The 74-year-old new monarch was formally enthroned with a 360-year-old jewel-encrusted St. Edward’s Crown accompanied by chants of “God Save the King”, church  bells and trumpets. The King and Queen Camilla then made their customary appearance at the iconic balcony of Buckingham Palace in London joined by the Prince and Princess Wales, William and Kate, and a slimmed-down selection of frontline Royals who waved to the hundreds who had braved the rain for hours to get a glimpse of the newly anointed Royals. A lengthy Royal Air Force (RAF) flypast planned as the grand finale of the historic Coronation was cut short to a more compact display due to the wet weather, ending with the gathered military band playing out the UK’s national anthem amid cheers from the crowd. It came at the end of a solemn two-hour religious ceremony that dates back almost a thousand years, which began with Charles taking an oath of service before the Archbishop of Canterbury opened the service, which included a reading by Britain’s Hindu Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.

Part of the sacred ceremony involved Charles and Camilla being symbolically re-married in the eyes of God to take on the oath of service together. “The ring ‘marries’ Consort to King, and them both to God in duty and to the People in loving service, and in turn acts as an assurance of God’s unfailing love,” the official Liturgy of the ceremony said.

 

 

The Throne Chairs used were the same used during the enthroning of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth in May 1937, another rainy day in Britain.

Westminster Abbey has been the site of every British Coronation since that of William The Conqueror in 1066 and King Charles III and his wife, Queen Camilla, followed in the footsteps of this grand tradition in a service themed “Called to Serve”.

Faith leaders and representatives of the Hindu, Sikh, Muslim, Buddhist and Jewish communities processed through the Abbey ahead of the service and House of Lords peers of Indian heritage handed over key regalia to the monarch during the ceremony. Following a regal procession riding in the Diamond Jubilee State Coach bearing a gilded crown, the King and Queen made their way to the Abbey from Buckingham Palace, accompanied by military personnel on foot and on horseback.

 

 

The streets of central London were lined with thousands of well-wishers waving flags, alongside some groups of protesters who campaign for the abolition of the monarchy and have organised #NotMyKing protests at Trafalgar Square. There were some reports of arrests of protesters as they allegedly tried to disrupt the procession. Once at the Abbey, the King was greeted by a congregation of around 2,200 – made up of heads of state and government, worldwide royalty as well as community champions. Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar and his wife Dr Sudesh Dhankhar represented India on the historic occasion and were seated alongside other Commonwealth Heads of State. “The crowning of the Sovereign is an ancient ceremony, rich in religious significance, history and pageantry. The service is deeply sacred and traditional, while reflecting the monarch’s role today and looking towards the future,” the palace said.

 

The religious ceremony was made up of five key stages: the Recognition; the Oath; the Anointing; the Investiture and Crowning; and the Enthronement and Homage. As per royal tradition, Charles was officially crowned as King with St. Edward’s Crown the first and only time he will wear the 17th-century crown. It was recently removed from the Tower of London to be resized for the King ahead of the monumental service.

Honour for Sikh community worldwide, says peer bearing Coronation Glove for King Charles : Lord Indarjit Singh is the British Sikh peer who handed over a key item of the regalia to King Charles III during his Coronation, symbolic of the multi-faith note being struck at the traditionally Christian ceremony. The 90-year-old peer was part of a procession of peers who walked up to the altar before handing over the Coronation Glove, which is a demonstration of the Sovereign as advocate and challenger for the protection and honour of the people. It also bears a second meaning, as a reminder of holding power, symbolised in the royal Sceptre, gently in a gloved hand.