The Nepal Weekly 
May 9, 2023
King Charles III of the United Kingdom was crowned Saturday at Westminster Abbey, in a ceremony based on ancient traditions. The coronation of the septuagenarian Charles was held at a time when the British monarchy faces an uncertain future. Trumpets shouted inside the medieval abbey “God save King Charles” as the ceremony commenced in front of over 2,000 guests, including world leaders, high government officials and celebrities. Outside, thousands of troops, tens of thousands of people and a smattering of protesters converged along a route that the king traveled from Buckingham Palace in a well decorated horse-drawn carriage.
It was the final step of a seven-decade journey for Charles from heir to monarch. To the royal family and government, the occasion — code-named Operation Golden Orb — is a display of heritage, tradition and spectacle unmatched around the world.
The celebrations was expected to be watched by millions as the grand event was live telecast. Some protestors had gathered outside the venue to show their dissatisfaction. Republican protesters gathered outside to holler “ Not my king ” for a celebration of an institution they say stands for privilege and inequality, in a country of deepening poverty and fraying social ties. Some of them were also arrested.
As guests arrived, the church buzzed with excitement and was abloom with fragrance of flowers and colorful hats. Among them were U.S. First Lady Jill Biden, French President Emmanuel Macron, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, eight current and former British prime ministers as well as Judi Dench, Emma Thompson and Lionel Richie.
Thousands of people from across the U.K. and around the world camped overnight along a 2 kilometre route that the king and his spouse, Camilla, travelled to reach the abbey. King Charles III and Queen Camilla took Holy Communion as their coronation ceremony at Westminster Abbey neared its end.
Justin Welby, the Archbishop of Canterbury, led the congregation in saying the Lord’s Prayer, and the choir sang as the royal couple were presented with bread and wine. “May thy servant Camilla, who wears this crown, be filled by thane abundant grace and with all princely virtues; reign in her heart, O King of love, that, being certain of thy protection, she may be crowned with thy gracious favour; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen,” the Archbishop of Canterbury said as he placed the crown on Camilla’s head.
Camilla’s title is not changing after coronation. Since her husband became king, she assumed the title Queen Consort Camilla. However Queen Camilla will do. It’s nicely alliterative and the “consort” part is understood.
“Stand firm, and hold fast from henceforth this seat of royal dignity, which is yours by the authority of Almighty God. May that same God, whose throne endures forever, establish your throne in righteousness, that it may stand fast for evermore,” the Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby said as he placed the crown on Charles’ head.
The king’s sceptre with a cross “represents the sovereign’s temporal power,” according to Buckingham Palace, and consists of the Cullinan I diamond set by a heart-shaped gold enamel. Camilla’s corresponding cross scepter is pared down with crystals instead of diamonds, with a cross sitting on the top.
The dove sceptre, which is also named “The Rod of Equity and Mercy,” is representative of Charles’ spiritual duties with the dove signifying the Holy Ghost. Camilla’s dove rod will be made of ivory with a dove sitting atop a golden globe.
King Charles’ orb, which weighs almost 3 pounds, and was made in the 17th century. The crown jewel represents the king’s power while representing the Christian world as a cross sits atop the sphere. The orb is placed in King Charles’ right hand before its placed at the altar.
Charles wears two crowns during the ceremony: St. Edward’s crown and the Imperial State Crown. The former crown is used for ceremony purposes before being switched out for the Imperial Crown, or Tudor Crown, for the procession back to Buckingham Palace. Camilla wore Queen Mary’s Crown. Charles was presented the Holy Bible from the Right Reverend Dr Iain Greenshields. The king then swore on the bible to uphold laws governed by the Church of England.
In an innovation that reflects the changed religious landscape in Britain, the king for the first time prayed for grace to be “a blessing to all of every faith and belief.” Charles ceremoniously took the “coronation oath” over the bible “to govern the Peoples of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, your other Realms and the Territories to any of them belonging or pertaining.”
As he placed his hand on the bible, Charles said, “The things which I have here before promised, I will perform and keep. So help me God.” He then kissed the bible as the Archbishop of Canterbury said, “Your Majesty, are you willing to make, subscribe, and declare to the statutory Accession Declaration Oath?” “I am willing,” Charles responded. “I Charles do solemnly and sincerely in the presence of God profess, testify, and declare that I am a faithful Protestant, and that I will, according to the true intent of the enactments which secure the Protestant succession to the Throne, uphold and maintain the said enactments to the best of my powers according to law.” Charles proceeded to stand next to the coronation chair during the Archbishop of Canterbury’s recognition. Throughout the ceremony, the monarch faced all compass directions to symbolize his place in the world. “I here present unto you King Charles, your undoubted King: Wherefore all you who are come this day to do your homage and service, are you willing to do the same?” the Archbishop asked the clergy. “God save King Charles,” all responded.
