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May 7, 2023 | 1:28 p.m
Thousands of picnics and street parties were held across Britain to mark the coronation of Charles III. to celebrate. AP
LONDON (AP) – After the golden spectacle of the coronation of King Charles III. in an ancient religious ceremony, Sunday’s coronation celebrations took a more down-to-earth turn with thousands of picnics and street parties held in his honor across Britain.
The community gatherings, part of a British tradition known as the Big Lunch, were intended to bring neighbors together to celebrate the newly crowned king even as support for the monarchy wanes. Critics complained about the cost of the coronation at a time of exorbitant living costs amid double-digit inflation.
Thousands of lunches were organized as part of Sunday’s celebrations, along with a nightly concert at Windsor Castle featuring Katy Perry, Lionel Richie and Take That from the 1990s. Charles encouraged residents to get involved in volunteer activities on Monday, which was a public holiday.
The King and Queen Camilla were not expected to attend any of the lunches but planned to attend the concert, which will include a speech by his son Prince William, the heir apparent.
The King’s siblings, Edward, the Duke of Edinburgh and Anne, the Princess Royal, and their spouses provided lunch service for the royal family. Edward was in Cranleigh and his sister was attending an event in Swindon. The king’s nieces Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie, daughters of Prince Andrew, were due to attend a luncheon in Windsor.
Prince William and Kate Middleton attend a luncheon after the coronation. AP The community gatherings, part of a British tradition known as the Big Lunch, were meant to bring neighbors together to celebrate the newly crowned king even as the monarchy wanes. AP
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak received US First Lady Jill Biden and her granddaughter Finnegan Biden at the Big Lunch Party in front of his office. Other guests included Ukrainian refugees and community activists.
As in other areas with street parties, Downing Street was decorated with Union Jack bunting for the occasion.
The low-key events were followed by an insignia-laden pageant, with the king and queen being crowned together at Westminster Abbey. They were presented with centuries-old swords, scepters and a jeweled golden orb symbolizing the power of the monarch in a medieval tradition celebrated with liturgy, song and heartfelt cheers of “God save the King”.
The couple then paraded through the streets in a gilded horse-drawn carriage, led by the largest ceremonial military procession since the coronation of Charles’ mother, Queen Elizabeth II, 70 years ago. Some 4,000 soldiers marched in formation through the streets, their scarlet sleeves and white gloves waving in unison to the sound of drums and brass band bugles, including a group of musicians on horseback.
Hundreds of thousands of spectators lined the route in the rain to see it live. Almost 19 million more watched TV in the UK, according to ratings published by Barb, a research organization. That’s around 40% fewer viewers than at Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral in September.
Charles and Camilla said in a statement on Sunday that they were “deeply touched” by the celebration and “deeply grateful to everyone who helped make it such a glorious occasion – and the very many who showed their support.” “.
The coronation was condemned because of its price and the role of the monarchy. AP Around 40% fewer people attended the coronation than Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral. AP
Not everyone was there to celebrate, however, and criticism of the arrest of more than 50 protesters continued Sunday, including members of a Republican group who chanted “Not my king” and environmentalists who aimed to stop fossil fuel use to end fuels.
Graham Smith, leader of the Republic, a group campaigning for the abolition of the monarchy, said he was arrested planning a peaceful protest and spent 16 hours in police custody.
“These arrests are a direct attack on our democracy and the fundamental rights of everyone in the country,” Smith said. “Every single police officer involved on the scene should hang their heads in shame.”
The Metropolitan Police acknowledged concerns about the arrests but defended the force’s actions.
“The Coronation is a once-in-a-generation event, and that’s an important consideration in our assessment,” said Commander Karen Findlay.
In addition to the midday celebrations, hundreds of troops marched through central Glasgow on Sunday to celebrate the coronation.
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