King Charles III and Queen Camilla will mark the one-year anniversary of their coronation on May 6, following a year of royal highs and lows.
Charles became the 40th reigning monarch to be crowned in a service at Westminster Abbey last year, witnessed by a congregation of world leaders, monarchs and members of the extended royal family.
The day was met with rain showers which caused the royal flypast by planes and helicopters belonging to the armed forces to be partially abandoned. The weather didn’t dampen spirits on the day though, with rain said to be a symbol of good luck for the reign of the new sovereign.
Alongside Charles, Camilla became the first queen consort to be crowned for more than 70 years, receiving royal regalia and the crown made for the king’s great-grandmother, Queen Mary in 1911.
Here, Newsweek looks at King Charles’ coronation in photos, from its abbey setting to gold state coach procession.
Westminster Abbey
The coronation service took place at Westminster Abbey, the site of such ceremonies dating back to the year 1066.
Coronation Guests
Among the guests attending the coronation were members of the king’s extended family and friends. These included among them his younger son, Prince Harry. The prince attended without his wife, Meghan Markle, who remained at home in California with the couple’s children.
Protests
The day was met with a healthy anti-monarchy protest presence, with hundreds gathering along the processional route between Buckingham Palace and Westminster Abbey to voice their opposition to the constitutional monarchy.
The Wales Family
Prince William and Princess Kate arrived at Westminster Abbey with Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis. Their eldest son, Prince George, served as a Page of Honor for the king.
Arrival of the King and Queen
The king and queen’s arrival at the abbey was marked with a procession down the aisle to the high altar, known for the occasion as the “coronation theatre.” Camilla wore the red robe of Queen Elizabeth II held by her grandsons and great-nephew. Charles wore the purple robe of his grandfather, King George VI, which was held by George and other similarly aged boys connected with the monarch.
Crowning
Charles was finally crowned by the Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby at the pinnacle of the coronation service. The king was crowned using what is known as the “St. Edward’s Crown,” which has been used by every monarch since 1661.
Homage of the Prince of Wales
As part of the coronation service, William paid homage to his father as his heir and Prince of Wales.
Approaching the king he said: “I, William, Prince of Wales, pledge my loyalty to you, and faith and truth I will bear unto you, as your liege man of life and limb. So help me God.”
Queen Camilla
Camilla became the first queen consort to be crowned since Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother, consort to King George VI, in 1937.
The royal was crowned using Queen Mary’s diamond crown which had been altered to fit her by the crown jeweler.
Carriage Procession
After the coronation service itself, the king and queen took part in one of the largest military processions ever staged in Britain, the centerpiece of which was the historic Gold State Coach built in 1762.
Sovereign’s Salute
When they arrived at Buckingham Palace, Charles and Camilla made their way to the west terrace where the members of the armed forces on parade in the procession gathered in the gardens to offer a salute to the new sovereign.
Balcony Appearance
Members of the royal family and the pages of honor joined the king and queen on the palace’s balcony for the reduced military flypast owing to the weather, with the king waving to the massed crowds who had gathered to see him.
Royal Family Portrait
An official coronation portrait sitting took place after the balcony appearance, marking an ending to the ceremonial aspects of the day.
The portraits were taken by photographer Hugo Burnand, who had taken the king and queen’s wedding images in 2005.
The working members of the royal family gathered for a group photograph which was released to the public.
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