LONDON — King Charles III and Camilla, the Queen’s consort, will be crowned at Westminster Abbey in London on Saturday — part of a tradition dating back more than 1,000 years.
They began their procession towards the coronation service at Westminster Abbey through central London in a golden chariot driven by six horses while thousands of jubilant people lined the streets.
About 200 members of the British Army ride on horses as part of the coronation procession, largely drawn from what is known as the Household Cavalry Regiment. On both sides of the road to Westminster Abbey are about 1,000 soldiers, sailors and members of the Royal Air Force.
Charles and Camilla disembarked from their three-ton carriage at the Great West Door of Westminster Abbey, flanked by church officials and followed by an entourage of red-uniformed support staff.
While the bells rang outside, trumpets and singing filled the interior of the abbey to celebrate the procession of Charles and Camilla through the nave and past the great choir before taking their seats at the start of the solemn ceremony.
In the first part of the ceremony, Charles says he has come “to be served, not to be served” and to follow the example of “the King of Kings”.
After being introduced to the public and repeatedly proclaimed king, Charles took a series of oaths relating to his responsibilities in this new role.
A light rain fell throughout the morning as thousands of people lined the route of the procession, many carrying British flags, cheering and singing before Charles passed in an ornate carriage.
Inside Westminster Abbey, aristocrats, celebrities, and leaders from a variety of British political parties arrived before the ceremony. The congregation includes singers like Lionel Richie and Katy Perry, who will perform at a concert organized to celebrate the coronation this weekend.
British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak will play a role in the proceedings, and a number of his senior ministers also arrived for the ceremony, along with the Prime Minister of Ukraine and Olena Zelenska, wife of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Former British leaders including Liz Truss, Boris Johnson, David Cameron, Gordon Brown and Tony Blair joined thousands of other attendees inside the abbey. US First Lady Jill Biden is also among the guests.
Police arrest anti-monarchy protesters
On the edge of Trafalgar Square, several anti-monarchy protesters from a campaign group called Republic were arrested when they began unloading printed banners. The London Metropolitan Police Force has announced that a “major operation” is now underway in the city centre.
Tens of thousands began to gather hours before the procession was expected to begin. Protests against the monarchy were also expected.
Footage posted on social media appeared to show Graham Smith, the group’s chief executive, being arrested by police along with five other protesters wearing T-shirts that read “Not mine”.
Republic criticized the measure in response to what they described
peacefully protested, and said the police did not provide a reason for this
arrests.
More than 11,000 officers were deployed across the capital on Saturday and the head of the force, Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley, warned earlier this week that in the streets near the party there would be “an extremely low tolerance for disorder”.
NPR’s Lauren Fryer and Don Clyde contributed to this post.
NPR will update this post throughout the festivities.
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