Global Courant 2023-05-06 23:32:34
King Charles III was crowned on Saturday in a historic ceremony at London’s Westminster Abbey, rooted in 1,000 years of tradition.
The sovereign became the 40th reigning monarch to be crowned at the abbey in front of more than 2,200 invited guests in the congregation and millions more who watched around the world.
Although the order of service for the two-hour ceremony was released in advance, even those following closely may not have noticed these five key moments:
Catherine Middleton’s tribute to Diana
In a nod to her mother-in-law, Diana, the new Princess of Wales paid a touching tribute on Saturday with her choice of accessories.
The diamond and pearl earrings that Catherine Middleton wore to the coronation on Saturday once belonged to Diana, who wore them several times in the photo.
Jewelry company Collingwood donated the earrings to Diana for her wedding to the then Prince Charles.
LONDON, ENGLAND – MAY 6: Prince William, Prince of Wales and Catherine, Princess of Wales at Westminster Abbey during the coronation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla on May 6, 2023 in London, England. The coronation of Charles III and his wife Camilla as King and Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the other Commonwealth realms takes place today in Westminster Abbey. Charles ascended the throne on September 8, 2022, upon the death of his mother, Elizabeth II. (Photo by Mark Cuthbert/UK Press via Getty Images)
Catherine, the new Princess of Wales, also broke with tradition by donning a floral headpiece instead of a tiara as part of her polished coronation look. Her husband, Prince William, is next in line to the throne as King Charles’ eldest son.
– Maria Nersesian
Star power at the coronation
You may have noticed some familiar faces in the crowd at Westminster Abbey. There was even a constellation of stars, including actors Judi Dench, Maggie Smith, and Emma Thompson.
Some of the other celebrity guests featured at the ceremony included Australian singer Nick Cave and award-winning composer Andrew Lloyd Webber, best known for his Broadway and West End musicals, who also wrote an anthem for the coronation.
Pop star Katy Perry and singer Lionel Richie, both of whom will perform at the Coronation Concert in Windsor on Sunday, were also seen in the abbey congregation.
Perry, in a “celebrity, they’re just like us” moment, was trapped while struggling to find her seat in the abbey.
She also attracted attention for her lilac ensemble and matching big hat, with the online peanut gallery speculating that those sitting behind her had a hard time looking around.
And according to the milliner with a royal warrant I spoke to earlier this week, choosing a hat for an occasion like this also means considering those around you.
– Maria Nersesian
Princess Anne’s feather versus Prince Harry’s face
Everyone was looking forward to Prince Harry at today’s coronation. There were rumors that he might not attend at all, but he did, flanked by his cousins Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie, alongside their husbands Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi and Jack Brooksbank, respectively.
He was in the third row, but unfortunately right behind Princess Anne, the Princess Royal and her rather impressive hat. It was decorated with the plume of the Blues and Royals, whose uniform she wore.
LONDON, ENGLAND – MAY 06: Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex sits behind Princess Anne, Princess Royal in the front row. The coronation of Charles III and his wife, Camilla, as King and Queen takes place today at Westminster Abbey. Charles ascended the throne on September 8, 2022, upon the death of his mother, Elizabeth II. (Photo by Yui Mok – WPA Pool/Getty Images)
The plume was right in front of Prince Harry and sharp observers on social media joked that it was a deliberate attempt to block him from the cameras, but we still managed to see his facial expressions during the service and his hasty departure when he went back to California after the service.
-Afua Hagan
The South African opera singer who stole the show
Pretty Yende, the South African opera singer in the incredible yellow dress, was quite astonishing as she sang a brand new piece at the coronation. She sang ‘Sacred Fire’ by British composer Sarah Class at the ceremony and is the first African to sing a solo at a coronation.
Born in South Africa, she took up opera at the age of 16 and described singing on the occasion as a ‘dream come true’. Yende studied at the South African School of Opera and has performed all over the world.
LONDON, ENGLAND – MAY 06: Queen Camilla and King Charles III arrive for their coronation at Westminster Abbey, in the yellow background is singer Pretty Yende, on May 06, 2023 in London, England. The coronation of Charles III and his wife Camilla as King and Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the other Commonwealth realms takes place today in Westminster Abbey. Charles ascended the throne on September 8, 2022, upon the death of his mother, Elizabeth II. (Photo by Andrew Matthews – WPA Pool/Getty Images)
Yende’s first encounter with King Charles III was when she was invited by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra to perform at Windsor Castle last year.
Some critics had called on her to boycott the coronation in protest of Britain’s colonial past. But she said, “I see every opportunity I get as an opportunity for my gift to reconcile, to heal, to love, to give joy, to give hope and to give dreams for the future. We can’t change the past, but every generation… can give hope for tomorrow with a little action.”
-Afua Hagan
The iconic balcony shot
Ahead of the coronation, there was much speculation about who would join the King and Queen for the famous balcony salute, which would mark the first time the Royal Family had gathered there without Queen Elizabeth II.
But all the rumors were put to rest when Charles and Camilla emerged, waving to the crowd of well-wishers, surrounded by senior working royals.
Notably absent were King Charles’ youngest son Prince Harry and his brother Prince Andrew.
On either side of them were their event pages, Camilla’s next to her, while Charles’s next to him, including his grandson Prince George. Some commentators noted that they had expected the Prince and Princess of Wales to flank the newly crowned King and Queen instead, as the future of the monarchy.
King Charles III and Queen Camilla wave from the balcony of Buckingham Palace after their coronation, in London, Saturday, May 6, 2023. (Chris Jackson/Getty via AP)
Instead, they stood aside, with their other two children, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis.
King Charles’ youngest son, Prince Harry, was not on the balcony, although he was present at Westminster Abbey earlier in the day, albeit in the third row behind the working royals. He arrived alone at the coronation, while his wife Meghan stayed in California with their two children. Saturday, May 6, was also the fourth birthday of his oldest child, Archie.
– Maria Nersesian
