Celebrity casserole at Westminster Abbey. Celebrities from all over the world gather for the coronation of King Charles and Queen Camilla. But there is also protest and criticism of the London police.
The festive service for the coronation of the British royal couple has begun in London with numerous prominent guests from all over the world. Charles III and Camilla arrived at Westminster Abbey in a drizzle. Among the page honors just behind Charles was his grandson, nine-year-old Prince George. Heir to the throne William and Princess Kate also followed the royal couple into the church.
The procession was led by representatives of various non-Christian faiths to reflect the diversity of religions in Britain.
This was followed by representatives of various Christian denominations and flag-bearers, representing all 15 countries whose head of state is King Charles. After the members of the choir, the royal couple followed. The opening song “I was Glad” to the text of Psalm 122 by Hubert Parry from 1902 was also played.
Celebrity guests
Celebrities from politics, show business and nobility gathered in the church for the coronation. Among them were numerous royalty such as Willem-Alexander and Máxima of the Netherlands and Felipe and Letizia of Spain. King Carl Gustaf and his daughter Victoria came from Sweden. Crown Prince Frederik and Crown Princess Mary came for the Danish royal family, Haakon and Mette-Marit traveled for the Norwegians. Prince Harry came to the ceremony alone, his wife Meghan stayed in the United States with their two children.
Among the political guests were French President Emmanuel Macron, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, former British Prime Ministers Boris Johnson, Tony Blair and Liz Truss, US First Lady Jill Biden, US Climate Commissioner John Kerry and the wife of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Olena Zelenska.
Pop stars like Katy Perry and Lionel Richie also attended the ceremony. Both should also be on stage at the coronation concert on Sunday evening.
Abridged procession
Charles has been king since his mother’s death on September 8, 2022. The coronation merely symbolizes his assumption of office. It is the first coronation of a British monarch in 70 and the first of a king in 86 years.
The length of the coronation procession for King Charles III. is only about a quarter of the distance that his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, traveled 70 years ago. The slow 1.42-mile (2.3-kilometre) journey from Westminster Abbey to Buckingham Palace takes exactly 33 minutes. The outward journey, called the “Procession of Kings,” follows the same route and is said to take the same amount of time.
When the service in Westminster Abbey ends at 2:00 p.m. (CEST) on May 6, the monarch and King’s wife Camilla will be driven in the Golden State Coach past Parliament onto Whitehall, which leads through the government district of Westminster to Trafalgar Square. Passing the famous statue of Admiral Nelson, turn left through the triumphal arch of Admiralty Arch onto The Mall, which leads along St. James’s Park to Buckingham Palace.
demonstrations and arrests
The significantly shortened procession is intended to reflect the slimming down of the monarchy that Charles was aiming for. Nevertheless, opponents of the monarchy used the day for protest. The arrests were immediately criticized by Human Rights Watch. “This is something you would expect in Moscow, but not in London,” Yasmine Ahmed, head of the human rights organization’s UK branch, said in a statement on Saturday. “Peaceful protests allow people to hold those in power accountable. It’s something the UK government seems increasingly reluctant to do.”
Civil rights activist Peter Tatchell tweeted that the police had erected huge barriers to cover banners critical of the monarchy. “The right to peaceful protest suppressed. Shame!” The London police had announced a rigorous crackdown on people who they believed wanted to disrupt the coronation.
Centuries-old traditions
The service follows centuries-old traditions. The highlights are the anointing of the king with holy oil, which is the only moment not captured by cameras because of its sacred significance, and soon afterwards the coronation itself. The archbishop places the heavy, golden Edwardian crown on the monarch’s head. The clergyman and heir to the throne, Prince William Charles, then swear allegiance. After Charles, Camilla is also crowned in a shorter ceremony.
If you wanted a good view of the procession, you had to secure your spot on The Mall early in the morning. A woman from the back called out: “Would it be very bold to push your way forward? Or wouldn’t that be in line with British values?”
The London families Salisbury and Savident – well equipped with picnic chairs and rain protection and home-made Coronation Quiche – made themselves comfortable a few meters away and treated themselves to the first champagne shortly before 8 a.m. in the morning. Two friends – wrapped up in Union Jacks from top to bottom – could not shock the announced rain. “It’s a British public holiday, of course it’s going to rain!”
Source: Stern
I am an author and journalist who has worked in the entertainment industry for over a decade. I currently work as a news editor at a major news website, and my focus is on covering the latest trends in entertainment. I also write occasional pieces for other outlets, and have authored two books about the entertainment industry.
