch, could also have played an official role in the ritual. But after the ceremony and without attracting attention, he got back in his car and headed for the airport, returning to California. A visit of just over 24 hours, without contact with family members.
Harry exiting Westminster, just before boarding the flight back to California (Getty Images)
After the Coronation, the exit to the balcony of Buckingham Palace
After the traditional procession in the Gold State Coachfollowed by another carriage with the princes of Wales and the three little princes George, Charlotte and Louis, King Charles III and Queen Camilla have finally stepped off the balcony of Buckingham Palace. Surrounded by the few remaining working Royals and all the page boys, they greeted the huge crowd by witnessing the aerial acrobatics of the Royal Air Force. And even the little boy Louis did well.
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