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Charles crowned King as world watches

06 May 2023 6 minute read
King Charles III is crowned with St Edward’s Crown by The Archbishop of Canterbury the Most Reverend Justin Welby during his coronation ceremony in Westminster Abbey, London. Jonathan Brady/PA Wire

Tony Jones, PA Court Correspondent

The King has been crowned and prayed to be a “blessing” to people of “every faith and conviction”.

Charles became the 40th reigning sovereign to be crowned at Westminster Abbey, England’s coronation church since 1066, as Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby placed St Edward’s Crown on his head.

The historic moment, watched around the globe, followed the death of his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, last September after a 70-year reign.

Before the crowning the archbishop delivered a sermon to the 2,300 guests, a gathering of world leaders, celebrities, UK politicians, foreign royalty, everyday heroes and the royal family.

Mr Welby began by telling the congregation: “We are here to crown a King, and we crown a King to serve.

“What is given today is for the gain of all. For Jesus Christ announced a kingdom in which the poor and oppressed are freed from chains of injustice. The blind see. The bruised and broken-hearted are healed.”

Speaking to Charles and Camilla, Mr Welby said: “The weight of the task given you today, Your Majesties, is only bearable by the spirit of God, who gives us the strength to give our lives to others.

“With the anointing of the Holy Spirit, the King is given freely what no ruler can ever attain through will, or politics, or war, or tyranny: the Holy Spirit draws us to love in action.”

King’s prayer

Charles delivered a King’s Prayer, the first time a monarch has spoken words to God aloud during a coronation, and he touched on the duty of the sovereign to serve all communities.

He told the abbey: “God of compassion and mercy whose son was sent not to be served but to serve, give grace that I may find in thy service perfect freedom and in that freedom knowledge of thy truth.

“Grant that I may be a blessing to all thy children, of every faith and conviction, that together we may discover the ways of gentleness and be led into the paths of peace. Through Jesus Christ our Lord, amen.”

In the stillness of the abbey, Mr Welby held St Edward’s Crown high above Charles and, placing it on his head, said “God save the King” – words repeated by the congregation.

The archbishop adjusted the position of the crown on the King’s head for several seconds before it sat comfortably.

A fanfare was played and the abbey’s bells rang for two minutes after the crowning, with gun salutes fired from nearby Horse Guards Parade, the Tower of London and saluting stations across the nation and from warships at sea.

Volleys were heard at Hillsborough, Cardiff and Edinburgh castles, Stonehenge and HMS Lancaster, which had sailed to Sudan to help British citizens and others escape the fighting in Khartoum.

In a change, the controversial “Homage of the People” element of the service has been toned down after there was widespread criticism of the new element.

Mr Welby will now “invite” a show of support from the congregation rather than a “call” to those in the abbey and elsewhere to swear allegiance to the King.

Procession

Earlier, Charles and Camilla’s Diamond Jubilee Coach arrived, 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 longest-serving 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.”

Oath

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.

Thousands of royal fans have joined crowds in central London to celebrate the King’s coronation.

As anticipation mounted on Saturday morning, 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 on The Mall, as well as five at Downing Street.


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Fi yn unig
Fi yn unig
10 months ago

I’m part of the ‘world’ but I wasn’t watching. I’m glad it’s over though. Now we can expect the removal of the offensive post box decor outside the Owain Glyndwr. Get on with it!

Fi yn unig
Fi yn unig
10 months ago
Reply to  Fi yn unig

Oh hold on. I typed the above message before realising that the post box had been returned to its’ former stickered up glory. Looks grand now so maybe leave it there for while.

Mawkernewek
10 months ago

Well done for getting through that whole article without writing ‘Prince of Wales’.

Lionel Bray
Lionel Bray
10 months ago

This is great stuff! I first voted for Carlo to be made Prince of my nation in 1969, and he’s commanded my vote at every election since….have I got that right? My memory isn’t what it was.

Dr John Ball
Dr John Ball
10 months ago

I watched a bit of it out of curiosity.

It was the most hilarious programme I have seen in many months.

hdavies15
hdavies15
10 months ago
Reply to  Dr John Ball

Good panto material but not the sort of stuff one wants churned out too often. Also it should be a subscription only event so only those who want to watch it or attend need pay for it and the rest of us could have our taxes deployed more constructively.

Brechdan Wncomunco
10 months ago
Reply to  hdavies15

I agree everything should be on subscription. Let’s start with all T V defund the BBC and abolish the licence fee. Pay for what you want to watch.

Mr Williams
Mr Williams
10 months ago

I agree. Why was that charade being shown on BBC 1, BBC 2, ITV, BBC News all at the same time?
About time the Licence Fee was dropped. I, for one, hardly watch anything of the BBC now, and I’m sure I’m not the only one.

David Charles pearn
David Charles pearn
10 months ago
Reply to  Mr Williams

Mr Williams I agree 100%. I haven’t tuned into BBC for a year or more they are in with this tory government

Steve A Duggan
Steve A Duggan
10 months ago

When we have wall to wall media coverage it’s hard to get away from this BS. Even popping down to Tesco you have bunty stuck in your face. Why the media is so fixated with this family is anyones guess. Thank goodness it is now over.

Frank
Frank
10 months ago
Reply to  Steve A Duggan

Exactly. There should be a law against forced television brainwashing viewing broadcast by a minority bunch of royalists hoping for titles or knighthoods. I also have a different view of Huw Edwards.

NOT Grayham Jones
NOT Grayham Jones
10 months ago

Watching it made me proud to be Welsh and British. God save the king

CapM
CapM
10 months ago

Is that a carbuncle on his hat.

CapM
CapM
10 months ago

Just found out that the horse with the bongos protested by walking sideways.
Well done Ben Sir Benfro.

CapM
CapM
10 months ago

I didn’t watch today’s modest little jamboree but having seen some of the photos of the event I think that I’ll just have to watch some of the highlights. The hat in the photo above is incredible.

A cross on a ball on four flying buttresses over a purple bean bag on a crown on a bed of weasel skins all balanced on top of a pensioner’s head.
Fair play it’s not everyday you see something like that.

Y Cymro
Y Cymro
10 months ago

Today I put some blue ray films on and enjoyed a hot cup of coffee. The Coronation passed by and I was thankfully oblivious. My dignity was intact but that cannot be said of those who pledged their blind allegiance as willing subjects to maintain the lavish lifestyle of a dysfunctional family on state benefits. The cult of Monarchy.

Last edited 10 months ago by Y Cymro
Karl
Karl
10 months ago

Glad I was in work, even more so work was busy, as clearly many didn’t watch. Peaceful protestor locked up as an unelected billionaire is handed our cash and crowned. Sums up the state of Britain, that and the new flag obsession. It’s all weird and creepy.

Mab Meirion
Mab Meirion
10 months ago

3 young men murdered in east London as 11.500 cops protected the new King from republican placards…!!!

Mr Williams
Mr Williams
10 months ago

I wasn’t!

Frank
Frank
10 months ago

How does Tony Jones know that “the world watched” the farce. This is just propaganda that we are subject to every day by minority groups. The problem is that too many people believe all this crap.

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