King Charles and Queen Consort Camilla took centre stage in front of a global audience of millions on Saturday at the UK’s first coronation for 70 years.
The day featured customs dating back more than 1,000 years as Charles became the 40th reigning monarch to be crowned at Westminster Abbey since 1066.
A huge security operation was undertaken after people gathered along the route of Saturday’s procession in central London.
The Metropolitan Police said officers made several arrests as anti-monarchy and climate activists staged protests nearby.
Getty ImagesThe nation’s armed forces delivered a “spectacular” display of military pomp and pageantry when the King and Queen travelled by carriage through the streets of the UK capital.
At 10.20am, Charles and Camilla rode to Westminster Abbey in the Diamond Jubilee Coach built in 2012 to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the reign of Queen Elizabeth.
After members of the Royal Family, including Princess Anne, Prince Andrew, Prince Edward and Prince Harry, took their seats, the King and Queen entered.
Getty ImagesThe historic ceremony followed in which Charles pledged to serve his people as King.
As he took the Oath, the King said: “I, Charles, do solemnly and sincerely in the presence of God profess, testify, and declare that I am a faithful Protestant, and that I will, according to the true intent of the enactments which secure the Protestant succession to the throne, uphold and maintain the said enactments to the best of my powers according to law.”
The King then signed copies of the Oaths, presented by the Lord Chamberlain, while a choir sang in the four languages of the United Kingdom; English, Welsh, Scots Gaelic and Irish.
PA MediaThe national anthem was played as the Archbishop of Canterbury anointed the King in the form of a cross in private behind a special screen.
The King then received his royal garments before being presented with the Crown Jewels: the Orb, the Ring, the Glove and the Sceptre before the moment of his crowning finally came.
Charles was crowned King with St Edward’s Crown followed by shouts of: “God save the King”.
PA MediaAt Edinburgh Castle, a 21-round royal salute was fired one minute after midday on Saturday, as the King was crowned.
Members of 105 Regiment Royal Artillery fired the salute, with members of the 3rd Battalion, The Royal Regiment of Scotland (3 Scots) taking up position as castle guard musicians from Reserve Bands of The Royal Regiment of Scotland and adult instructors of the Army Cadet Force performed.
There was a touching moment between the King and Prince of Wales as William paid homage, the only blood prince to do so, in a break with tradition.
He then kissed Charles on the cheek and the King was seen to say a few words to his eldest son.
PA MediaThen Camilla was anointed in public by the Archbishop of Canterbury, in a break with tradition.
The Dean of Westminster poured oil from the ampulla into the coronation spoon, and held the spoon for the Archbishop of Canterbury.
She was then crowned with Queen Mary’s Crown.
PA MediaThe newly crowned Charles and Camilla smiled as they rode in the Gold State Coach back to Buckingham Palace, their coronation procession featuring 4,000 ceremonial troops stretching for a mile.
Thousands gathered in crowds cheered as the procession passed.
The Princess Royal followed behind on horseback in her role as Gold Stick and Colonel The Blues and Royals.
PA MediaNext came the carriage with the Prince and Princess of Wales inside, along with their children Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis.
Five-year-old Louis waved eagerly from the window.
The Royal couple then appeared on the balcony of Buckingham Palace.
PA MediaThe flypast over Buckingham Palace to mark the coronation was scaled down because of the weather, the Ministry of Defence said.
But helicopters flew over before a display from the famous Red Arrows.
On the Buckingham Palace balcony, Prince George and Princess Charlotte smiled and gazed up as the planes soared overhead during the military flypast.
In Glasgow, former first minister Alex Salmond led a crowd of thousands in a chant calling for Scotland to be independent – encouraging them to shout louder for “the benefit of those in Westminster Abbey”.
The Alba Party leader was speaking at a rally held by independence campaigners All Under One Banner and organisers told the crowd the estimated attendance was more than 20,000.
Some in attendance had anti-monarchy banners.
Earlier in the week Salmond said Scottish police should have staged a “standoff” outside Edinburgh Castle to prevent the Stone of Destiny from being moved to London for the coronation.
He said such a move could have been used as a bargaining tool in the push for a second independence referendum.
The stone was taken to London last week to be used in the coronation, with First Minister Humza Yousaf attending a ceremony during which it was removed from its resting place at the castle.
The stone has been used to crown monarchs of Scotland – and later the UK – in a tradition dating back centuries.
Yousaf dismissed the suggestion of involving the police, saying it would have “not been the right thing to do”.
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