King Charles III has been crowned at London’s Westminster Abbey in a solemn Christian coronation ceremony, reflecting over 1,000 years of history and tradition while adapting to the contemporary landscape of 21st-century Britain.
The build-up to the ceremony, which serves as the religious confirmation of Charles’s accession following the death of his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, in September last year, has been predominantly celebratory. Central London was awash with red, white, and blue as thousands of people lined the streets, waving Union Jack flags in honor of King Charles III’s coronation.
King Charles III being crowned. pic.twitter.com/RbGLIi9sVq
— The Spectator Index (@spectatorindex) May 6, 2023
However, even before Charles, 74, and Queen Camilla, 75, departed Buckingham Palace in the Diamond Jubilee State Coach for the procession to the abbey amid rainy conditions, police arrested dozens of protesters. New powers were quickly introduced to suppress direct action groups.
The anti-monarchy movement Republic, which advocates for an elected head of state, reported that six of its organizers were detained. Meanwhile, climate activists from the Just Stop Oil group stated that 19 of their members were arrested.
