At coronation ceremonies on Sunday, anyone could wear a crown – even a dog.
A day after the golden spectacle of the coronation of King Charles III. in an ancient religious ceremony, the celebrations took a more down-to-earth turn, with thousands of picnics and street parties held in his honor across Britain, without the need for a fancy invitation.
Charles and Queen 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.” have. ”
His son, Prince William, heir apparent, said at Sunday’s concert that the service was at the heart of the “magnificent” coronation celebrations and that his father’s first words on entering Westminster Abbey were of service.
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“Because for over 50 years he has devoted himself to the service of others, both present and future generations, and those whose memory must not be neglected, in every corner of the UK, throughout the Commonwealth and around the world.” said William.
William told the crowd that he was committed to “serving you all… king, country and commonwealth. God save the king.”
Sunday’s concert was headlined by Katy Perry, Lionel Richie and 1990’s boy band Take That.
The Prince of Wales on stage during the Coronation Concert on May 07, 2023 in Windsor, England. Leon Neal/Getty Images
Beneath a green canopy in London’s Regent’s Park, Valent Cheung and his girlfriend emerged to cheer for the new king with neighbors hugging them as they moved from Hong Kong. They’ve accessorized their loyal and “royal” fluffy white dog, Tino, with a tiny purple crown for the occasion.
“This is a new era for Britain,” Cheung said. “We didn’t have these things in Hong Kong. Now we embrace the culture. We want to enjoy them, we want to celebrate them.”
From small villages to the capital, the Union Jack hung on houses and flew from tables and trees in celebration of the newly crowned king. It was printed on napkins and tablecloths, hats and bows. Some wore the colors of the flag like a uniform – dressed from head to toe in red, white and blue and reaching to their fingernails.
The community gatherings, part of a British tradition known as the Big Lunch, were intended to bring neighbors together to celebrate the coronation 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.
Charles encouraged residents to get involved in volunteer activities on Monday, which the UK made a public holiday.
The King and Camilla were expected to attend the concert but did not stop by at any of the picnics, leaving that duty to other members of the royal family.
William and his wife Catherine surprised the people picnicking in front of the castle before the concert. Dressed far more casually than the day before, they shook hands and Catherine hugged a crying girl.
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.
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.
Applause!
Thank you Rishi and Akshata for welcoming me to your grand coronation dinner as we celebrate this special moment in history. pic.twitter.com/cQyNwHBeWD
— Jill Biden (@FLOTUS) May 7, 2023
Like the Picnic in the Park, the spreads at Downing Street and Sunak – even his teapot – were decked out in the nation’s colours.
Sausage rolls and salmon were served alongside coronation chicken – a dish cooked for Queen Elizabeth II’s coronation 70 years ago – and coronation quiche, chosen to suit Charles’ tastes and causing a stir on social media. often for the wrong reasons.
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 Charles’ mother was coronated. 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.
Not everyone was there to celebrate, however, and criticism of the arrest of more than 50 protesters, including members of a Republican group chanting “Not my King” and environmentalists aiming to end fossil fuel use, continued on Sunday.
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.
Champagne was on ice in Regent’s Park and revelers spoke about the novelty of what they had seen. But the coronation was nothing new for Rosemary McIntosh, 95, only far more vivid than the one she saw on television in 1953 while living in Zimbabwe.
“We didn’t have TV all day and it was black and white, so it wasn’t as wonderful as this one,” she said.
Coronation of King Charles III
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