Viewers across the world tuned in to watch King Charles III be officially crowned as leader of the United Kingdom in a centuries-old ceremony at Westminster Abbey on Saturday.
The coronations of both King Charles III and Queen Consort Camilla took place on May 6.
Queen Elizabeth II, Charles’ mother and predecessor, died last September after reigning over the UK and its Commonwealth realms for seven decades.
While her son Charles and his wife Camilla immediately took on their respective royal duties, Saturday’s coronation ceremony made it official.
The ritual has taken place in Westminster Abbey since William the Conqueror was crowned in 1066, despite the role of the monarchy having greatly changed in the intervening thousand years.
Today the monarchy has no real political authority but still represents the head of state in the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth realms, which include Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and the Bahamas.
In some countries, the monarch — or a representative known as a governor-general — continues to grant formal approval over new governments and legislation in a symbolic manner.
Given the scope of the British monarchy’s influence, Saturday’s coronation service was televised and streamed for spectators around the world.
The program included a service performed by the archbishop of Canterbury, several grand processions, a concert featuring artists Katy Perry and Lionel Richie, as well as various community volunteer events.
Over 2,000 invitees filled Westminster Abbey in London to watch the coronation.
Alongside members of the royal family, world leaders like French President Emmanuel Macron and celebrities like Oscar-winner Judi Dench were in attendance.
King Charles wore crimson, cream velvet, ermine-trimmed robes as he swore on a Bible that he is a “true Protestant,” as is tradition, according to AP News.
Since 1507, British monarchs have carried the title of “defender of the faith.”
In line with his aim to modernize the monarchy, King Charles previously explained that to him the title signifies “the duty to protect the diversity of our country, including by protecting the space for Faith itself and its practise through the religions, cultures, traditions and beliefs to which our hearts and minds direct us as individuals,” according to Euro News.
As such, representatives of several religions took part in the coronation ceremony. A new preface was also added to the coronation oath promising that the Anglican church “will seek to foster an environment where people of all faiths and beliefs may live freely,” according to AP News.
The rest of the coronation ceremony went unaltered, apart from a noticeable difference in size compared to Queen Elizabeth II’s coronation in 1953. King Charles’ coronation service and procession route were briefer and included fewer people.
King Charles was anointed with oil from the Mount of Olives in the Holy Land with the coronation spoon. Then he was presented with the sovereign’s orb, scepters, and other medieval regalia.
The archbishop’s placing of the five-pound St. Edward’s Crown on King Charles’ head wrapped up his coronation ritual.
While estimated to have cost tens of millions of dollars, the coronation events on Saturday were toned down as part of King Charles’ professed aim to slim down the expense to taxpayers, according to AP News.
Anti-monarchy protestors did appear at the coronation event but they were dispersed by police, and 52 were arrested.
