Before a gathering of around 100 world leaders at Westminster Abbey and a million TV audience, Anglican spiritual leader the Archbishop of Canterbury placed the 360-year-old St Edward’s Crown years, on the head of Charles III, who sat on a 14th century throne.
During a historic and solemn two-hour service dating back to the time of William the Conqueror in 1066, Charles III’s second wife, Camilla, was also crowned queen.
“No other country could put on such a dazzling spectacle of processions, shows, ceremonies and street parties,” said British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.
At Saturday’s coronation, Jill Biden, wife of President Joe Biden, represented the United States. According to the Associated Press, arriving in the British capital on the eve of a big event, the first lady engaged in “soft diplomacy”. Her first stop was the world famous address of 10 Downing Street, where she first met Akshata Murthy, wife of Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.
Later, in Downing Street, Jill Biden and Akshata Murthy met with military veterans and their families attending a medical rehabilitation program.
Charles III, 74, succeeded his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, as monarch after her death last September.
Hours before the coronation, police arrested the leader of the anti-monarchist Republic group, keeping him away from several hundred protesters lining the route of a motorcade through central London. The protesters wore yellow T-shirts and held signs reading “Not my king”. They declare that the royal family has no place in a modern constitutional democracy and demand the election of the head of state.
Demonstrations also took place in Glasgow in Scotland and Cardiff in Wales, where protesters held up signs saying “Abolish the monarchy, feed the people!”
On social media, many Britons have pitted the splendor of the coronation against the socio-economic issues of life for ordinary citizens of the country.
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