“If we want everything to stay the way it is, everything has to change.” The phrase that young Tancredi says to his uncle, Prince Fabrizio Corbera, in the novel El Gatopardo is the germ of a concept that political scientists commonly refer to as Gattopardism. The idea is as simple as it is twisted. From time to time, power has to initiate a supposedly revolutionary transformation so that in practice only the superficial part of the power structures is changed. The coronation of Carlos III, held at Westminster Abbey this Saturday, May 6, was a magnificent exercise in Gattopardism. The British king has transformed the face of the millennial institution he runs so that it will last for another thousand years.

Buckingham Palace and its powerful publicity apparatus have been bombarding the press for months with news of the changes the King has made to modernize his enthronement and coronation ceremony. The monarch reduced the guest list to just over 2,000 from his mother Elizabeth II’s 8,000; shortened the duration of the rite; he invited other crowned heads; it replaced British nobility with representatives of civil society – from all walks of life and walks of life; introduced a gospel choir for the first time in history; He chose newly composed choral music sung in the different languages ​​of the islands and wore recycled historical clothing for reasons of sustainability and efficiency. He has even ruled that his consort Camila will not traditionally wear a crown as a gesture of empathy for the economic and social crisis the UK is going through. Not even the florists were spared the apparent Carolina Revolution, as they had to arrange without plastic and floral foam, a material that is neither compostable nor biodegradable.

But the truth is that nothing new happened at the coronation of Carlos III. The ceremony followed a script written more than 600 years ago in the Liber Regalis, a medieval manuscript containing the details of this rite. The king was anointed with holy oil behind the scenes so his subjects would not see his moment of communion with God. And then he was equipped with all the symbolic paraphernalia of the institution: horse spurs, dating back to the time of Ricardo Corazón de León; the Crown of Saint Edward, a replica of that commissioned by Edward the Confessor; the scepters and staves inlaid with diamonds plundered during the period of the Empire; the sovereign’s orb; the Chair of Saint Edward and the Stone of Destiny, a rock where, according to tradition, Jacob of Genesis saw the ladder connecting heaven to earth.

After the ceremony between the divine and the profane, the seventy-year-old kings boarded a 260-year-old golden carriage and returned to Buckingham, a palace with another 260 years of history, to star in the “Balcony Moment”. Following tradition, they went out to greet the people, as Elizabeth II did during her 70-year reign, and as George VI, George V, Edward VII and Queen Victoria did before her. On Tuesday, when the jewels return to the Tower of London and the Brits return to work, Carlos III will continue to enjoy the immense privileges accumulated by his ancestors and will continue his mission: to change everything so that everything stays the same.

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Let’s have some sympathy for Charles Windsor, who, starting today, will officially wear the crown bequeathed to him by his mother when she died last September! He presents himself late in the game as a backup pitcher who must save the entire squad from crowd disinterest.

For once it is not customary, I allow myself to abuse sporting references. And then it will give you an idea of ​​my age. In my eyes, Charles III is the Doug Wickenheiser of the British monarchy. From his first appearances in Montreal, the young player from Regina bore the burden of continuing the Canadian dynasty.

He had to be as good as, if not better than, Jean Béliveau and Guy Lafleur. Bad challenge!

Charles, too, has before him a dynasty that – for supporters of the CH – is as respected as Sainte-Flanelle. His grandfather, George VI, was notable for keeping the nation united and the Empire engaged in the face of Nazi aggression during World War II.

His mother, Elizabeth II, did not oppose Hitler, but the turmoil that swept through the British royal family during their seventy years on the throne often took on the appearance of a casualty blitzkrieg.

A disappointing son

No wonder Elizabeth II had to deal with her share of scandals and scandals in France during the second-longest reign in world history after that of Louis XIV. Two of the most painful, however, concern his eldest son, Charles.

There are many – I saw it myself in London at his mother’s funeral – who still don’t forgive him for his split from Diana Spencer – Lady Di – after a much less romantic life as a couple than their grandiose 1981 wedding.

Diana’s “there were three of us in this marriage” in reference to the relationship her prince by husband has maintained with now Queen Camilla will forever tarnish the image of her new king for many.

Elizabeth II’s final years were also marred by tensions between her son and grandson Harry. From interviews to biography, the young prince keeps repeating that the palace and his family have done nothing to protect him and his wife Meghan from intrusion by the British press. On the contrary, his mother-in-law, he says, was in cahoots with the most devious tabloids.

AN ENDLESS WAIT

If the members of the British Empire have long been docile out of respect for his mother, Charles III. do not benefit from the same consideration.

It is no longer merely invoking “emancipation” from the Republic, but is demanding apologies and reparations for the royal family’s centuries-old association with slavery.

At 74, Charles is the oldest crown prince to ascend the British throne in a millennium of history.

Nothing to do with Henry VI. to do with who was barely eight months old, or worse still, with his great-great-great-grandmother Victoria, who was 18, or his own mother, 25.

His subjects are already fed up with him and apparently he knows it very well. Poor Karl!

CHARLES III, HIS CORONATION AND SOME SACRED OBJECTS

THE THRONE OF SAINT EDWARD OR KING EDWARD

This simple wooden throne has played a role in coronations for 700 years.

It only left Westminster Abbey twice: in 1657, during England’s brief republican period under Oliver Cromwell, and during the Second World War when it was transported to Gloucester Cathedral in western England.

THE SPOON THE CORONATION

There is nothing special about it compared to the Crown Jewels, but this spoon is the oldest object and one of the most sacred of the entire ceremony.

Oliver Cromwell melted down the gold and sold the royal jewels, but the spoon was sold intact and the owner returned it to Charles II after the monarchy was restored.

THE LIGHT BULB

This vase in the shape of a golden eagle contains the holy oil that will anoint the king and queen.

It is linked to a 14th-century legend that the Virgin Mary appeared to Saint Thomas Becket and offered him a golden eagle and a phial of oil to anoint future kings of England.

THE STONE OF DESTINY

St. Edward’s Throne was built around 1300 to house the Stone of Destiny, also known as the Stone of Scones.

All eyes were on the royal family today as they flocked out to support King Charles on the day of his coronation.

The monarch and his wife Queen Camilla were crowned in a magnificent ceremony at Westminster Abbey in front of 2,000 guests.

Lipreader Jacqui Press has captured sweet interactions between the royals at today’s defining moments, including what was said in the royal carriage as the King and Queen made their way to the Abbey ahead of the historic ceremony.

And she also spotted a hilarious moment between the Duchess of Sussex and Princess of Wales as the royals gathered to celebrate the day with a flyby on the balcony of Buckingham Palace.

Here, FEMAIL reveals the other interactions you may have missed today.

Lipreader Jacqui Press captured sweet interactions between the royals in today’s defining moments. Pictured from left: Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence, Duchess of Edinburgh, Princess Charlotte, Princess of Wales, Prince Louis, Prince of Wales, a page of honor, Prince George on the balcony of Buckingham Palace this afternoon

According to Press, the King and Queen chatted about the weather as they rode in the Jubilee State Coach en route to Westminster Abbey.

The king reportedly turned to Camilla and said, “Oh, look at that,” noting the rainy weather.

He then pointed to the crowd and simply said, “Wonderful,” followed by “wonderful,” as he waved to eager fans, hoping to catch a glimpse of the monarch.

Queen Camilla then said, “Oh look, look at that…flags.”

It’s then unclear what Camilla was referring to, but she says: “I can, yeah, it’s awesome, amazing.”

The press revealed the king pointing his finger at Trafalgar Square and saying: “Looks wonderful, see that.”

Queen Camilla replied and said, “So beautiful.”

As Charles waited in the carriage, Press then claimed the king said, “I’m worried about the time, I mean, it’s been longer this time and, well, um, I mean, LOOK! I know.’

The king reportedly turned to Camilla and said, “Oh, look at that,” noting the rainy weather

Prince William urged his younger children to watch out for the flyby as members of the royal family gathered on the balcony of Buckingham Palace this afternoon

It is not known what the king was referring to when he said “Look!” but Press remarked that the king said it with much enthusiasm.

A while later, when the couple went to Westminster Abbey, Press says that Camilla asked for help with her cloak.

According to Press, she asked, “Can you help?” to the man on the right, who was tugging at her cloak. She replied, “Thank you.”

King Charles then asks, “Will you wait here? Now?’ to which the bishop replied: “Yes”.

Meanwhile, Prince Louis, five, was in a car with his eight-year-old sister Charlotte as he traveled to Westminster Abbey when the two exchanged a few words.

The lip-reading expert said the little king told his sister, “Yes,” before saying, “Look, wave.”

According to the pro, the young prince also said, “Yes, of course,” with a smile as he waved to onlookers from the car’s window.

According to the Press, Kate told William: “Are you alright? Look at the hem of your…’ and then pointed to his dress

They then smiled at each other and entered the abbey, ready to attend the first coronation in 70 years

Prince Louis always manages to steal the show at royal engagements, from sticking his tongue out to his mother or dramatically covering his ears on the balcony of Buckingham Palace – and he didn’t let his fans down today.

Louis was given a break from the event to relax behind the scenes. He was reunited with his family at 1pm to leave Westminster Abbey.

The cheeky royal, known for his hilarious grimaces at royal events, also attended the coronation process.

The expert has claimed Louis said, “Lots of people are waving,” referring to the cheering crowds as the drive-by.

Shortly after, Press said the cute king also said, “Yaaay King.”

As he was on the balcony with the other royals, Louis said, “What are those ‘helicopters’?”

The youngest sibling from Wales watched intently as the Red Arrows fly by as he stood next to his older sister Charlotte, eight.

He was also spotted waving and pulling funny faces at the crowd in a fun routine.

At one point, Jacqui reveals that he said, “What are those ‘helicopters’?”

His father William then said to his youngest son, “Wave.”

Kate and William then watched as Charles and Camilla were crowned King and Queen of our country

Many viewers around the world witnessed not only a heartwarming moment between father and son, but also a touching moment between the newly crowned King of the United Kingdom and our future monarch

When the Prince and Princess of Wales arrived at Westminster Abbey this morning, they appeared to have chatted about the robes they wore outside Westminster Abbey.

According to the Press, Kate told William: “Are you alright? Look at the hem of your…’ and then pointed to his dress.

According to the Press, Queen Camilla asked for help with her cloak as she entered Westminster Abbey

The cheeky royal, known for his hilarious grimaces at royal events, also attended the coronation process

To which William said, “Yes, it’s trapped.” Prince William then smiles at Kate as they enter, before she says: “Take care of your dress.”

The Prince of Wales replied: “Don’t worry, I got it.”

They then smiled at each other and entered the abbey, ready to attend the first coronation in 70 years.

Kate and William then watched as Charles and Camilla were crowned King and Queen of our country.

Meanwhile, the press revealed what they believe Prince Harry said to Princess Eugenie’s husband Jack Brooksbank during an exchange at Westminster Abbey.

The press said the conversation appeared light-hearted as they awaited the start of the historic occasion where Harry may have spoken about an event on Sunday.

She claimed the prince, who is alone at the service without the Duchess of Sussex or their two children Archie and Lilibet, smiled at Mr Brooksbank and said: “That’s funny, mmm interesting.”

In response to an unidentified question from Mr Brooksbank, Prince Harry said: “Around a quarter to four?”

Mr Brooksbank then replied, “Oh really, when?” to which the duke replied, “I think tomorrow…”

She claimed the prince, who is alone at the service without the Duchess of Sussex or their two children Archie and Lilibet, smiled at Mr Brooksbank and said: “That’s funny, mmm interesting.”

Prince Harry was seen chatting to Jack Brooksbank as he entered the Abbey; Lip reader Jacqui Press told Web the couple had a lighthearted conversation

Earlier, Prince Harry, who chatted with both Prince Edward and Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi on his way in, addressed the well-wishers and the community, saying: “Morning, morning, how are you?”

One person in the crowd said to him: “You look smart,” Press said – referring to the moment the prince walked into the abbey in a suit and boots for his father’s coronation.

The Duke of Sussex sat between Princess Eugenie’s husband, Jack Brooksbank, and Princess Alexandra, the late Queen’s cousin, who has not worked as a royal for ten years.

They were joined by Prince Andrew’s daughters Eugenie, 33, and Beatrice, 34, and her husband Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi.

As the ceremony began, the bishop said to the children holding King Charles’ dress: “Stop! Wait there” before holding up his hands.

During the service, William had a healing exchange with his newly crowned father.

Queen Camilla sits on the throne as she is crowned in the first coronation in 70 years

Queen Camilla was pictured walking in Westminster Abbey with the crown on her head while King Charles sat in the chair

Here the Princess of Wales is speaking to Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis at the Abbey

The Prince of Wales bent down to kiss his father on the cheek and King Charles then simply said: “Thank you, William.”

Many viewers around the world witnessed not only a heartwarming moment between father and son, but also a touching moment between the newly crowned King of the United Kingdom and our future monarch.

Later, after the service, Charles said “thank you” to the faith leaders as he walked out of the Abbey.

As he pondered the service, the king turned to the bishop and said, “It was wonderful.”

The royal family left Westminster Abbey for Buckingham Palace, where King Charles and Queen Camilla appeared on the balcony as the country’s newly crowned sovereigns.

But it seems that King Charles was concerned about going too close to the edge of the balcony, as he is said to have said, “I don’t want to get too close… I might be startled!”

Then he said to his wife Camilla: “Be careful, come closer”.

The King and Queen commented on how lovely it was to see everyone and Camilla said: “Oh look how wonderful that is. Remarkable.’

Charles then asked, “Is everyone here?” before the Prince and Princess of Wales took to the balcony with their three children. George, Charlotte and Louis.

Queen Camilla then smiled and said, “That’s so beautiful,” before looking up and holding out her hand.

According to the Press, Camilla added, “Ohhh, rain,” before pausing and trying to tilt her head up, but she couldn’t as her head was weighted down by the crown.

As Kate was on the balcony to watch the pass, she said to William, “It’s raining,” and the king responded with a disappointed sigh.

Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh also jokingly told Kate, “Where’s George?” as they lead the children onto the platform.

Kate laughed and then replied: “Oh yes!” At this point George is not in front of them but was standing next to William. Prince William smiled and then said, “Oh yes!”

The pair traveled back in the rather bumpy Gold State Coach, which previous monarchs have described as uncomfortable

The King and Queen commented on how lovely it was to see everyone and Camilla said: “Oh look how wonderful that is. Remarkable’

Prince Louis once again stole the show as the royal family watched a flyby from the balcony of Buckingham Palace

The cheeky prince was back on the balcony with his hilarious facial expression as his mother laughed

According to Press, as the Red Arrows flew by, William said to his children, “Look boys, please.”

A boy then said, “It’s loud!” to which Prince George then smiled and agreed, “Yes!”

As they walked into Buckingham Palace from the balcony, the press claimed that William said to Prince Louis, “Yes, wink!”

King Charles then waved to the crowd below and said, “Thank you everyone, thank you very much.”

Then he exclaimed, ‘Look at everyone here.’

Upon the Red Arrows’ arrival, Camilla said, “Oh look, they’re coming.”

As the helicopters fly by, King Charles said, “It feels wonderfully shaky and almost makes it shake,” although it’s not clear what the king is referring to.

As they bid farewell to the public, Charles said, “Thanks everyone, thanks for coming,” while waving.

Queen Camilla said, “Bye! So beautiful” before you go inside.

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LONDON – After the longest wait ever, King Charles III. finally in his coronation chair over the Stone of Destiny while a heavy golden crown was placed on him in Westminster Abbey, bells rang and the people cried, “God save the King!”

It was a world-broadcast spectacle that blended medieval and modern, paying homage to ancient rites to be inclusive and diverse, and somehow rich in pomp and trimmed down at the same time.

That was all asking a lot.

The BBC’s commentators have been ebullient, but they always deal with historical royal moments. We’ll see what ordinary Brits think. Many, especially the youth, are indifferent to constitutional monarchy, and a golden carriage is difficult to reconcile with a cost-of-living crisis.

The coronation of King Charles III: Unforgettable moments in photos and videos

It was a rainy, spongy day, the sky was fish belly gray and crowds along the parade route held umbrellas over their heads or were wrapped in clear plastic as they joined in a “tribute to the people” and together their pledged allegiance to the new king .

A planned flyby of 60 aircraft was scaled back “due to unsuitable weather conditions,” the Department of Defense said. Instead there were a few helicopters and the Royal Air Force’s aerobatic team known as the “Red Arrows”.

At Westminster Abbey, the scene of every coronation since 1066, the new king swore he had come “to serve, not to be served”. But then he was served – a lot.

Items of arcane but priceless insignia were handed to him: orb, swords, ring, gauntlets, scepter, spurs. Many golden things presented by many people. The newspapers were obsessive in their detailed descriptions of each article.

The service was shortened from three hours in 1953 to two hours. Even so, it was very ecclesiastical, which may have surprised some tuned in to the pomp. It was about Karl, but also a lot about Jesus. At this performance, Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby had more speeches than the new king.

But Charles was involved in everything, playing both the lead actor and the director. At his urging, his role as Supreme Governor of the Church of England and Protector of the Faith was explained as one that he wished to “promote an environment in which people of all faiths and beliefs can live freely”. Representatives from the Jewish, Sunni and Shia Muslim, Sikh, Buddhist, Hindu, Jain, Baha’i and Zoroastrian communities were there to honor him.

The service also featured great music – including a moving prayer sung in Welsh for the first time and a new composition by Andrew Lloyd Webber entitled Make a Joyful Noise.

Prince Harry, fifth in line to the throne, was a guest and sat in the third row. At one point, his face was obscured by the red plumage on his aunt Princess Anne’s tricorne hat. His wife Meghan stayed in California. Shortly after the service, the tabloids reported that he returned there too — seemingly without a resolution to his ongoing feud with his father.

Prince Harry, solo, stayed on the sidelines at the coronation

His brother, Prince William, the heir, played a prominent role. He knelt before the king and in a “homage to royal blood” pledged his allegiance “as your liege man for life and limb”. Then he got up and kissed his father on the cheek. That was a tender moment.

Charles, 74, often looks red and dashing in his blue Savile Row pinstriped suits. Here he was clad in heavy silk robes, trying not to topple a heavy crown, and had to march stiffly down the aisle, holding two scepters.

He looked depressed. The Times of London wrote: “King Charles looked stilted and anxious – majestic if not cheerful.”

He was grandfatherly, his eyebrows bushy in an old man’s manner. He is not a young male king ready for battle. But Britain could hope that he will be a wise and sensible king in his golden years.

His wife, Queen Camilla, was also anointed and crowned, but this part of the service lasted only a few minutes and seemed rushed, an encore.

The coronation celebrates Queen Camilla and a long-maligned romance

She appeared very human, fiddling with the crown after it was placed on her head as if she were unaccustomed to such a headdress.

The royal children looked cute, yawning and distracted.

Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis, the youngest children of William and Kate, the Prince and Princess of Wales, were photographed holding hands behind their parents at the Abbey.

The first coronation to be televised was for Queen Elizabeth II in 1953. Hers was in gritty black and white on the BBC. The 2023 coronation for Charles was for a high-definition monarchy. The colors were sharp, the red tunics redder and the blue dress of the Windsor Gray horses popped.

Many viewers in central London watched the show on big screens or in pubs.

Danielle Lacey, 30, a tram driver from Manchester, arrived early Saturday morning. But at the time, access to the Mall — the main street leading from Buckingham Palace — was closed, so she headed to a nearby park with a screen.

It was unsurprisingly positive about the monarchy. The royals “bring in a lot of tourists. Most people like the royals. We’re one of the old countries that has kings and queens,” she said.

She was more reserved towards the king. “I know not many people like Charles,” she admitted. “I neither love him nor hate him. He’s trying to save the planet, so that’s a good thing, isn’t it?”

The “Not My King” protesters were out to get their message across – they want to abolish the monarchy and replace the king with an elected head of state. Their numbers were small compared to the crowds celebrating the monarchy there, but several hundred marched.

“Down with the crown! Down with the crown!” they shouted while holding up bright yellow signs.

Among them was Amber Dowell, 40, who works for a charity. “Hereditary monarchy is essentially a celebration of wealth and privilege. Personally, I don’t think anyone is born better than anyone else,” she said. “My hope is that he will be the last king.”

‘Not My King’ protesters arrested by London police during the coronation

But despite growing apathy, many doubt that much will change during Charles’ reign.

The monarchy is going nowhere, said Philip Tiwome, 43, an engineer from London, who was walking near the palace with his 5-year-old daughter on his shoulders. “It’s so ingrained in our DNA that it’s not going to go away overnight as long as they stand for what the Queen stood for, her faith in Christ, she was very religious.”

The coronation process from the Abbey back to Buckingham Palace was the most celebrated moment.

It was the largest military procession since the last coronation 70 years ago, and the route was filled shoulder to shoulder with marching bands, horses and marching soldiers in scarlet tunics and bearskin hats.

The king and queen rode in the golden state carriage, covered in gold leaf from the wheel spoke to the carriage roof. Past monarchs have complained that it is a bumpy ride, like a ship in rough seas.

Behind protective glass, the queen wagged her fingers as she waved. Charles smiled too.