The first coronation in seventy years will begin on Saturday morning UK time. King Charles III and the Queen Consort will be driven to Westminster Abbey by horse-drawn carriage.
Despite the forecast of rain, visitors have already started thronging the route the King’s carriage will take. There is extensive security in central London around the presence of about 100 heads of state and government. At the same time, there is also a declaration of protest against the monarchy. The inauguration ceremony will last for about two hours, which will be watched face to face by 2,300 special guests. Among them is Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, who arrived on a commercial flight from the United States on Friday.
Prince Harry will be seen in public with his brother Prince William, the Prince of Wales, for the first time since the publication of his autobiography. Prince Harry is expected to return to his wife in the United States within hours of the inauguration.
After seventy years on the throne, Queen Elizabeth II died and her son Charles became king. In addition to the United Kingdom, he is recognized as a king in 14 other countries. Mother Elizabeth died after 70 years on the throne. Then last September, Charles received the throne of the United Kingdom and 14 other countries.
Elaborate planning is done for months to celebrate the inauguration ceremony. This is the 40th apparition since 1066 again at Westminster Abbey. Even on the eve of Abhishek, the king felt very relaxed. He toured the mall with the Prince and Princess of Wales through tight security. Seventy-nine-year-old Barbara and her girlfriend Paulina stood in the audience row holding a banner reading ‘Coronation Street’. “We didn’t really want to camp, but with so many people here, it seemed like we couldn’t go forward if we didn’t camp first,” said Ms. Barbara. From Friday evening, hundreds of tents were seen around Abhishek’s path. They have all come hoping to witness this historic event.
Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby will officiate. The guest list includes US First Lady Jill Biden, French President Macron and presenter duo Ant and Dec. Olena Zelenskyi, wife of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyi, met with Princess of Wales Catherine of Wales at a pre-debut ceremony at Buckingham Palace on Friday. At this time, Charles was seen flirting with the First Lady of Ukraine. At the same time, he shook hands with Crown Princess of Denmark Marie and kissed her on the cheek.
Controversy arose as to whether those who would stay at home should also take an oath of allegiance to the king from there. The Church of England makes it clear that the matter is optional.
When King Charles arrives at the Abbey, the key message will be the consecration prayer – “I have come not to be served but to give.”
The most special moment of the ceremony is when the King is crowned with St. Edward’s crown, the Abbey bells are tolled, and a musical salute is played from the accompanying Horse Guards Parade. Queen Consort Camilla will also be crowned alongside the King, who will finally be officially addressed as ‘Queen Camilla’ after the pair’s long and somewhat complicated relationship.
The ceremony is being made as diverse as possible and this time has the largest presence of religious faiths than any previous Abhishek ceremony. Jewish, Muslim, Buddhist and Sikh representatives will attend the event. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, whose religion is Hindu, will read from the Bible. Music will be performed in Welsh, Scottish and Irish.
It will be the first time a woman bishop will take part in the consecration ceremony, which has been going on for a thousand years. The ceremony will end at around 1pm UK time, after which King Charles and Queen Camilla will return to Buckingham Palace in a gold-studded horse-drawn carriage. There will be 4 thousand soldiers and 19 bands during the march of about 1 mile (1.6 km). When they arrive at the palace, it is not yet known who else will accompany the King and Queen on the balcony, in keeping with tradition. But when they stand on the balcony, there will be a special display of airplanes in the sky. Source: BBC