King Charles III is on the way to central London’s Westminster Abbey ahead of his imminent crowning Saturday—a moment he has prepared for his entire life—as thousands of church guests and millions of watchers around Britain and the world await the biggest ceremonial event the nation has put on in 70 years.
Britain's King Charles III and Camilla, the Queen Consort, leave Buckingham Palace in the Diamond ... [+]
Charles and his wife, Queen Camilla, both in ceremonial dress, waved to the crowds during an opulent procession along the Mall lined by thousands of supporters—the scene will be familiar to viewers who witnessed the procession of Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral eight months ago.
Central London was blanketed by distinctly British gray clouds and a light drizzle as Charles’ procession from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Abbey got underway.
Thousands of guests, including Prince Harry and other members of the royal family, foreign presidents and charity workers, awaited the new monarch in the Abbey, which has been the site of coronations for nearly 1,000 years.
Faith leaders representing communities across Britain—including Christian, Muslim, Jewish, Sikh and Buddhist—are also in attendance, a historic move that represents Charles’ desire to make the British monarch’s job as “defender of the faith” more inclusive.
The ceremony begins at 11 a.m. local time (6 a.m. ET).
Police arrested several anti-monarchy demonstrators in Trafalgar Square on Saturday morning, part of the Republic campaign group protesting the $250 million cost of Saturday’s ceremony—and calling for a public vote on the future of the monarchy.
2,000. That’s how many guests—including Royal Family members, world leaders, royals from around the world and ambassadors of charities handpicked by the British royals—will attend the ceremony at Westminster Abbey. That’s about a quarter the number of guests who watched Queen Elizabeth II’s coronation. Today’s guest list had been a source of great speculation, particularly as to whether Prince Harry would attend. He is, but without wife Meghan Markle and his children. Thousands more royal supporters from across the world are expected to line the streets around central London.
Despite the overwhelming coverage, Union Jack bunting lining the streets and party preparation across Britain, many are apathetic. The extravagance of the event stands in sharp contrast to a backdrop of high inflation, rising household bills and a cost of living crisis. Around 60% of Britons support the monarchy’s future, while a quarter want an elected head of state, according to a recent YouGov poll. A plurality (35%) of people polled by YouGov last month said they cared “not very much” about the coronation. Anti-monarchy protests are taking place in Trafalgar Square, less than a mile from Westminster Abbey.
King Charles’ Coronation: How To Watch It In The U.S. And When It Starts (Forbes)
King Charles’ Coronation: Here’s Who’s Attending, Who’s Skipping And Who Never Was Invited (Forbes)