It was the royal event of the year: the Coronation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla on 6 May in Westminster Abbey. After a lifetime of service and decades of waiting for the throne, finally, the King was crowned in a glittering ceremony. Though it lacked much of the state and ceremonial pomp from Queen Elizabeth II’s coronation in June 1953, it was still a special day steeped in tradition.
Here are the top five moments from the coronation:
The Crowning of King Charles III
This was the moment that fully sealed a lifetime of duty and service and saw a man become king. Of the many memorable moments from the King’s coronation, this is the ultimate symbol of the day.
The Crowning of Queen Camilla
It’s been a roller coaster royal life for our Queen. Many never dreamt this moment possible, and when she and then-Prince Charles were married, Clarence House announced that when the time came, she would be known as the Princess Consort.
But with the fullness of time and 17 years of strong work as the Duchess of Cornwall, the Queen won over naysayers and earned the praise of Queen Elizabeth II, who said in her Platinum Jubilee address that she hoped Camilla would be known ‘in the fullness of time’ as Queen Consort.
Penny Mordaunt Makes History
As Lord President of the Council, responsible for the Privy Council, Penny Mordaunt is the first woman in this role who played a role in a coronation. Ever present at the King’s side, Penny could be seen carrying a sword that represents the King’s authority and later carried and presented him with the Jewelled Sword of Offering. It was a special role that saw her constantly on television screens, and it was a delight that she was the first woman to carry out the duty.
A celebration of a diverse nation
For decades, the rumours flew that when the King ascended the throne he would choose to be known as the ‘Defender of Faith’ instead of the ‘Defender of the Faith’ and though this title didn’t come to fruition, the King made sure that people of all faiths were represented in his coronation, handling the regalia and marching in the procession alongside the Anglican leaders who conducted the service.
The Prince of Wales Pays Homage
In days past, a line-up of royal dukes would pay homage to their monarch, vowing to be their ‘liege man of life and limb’ and help them carry the weight of duty. At the King’s coronation, it was just his eldest son, the Prince of Wales (and the Duke of Cornwall and Cambridge) who knelt before King Charles III and vowed his service on behalf of all the others. Not only was this an important ritual carried out from monarch to subject; it was also a tender moment between father and son.
