The Archbishop of Canterbury formally crowned King Charles III and his wife, Queen Camilla, in a once-in-a-generation royal event. King Charles III is Britain’s first new monarch in 70 years. He succeeded his mother Queen Elizabeth II, who passed away at the age of 96 on September 8, 2022.

Hundreds of high-profile guests and tens of thousands of well-wishers, who braved heavy rain, witnessed the royal event at Westminster Abbey.

Charles is not only the head of state of the United Kingdom and 14 other countries, but he also holds the position of Supreme Governor of the Church of England. The monarch’s constitution dictates that the heir ascends to the throne immediately upon the passing of their predecessor. Charles’s eldest son, Prince William, is now first in line to the throne. In January 2019, Prince Harry and Meghan, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, announced plans to scale back their royal duties. However, those plans do not include abdication, and they remain in the line of succession, as do their two children.

The Coronation Ceremony followed a traditional template that stretches back over a thousand years. However, media reports suggest that Charles’ ceremony was an hour shorter than Elizabeth II’s coronation in 1953. The highlight of the service was the moment when the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, placed the 360-year-old St. Edward’s Crown on Charles’ head.

The King and Queen Camilla departed from Westminster Abbey in a mile-long procession with 4,000 troops and 19 military bands. Members of the royal family, including Prince William and his wife, Catherine, Princess of Wales, travelled in carriages behind the monarch as part of the procession.