Many of the guests, including top British officials, faith leaders and international representatives, were expected to take their seats more than an hour before the ceremony started – reflecting the huge logistical challenges presented by an event attended by hundreds of VIPs.

local time and quickly started to fill up.

The doors to the abbey opened just before 8 a.m. The congregation, while including some 2,300 people, was much smaller than it was in 1953 when temporary structures had to be erected within the abbey to accommodate the more than 8,000 people on the guest list. What do we know about Britain's new Queen? (Photo by Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images) Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty ImagesĬamilla, King Charles' longtime love, has a divisive history. In the face of such criticism, the Church of England revised the text of the liturgy so that members of the public would be given a choice between saying simply “God save King Charles” or reciting the full pledge of allegiance.ĪSCOT, UNITED KINGDOM - JULY 23: (EMBARGOED FOR PUBLICATION IN UK NEWSPAPERS UNTIL 24 HOURS AFTER CREATE DATE AND TIME) Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall attends the QIPCO King George Diamond Day, where she presented the prizes to the winners of The King George VI and Queen Elizabeth QIPCO Stakes, at Ascot Racecourse on Jin Ascot, England. Then, for the first time in coronation history, the archbishop invited the British public, as well as those from “other Realms,” to recite a pledge of allegiance to the newly crowned monarch and his “heirs and successors.”Īhead of the event, some parts of the British media and public interpreted the invitation as a command, reporting that people had been “asked” and “called” to swear allegiance to the King. He was also presented with the coronation regalia, including the royal Robe and Stole, in what is known as the investiture part of the service. In what is considered the most sacred part of the ceremony, the King was anointed with holy oil by the Archbishop of Canterbury. In his prayer he asked to “be a blessing” to people “of every faith and conviction.” The King took the Coronation Oath and became the first monarch to pray aloud at his coronation.

A little princess illustrated edition