Charles crowned King in lavish ceremony as the nation celebrates
and others escape the fighting in Khartoum.
The Queen was crowned with Queen Mary’s Crown, with Camilla having been anointed in public in a break with tradition.
Earlier, Charles and Camilla’s Diamond Jubilee Coach arrived at the abbey, following a procession from Buckingham Palace, in the midst of a Sovereign’s Escort provided by the Household Cavalry’s Blues and Royals and Life Guards with their shining breastplates and plumed helmets and led by the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment band.
The monarch and his wife’s entrance through the west door was heralded by a fanfare from four State Trumpeters of the Household Cavalry and the abbey congregation stood as one.
A large ceremonial procession was lined up before the King and Queen with representatives of all elements of the nation’s ceremonial and spiritual life.
There were recipients of Orders of Chivalry and Gallantry, Heralds from the College of Arms in their colourful tunics, senior clergy associated with the monarchy and the glittering coronation regalia carried by leading figures.
St Edward’s Crown was carried by General Sir Gordon Messenger, Lord High Steward of England.
With their lavish and unwieldy robes, the King and Queen walked single file along the nave of the abbey with Camilla ahead of Charles as the hymn I Was Glad As They Said Unto Me was sung.
The coronation service began with a new element when the King was greeted by 14-year-old Samuel Strachan, the longestserving chorister of the choir of the Chapel Royal, St James’s Palace.
The chorister, who attends the City of London School, welcomed the monarch in the name of the “King of Kings” – a reference to Jesus Christ – and Charles replied: “In his name, and after his example, I come not to be served, but to serve.”
Before the King took the Oath – making a succession of promises, including to maintain in the UK the Protestant Reformed Religion established by law – the archbishop delivered a preface to Charles’s declaration, another first. He told the congregation the Church of England, which is headed by the King, will seek to foster an environment where “people of all faiths and beliefs may live freely”, echoing the words of the late Queen and Charles.
Charles was anointed with holy oil away from public view, shielded by the Anointing Screen. The Dean of Westminster will have poured oil from the ampulla, an eagle-shaped vessel, into the coronation spoon, the oldest object in the coronation regalia. Using his fingers, the archbishop will then have anointed the King on his hands, breast and head.
The King and Queen left Westminster Abbey in the Gold State Coach shortly after 1pm for a procession back to Buckingham Palace. Thousands of royal fans had braved the rain to line the procession route through central London.
A group of republicans were arrested around 7.30am more than four hours before the coronation service began.
Footage on Twitter showed Graham Smith, chief executive of the anti-monarchy group Republic, being apprehended by police in St Martin’s Lane, Westminster. Protest group Just Stop Oil also said approximately 13 demonstrators were arrested.