A handful were arrested.Īs the day began, the abbey buzzed with excitement and was abloom with fragrant flowers and colorful hats. Hundreds who want to see Britain become a republic gathered to holler “ Not my king.” They see the monarchy as an institution that stands for privilege and inequality, in a country of deepening poverty and fraying social ties. “But we’re ready to go back home and watch it all on the television,” she added.īut to millions more, the day was greeted with a shrug, the awe and reverence the ceremony was designed to evoke largely gone.Īnd to a few, it was reason to protest. Julie Newman, a 77-year-old visitor from Canada, said the royal procession had been “absolutely fabulous. To the crowds gathered under rainy skies - thousands of whom had camped overnight - it was a chance to be part of a historic event. To the royal family and government, the occasion - code-named Operation Golden Orb - was a display of heritage, tradition and spectacle unmatched around the world. It was the culmination of a seven-decade journey for the king from heir to monarch. Inside the medieval abbey, trumpets sounded, and the congregation of more than 2,000 shouted “God save the king!” Outside, thousands of troops, hundreds of thousands of spectators and scores of protesters converged. In front of world leaders, foreign royals, dignitaries and a smattering of stars, the monarch declared, “I come not to be served but to serve,” and was presented as Britain’s “undoubted king.” Edward’s Crown placed atop his head as he sat upon a 700-year-old oak chair. LONDON (AP) - King Charles III was crowned Saturday at Westminster Abbey, in a ceremony steeped in ancient ritual and brimming with bling at a time when the monarchy is striving to remain relevant in a fractured modern Britain.Īt a coronation with displays of royal power straight out of the Middle Ages, Charles was given an orb, a sword and scepter and had the solid gold, bejeweled St.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |