The Coronation as it happens, with live updates and video steam from the Breitbart London team.
Update 1300: Procession getting underway
The religious service is over. The King and Queen will now return to Buckingham Palace in the State Gold Coach — which really must be seen to be believed. Weighing four tonnes, it was built in 1762. Of course, it isn’t made of solid gold, but rather is built of wood with gold leaf applied. Look out for the involvement of thousands of sailors, soldiers, and airmen not just from the British armed forces but from around the Commonwealth of Nations.
LONDON, ENGLAND – MAY 06: The Gold State Coach built in 1760 used at every Coronation since that of William IV in 1831 set off ready from Westminster Abbey on route to Buckingham Palace during the Coronation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla on May 06, 2023 in London, England. The Coronation of Charles III and his wife, Camilla, as King and Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and the other Commonwealth realms takes place at Westminster Abbey today. Charles acceded to the throne on 8 September 2022, upon the death of his mother, Elizabeth II. (Photo by Jeff Spicer/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND – MAY 06: The Coldstream Guards carry the Flags of the Commonwealth during the Coronation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla on May 06, 2023 in London, England. The Coronation of Charles III and his wife, Camilla, as King and Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and the other Commonwealth realms takes place at Westminster Abbey today. Charles acceded to the throne on 8 September 2022, upon the death of his mother, Elizabeth II. (Photo by Christopher Furlong/Getty Images)
LONDON – MAY 06: Mounted bands of the Household Cavalry, comprising the Life Guards and the Blues and Royals and led by two drum horses, crossing the parade at Buckingham Palace for the Coronation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla on May 6, 2023 in London, England. The Coronation of Charles III and his wife, Camilla, as King and Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and the other Commonwealth realms takes place at Westminster Abbey today. Charles acceded to the throne on 8 September 2022, upon the death of his mother, Elizabeth II. (Photo by Alex Juarez/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)
Update 1200: The King is Crowned
After the anointing of the King with holy oils and the presentation of symbolic items of leadership, the King was crowned by the Archbishop of Canterbury at Westminster Abbey. The main ceremonial moments are complete, what will follow now is the King taking Holy Communion.
LONDON, ENGLAND – MAY 06: King Charles III is crowned with St Edward’s Crown by The Archbishop of Canterbury the Most Reverend Justin Welby during his coronation ceremony in Westminster Abbey on May 6, 2023 in London, England. The Coronation of Charles III and his wife, Camilla, as King and Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and the other Commonwealth realms takes place at Westminster Abbey today. Charles acceded to the throne on 8 September 2022, upon the death of his mother, Elizabeth II. (Photo by Aaron Chown – WPA Pool/Getty Images)
Charles III Takes Coronation Oath on Holy Bible, Is Crowned Kinghttps://t.co/pGxt1HWQ0S
— Breitbart London (@BreitbartLondon) May 6, 2023
Update 1130: Not to be served, but to serve
That the King should model his reign on the life of Jesus Christ is the leitmotif of the service, with the statement that Jesus came to earth not to be served, but to serve, being frequently woven into the proclamations and oaths. Among the massive pomp and circumstance of the sheer scale of the ceremonial on display, it is easy to forget the Coronation is a fundamentally Christan service.
LONDON, ENGLAND – MAY 06: Camilla, Queen Consort and King Charles III enter Westminster Abbey during the Coronation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla on May 06, 2023 in London, England. The Coronation of Charles III and his wife, Camilla, as King and Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and the other Commonwealth realms takes place at Westminster Abbey today. Charles acceded to the throne on 8 September 2022, upon the death of his mother, Elizabeth II. (Photo by Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images)
Update 1100: Guests of the Coronation
A few interesting faces, as you might expect. Prince Harry, whose presence or not has been the subject of so much speculation in recent months entered the Abbey in procession with other Royals, but was conspicuous in walking in alone, while others entered with their partners. Prince Harry was also without much of the ceremonial regalia worn by others, given his withdrawal to the United States to spend time with his wife has seen his Royal appointments withdrawn.
No Sleepy Joe, But China Strongman Shows Up: The Leaders at King Charles’ Coronationhttps://t.co/24weDFg3TU
— Breitbart London (@BreitbartLondon) May 6, 2023
Nevertheless, Prince Harry was wearing his military medals. As a younger man he saw active service in Afghanistan as an attack helicoper pilot.
Wearing the uniform cap of the Welsh Guards, the Prince of Wales — the heir apparent to King Charles III and Prince Harry’s elder brother — was wearing the mantle of the Order of the Bath, in other words a large velvet cape.
LONDON, ENGLAND – MAY 06: Catherine, Princess of Wales and Prince William, Prince of Wales during the Coronation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla (Photo by Jeff Spicer/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND – MAY 06: Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex arrives arrives for the Coronation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla on May 6, 2023 in London, England. (Photo by Phil Noble – WPA Pool/Getty Images)
Update 1050: Royal Party arrives at Westminster Abbey
Here we go. The King has just arrived at Westminster Abbey, the ancient church in the heart of London which has hosted British coronations for around a thousand years. Not just that, interred in the vaults are a millennia of monarchs and notable British figures.
Around 2,000 invited guests have already taken their seats, including members of the Royal Family, senior members of the British aristocracy, some politicians, Prime Ministers of so-called Commonwealth realms — countries like Canada, Australia, and New Zealand which have the King as their head of state — and foreign leaders.
See more pictures at Breitbart London.
LONDON, ENGLAND – MAY 06: Britain’s King Charles and Queen Camilla travel in the Diamond Jubilee State Coach past the Admiralty Arch from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Abbey ahead of the Coronation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla on May 6, 2023 in London, England. The Coronation of Charles III and his wife, Camilla, as King and Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and the other Commonwealth realms takes place at Westminster Abbey today. Charles acceded to the throne on 8 September 2022, upon the death of his mother, Elizabeth II. (Photo by Piroschka van de Wouw – WPA Pool/Getty Images)
Update 1025: The King Leaves Buckingham Palace
Welcome to the Breitbart London live stream! King Charles III and Queen Camilla have just left Buckingham Palace in the Diamond Jubilee State Coach. Is it the newest coach in the Royal Mews.
Preceeded by mounted Guardsmen, the Royal party are following the processional route from Buckingham Palace down the historic avenue laid out from the gates of that great house to the centre of the British government, Westminster. Going under Admiralty Arch, the route then leads up Whitehall, which is flanked by government ministries. At the end is Parliament Square, flanked on one side by the Abbey.
Once there, the Coronation begins.
The Diamond Jubilee State Coach is drawn by six Windsor Greys: Icon, Shadow, Milford Haven, Echo, Knightsbridge and Tyrone.#Coronation pic.twitter.com/H0hBDllTDL
— Royal Central (@RoyalCentral) May 6, 2023
LONDON, ENGLAND – MAY 06: King Charles III travelling in the Diamond Jubilee Coach built in 2012 to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the reign of Queen Elizabeth II, flanked by over a thousand Armed Forces route liners and The Sovereign’s Escort of the Household Cavalry sets off along the Mall from Buckingham Palace on route to Westminster Abbey for the Coronation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla on May 06, 2023 in London, England. The Coronation of Charles III and his wife, Camilla, as King and Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and the other Commonwealth realms takes place at Westminster Abbey today. Charles acceded to the throne on 8 September 2022, upon the death of his mother, Elizabeth II. (Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images)