By Prior Beharry
BEFORE 2,300 guests at Westminster Abbey and millions watching around the world, King Charles III and his wife Camilla are crowned in London on Saturday.
“I come not to be served, but to serve,” the King said in his first prayer in a very religious and historic ceremony.
“God Save the King,” the congregation shouted as Charles was proclaimed “undoubted King.”
The royal regalia or orb and sceptre were part of the ceremony and were taken in the Diamond Jubilee State Coach as Charles and Camille made their way along the Mall to Buckingham Palace after the ceremony. Thousands line the streets in honour along with more than 4,000 in the armed forces who took part in this regal event.
In a sacrosanct part of the service, the King was shielded by anointing screens while choristers sang Handel’s Zadok the Priest. This has been performed at every coronation since 1727.
Next in line to the throne, Prince William pledged his loyalty to King Charles and in a touching gesture, kissed his father on the cheek.
Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex, sat two rows behind his brother Prince William. It was the first time they were seen in public since Harry’s controversial memoir Spare.
After the ceremony, the King and Queen went onto the balcony of Buckingham Palace, as so many royals before them, and waved to the thousands of people who had braved the traditional English weather to glimpse the Windsors. On the balcony were only working royals so Harry was not invited. The BBC reported that he left for the US soon after the ceremony.
This was the first coronation in England in 70 years since that of Queen Elizabeth II.
Among the guests at Westminster Abbey were UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, US First Lady Jill Biden with her granddaughter Finnegan, French President Emmanuel Macron, First Lady of Ukraine Olena Zelenska, actress Emma Thompson and US popstar Katy Perry.
Ninety heads of state were in attendance, the Foreign Office stated.
In Trinidad and Tobago, the British High Commission in Port of Spain had a display to commemorate the coronation. Florist and owner of La Tropicale Flower Shop Bernard Beckles put the tribute together. It was his last piece of work as he passed away on Wednesday.
British High Commissioner Harriet Cross said that Beckles was a huge fan of the Royal Family. She expressed her condolences to his family as he died the day after he put the tribute together.
She said the display featured “Trini vibes,” King Charles favourite flowers Delphinium and a crown.
Cross described the coronation as “an incredible event” as the majority of the people now alive in the UK would have not witnessed one.
She said she would be at her official residence watching the coronation and raising a cup of tea to King Charles on Saturday.
