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King Charles III is being crowned at Westminster Abbey in a ceremony built on ancient traditions, at a time when the monarchy faces an uncertain future.

More than 2000 guests, thousands of troops, tens of thousands of spectators and a smattering of protesters converged in and around the abbey as the king traveled from Buckingham Palace in a gilt-trimmed, horse-drawn carriage.

It was the final mile of a seven-decade journey for Charles from heir to monarch.

The ceremony will be filled with pomp and pageantry: There will be crowns and diamonds, soaring music, purple robes, magnificent hats -- and a rousing cheer of "God Save the King" inside the abbey and in the streets outside.

As guests arrived, the church buzzed with excitement and was abloom with fragrant flowers and colourful hats. Streaming into the abbey were celebrities, dignitaries and world leaders, including US First Lady Jill Biden, French President Emmanuel Macron, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, eight current and former British prime ministers as well as Judi Dench, Emma Thompson, Australian Nick Cave Lionel Richie.

Thousands of people from across the UK and around the world camped overnight along a two kilometre route. The crowds grew during morning, in intermittent rain, along the route, which the newly crowned King and Queen Camilla will take back to the palace, this time in a 261-year-old gilded carriage accompanied by 4000 troops, forming Britain's biggest military parade in 70 years.

To the royal family and government, the occasion -- code-named Operation Golden Orb -- is a display of heritage, tradition and spectacle unmatched around the world.

Dean of Westminster David Hoyle who will help lead the service, predicted it would be spectacular.

"I'm used to ceremony on a national level. Even I think this is pretty jaw-dropping," he said.

But to republican protesters who gathered to holler "Not my king," it's celebration of an institution that stands for privilege and inequality.

The anti-monarchy group Republic said six of its members, including its chief executive, were arrested as they arrived at the protest. Police have said they will have have a "low tolerance" for people seeking to disrupt the day, sparking criticism that they are clamping down on free speech.

For 1000 years and more, British monarchs have been crowned in grandiose ceremonies that confirm their right to rule.

These days, the king no longer has executive or political power, and the service is purely ceremonial since Charles automatically became king upon death of his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, in September.

The king remains the UK's head of state and a symbol of national identity -- and Charles will have to work to unite a multicultural nation at at time when reverence for the monarchy has been replaced, for many, with apathy.

Double-digit inflation is also making everyone in the UK poorer, raising questions about the cost of all the pomp.

Charles has sought to lead a smaller, less expensive royal machine for the 21st century. So this will be a shorter affair than Elizabeth's three-hour coronation.

Heir to the throne Prince William, his wife, Kate, and their three children were all in attendance. William's younger brother Prince Harry, who has publicly sparred with the family, arrived alone. His wife Meghan and their children remained at home in California.

Built around the theme "Called to Serve," the coronation service began with one of the youngest members of the congregation -- a boy chorister -- greeting the king. Charles will respond by saying, "I come not to be served but to serve."

© RAW 2023

King Charles III has been crowned in Britain's biggest ceremonial event for seven decades, a sumptuous display of pageantry dating back 1000 years.

In front of a congregation of about 100 world leaders and a television audience of millions, the Archbishop of Canterbury, the spiritual leader of the Anglican Church, slowly placed the 360-year-old St Edward's Crown on Charles' head as he sat upon a 14th-century throne in Westminster Abbey.

The historic and solemn event dates back to the time of the 74-year-old's predecessor William the Conqueror in 1066.

Charles' second wife Camilla, 75, will be crowned queen during the two-hour ceremony, which while rooted in history, is also an attempt to present a forward-looking monarchy, with those involved in the service reflecting a more diverse Britain and leaders from all faiths.

For a nation struggling to find its way in the political maelstrom after its exit from the European Union and maintain its standing in a new world order, its supporters say the royal family provides an international draw, a vital diplomatic tool and a means of staying on the world stage.

"No other country could put on such a dazzling display - the processions, the pageantry, the ceremonies, and street parties," Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said.

Despite Sunak's enthusiasm, the coronation takes place amid a cost of living crisis and public scepticism, particularly among the young, about the role and relevance of the monarchy.

Saturday's event was on a smaller scale than that staged for Queen Elizabeth in 1953, but still sought to be spectacular, featuring an array of historical regalia from golden orbs and bejewelled swords to a sceptre holding the world's largest colourless cut diamond.

Charles automatically succeeded his mother as king on her death last September, and the coronation is not essential but regarded as a means to legitimise the monarch in a public way.

The king and queen left Buckingham Palace for the abbey in the modern, black Diamond State Jubilee Coach accompanied by cavalrymen wearing shining breastplates and plumed helmets.

Hundreds of soldiers in scarlet uniforms and black bearskin hats lined the route along The Mall, the grand boulevard to Buckingham Palace. Tens of thousands ignored the light rain to mass in a crowd more than 20 deep in some places to watch what some saw as a moment of history.

However, not all were there to cheer Charles, hundreds of republicans booed and waved banners reading "Not My King".

More than 11,000 police were deployed to stamp out any attempted disruption, and the Republic campaign group said its leader Graham Smith had been arrested along with five other protesters.

Inside the abbey, bedecked with flowers and flags, politicians and representatives from Commonwealth nations took their seats alongside charity workers and celebrities, including actors Emma Thompson, Maggie Smith, Australian singer Nick Cave, Judi Dench and US singer Katy Perry.

Much of the ceremony featured elements that Charles' forebears right back to King Edgar in 973 would recognise, officials said. Handel's coronation anthem "Zadok The Priest" was sung as it has been at every coronation since 1727.

But there was also the new, including an anthem composed by Andrew Lloyd Webber, famed for his West End and Broadway theatre shows, and a gospel choir.

However, there was no formal role for either Charles' younger son Prince Harry, after his high-profile falling out with his family, or his brother Prince Andrew, who was forced to quit royal duties because of his friendship with late US financier Jeffrey Epstein, a convicted sex offender.

They sat in the third row behind working members of the royal family.

Charles looked serious as he swore oaths to govern justly and uphold the Church of England - of which he is the titular head - before the most sacred part of the ceremony when he was anointed on his hands, head and breast by Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby with holy oil consecrated in Jerusalem.

After being presented with symbolic regalia, Welby placed the St Edward's Crown on his head and the congregation cried out "God save the King".

© RAW 2023

King Charles III has been anointed and crowned in Britain's biggest ceremonial event for seven decades, a sumptuous display of pageantry dating back 1000 years.

In front of a congregation of about 100 world leaders and a television audience of millions, the Archbishop of Canterbury, the spiritual leader of the Anglican Church, slowly placed the 360-year-old St Edward's Crown on Charles' head as he sat upon a 14th-century throne in Westminster Abbey.

Gun salutes were fired at the Tower of London and across the capital, the nation, in Gibraltar, Bermuda and on ships at sea.

"God save King Charles. Long live King Charles. May the king live forever," the congregation at the abbey said after a trumpet fanfare.

The King appeared on the balcony of Buckingham Palace with his wife Queen Camilla, heir to the throne Prince William and other senior royals but Prince Harry, the monarch's younger son, was absent.

During the historic and solemn two-hour service, which dates back to the time of William the Conqueror in 1066, Charles' second wife Camilla was also crowned Queen.

While rooted in history, the ceremony - televised for only the second time - is also an attempt to present a forward-looking monarchy, with those involved reflecting a more diverse country and all its religions.

With the nation struggling to find its way in the political maelstrom after its exit from the European Union and maintain its standing in a new world order, the monarchy's supporters say the royal family provides an international draw, a vital diplomatic tool and a means of keeping Britain on the world stage.

The coronation took place amid a cost of living crisis and public scepticism, particularly among the young, about the role and relevance of the monarchy.

Saturday's event was on a smaller scale than that staged for Queen Elizabeth in 1953, but still sought to be spectacular, featuring an array of historical regalia from golden orbs and bejewelled swords to a sceptre holding the world's largest colourless cut diamond.

Charles, 74, automatically succeeded his mother as king on her death last September, and the coronation is not essential but regarded as a means to legitimise the monarch in a public way.

After the service, Charles and Camilla, 75, departed in the four-tonne Gold State Coach built for George III, the last king of Britain's American colonies, to ride to Buckingham Palace in a one-mile procession of 4000 military personnel from 39 nations, including the Australian Defence Force.

Meanwhile hundreds of soldiers in scarlet uniforms and black bearskin hats lined the route along The Mall, the grand boulevard leading to the palace, in what is the largest ceremonial event of its kind in Britain since the coronation of Charles' mother.

Inside the abbey, which was bedecked with flowers and flags, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese joined politicians and representatives from Commonwealth nations, who took their seats alongside charity workers and celebrities, including actors Emma Thompson, Maggie Smith, Judi Dench, Australian singer Nick Cave and US singer Katy Perry.

Charles looked solemn as he swore oaths to govern justly and uphold the Church of England - of which he is the titular head.

He was then hidden from watching eyes by a screen for the most sacred part of the ceremony when he was anointed on his hands, head and breast by Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby with holy oil consecrated in Jerusalem.

After being presented with symbolic regalia, Welby placed the St Edward's Crown on his head and the congregation cried out "God save the King".

His eldest son and heir Prince William, 40, then knelt before his father to pledge his loyalty as his "liege man of life and limb", both moments greeted by cheers from crowds outside.

Much of the ceremony featured elements that Charles' forebears right back to King Edgar in 973 would recognise, officials said. Handel's coronation anthem Zadok The Priest was sung as it has been at every coronation since 1727.

There was no formal role for either Charles' estranged younger son Prince Harry, or his scandal-plagued brother Prince Andrew, who sat in the third row behind working members of the royal family.

© RAW 2023