London, May 6, 2023 – In a momentous event at Westminster Abbey today, the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, bestowed the St. Edward’s Crown upon Charles III, marking a significant milestone in the coronation service.
As the crucial moment approached, Archbishop Welby uttered the words, “King of kings and Lord of lords, bless, we beseech thee, this Crown, and so sanctify thy servant Charles, upon whose head this day thou dost place it for a sign of royal majesty. May he be crowned with thy gracious favor and filled with abundant grace and all princely virtues, through him who liveth and reigneth supreme over all things, one God, world without end. Amen.”
Following the crowning, Archbishop Welby proclaimed, “God Save the King.”
Earlier in the ceremony, King Charles III had taken his Coronation oath, solidifying his commitment to his duties as the monarch.
Amidst the enchanting choral music, performed by the Choir of Westminster Abbey, King Charles and Queen Camilla made their way into the Abbey.
The captivating music was further enhanced by the melodious voices of the Choir of His Majesty’s Chapel Royal, St. James’ Palace; choristers from Methodist College, Belfast; the Choir of Truro Cathedral, and an octet from the Monteverdi Choir.
The coronation anthem, originally composed by Hubert Parry for the coronation of King Edward VII in 1902, resounded throughout the ceremony, as it has in all coronations since then.
Parry’s composition incorporated a series of “vivats” – traditional Latin acclamations for the new monarch – a unique feature rewritten for each coronation.
As King Charles neared Westminster Abbey, numerous senior members of the royal family had already taken their seats. Princess Anne, Prince Edward, and Prince Andrew, his siblings, were among the distinguished attendees.
Earlier, Queen Camilla’s family arrived at the Abbey, including her former husband Andrew Parker-Bowles, as well as her daughter Laura Lopes and son Tom Parker-Bowles.
In a slight departure from tradition, King Charles and Queen Camilla embarked on their procession to the ceremony in the Diamond Jubilee State Coach, drawn by six majestic Windsor Grey horses. Accompanying them on the 1.3-mile route were four divisions of the sovereign’s most trusted bodyguards, the Household Cavalry.
