King Charles crowned in once-in-a-generation ceremony
King Charles III was crowned Saturday in a once-in-a-generation coronation spectacle – but the historic occasion was marred by family drama.
Amid the excitement, pomp and ceremony, the Westminster Abbey service marked the first time that rogue royal Prince Harry, 38, came face-to-face with his dad, 74, since the release of his protocol-shattering memoir, “Spare.”
It’s also the first time Harry saw his estranged brother Prince William and his wife, Kate Middleton, 41, and their kids — Prince Louis, 5, Princess Charlotte, 8, and Prince George, 9.
But while the Prince of Wales and his family had the front-row seats reserved for full-time working royals, Harry was demoted to the third row with Jack Brooksbank, the husband of his cousin Princess Eugenie, and Princess Alexandra, a cousin of his late grandmother Queen Elizabeth II.
Meanwhile, scandal-scarred Prince Andrew, 63, who has been tied to late pedophile Jeffrey Epstein, was booed as he traveled through London to attend the service.
As non-working royals, neither Harry nor Andrew played any official role in the coronation service — and neither will take part in the joyous procession back to the palace.
But while Andrew was permitted to wear his formal garter robes to the ceremony, the Duke of Sussex, accompanying Andrew’s daughters Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie, arrived at the Abbey in civilian dress — not his cherished military uniform.
Charles and Queen Camilla in the Diamond Jubilee State Coach for the King’s Procession. WPA Pool/Shutterstock
Charles and Camilla traveled to the ceremony in the Diamond Jubilee Coach. Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images
Thousands of spectators lined the streets of London under gray, misty skies and cheered for their new king. AFP via Getty Images
Charles arriving at Westminster Abbey with his pages — including Prince George. Photo by Dan Charity – WPA Pool/Getty Images
King Charles III was coronated in a once-in-a-generation ceremony inside Westminster Abbey. Getty Images
Camilla arriving at Westminster Abbey. Photo by Dan Charity – WPA Pool/Getty Images
Prince William along with his wife, Kate Middleton, and their kids — Prince Louis, and Princess Charlotte. Getty Images
Louis and Charlotte entering Westminster Abbey with their parents. WPA Pool/Shutterstock
Prince Harry arrived to his father’s coronation alone dressed in his morning suit. POOL/AFP via Getty Images
His morning suit was spiffed up with a line of medals.
He walked up the aisle to his seat alone, as wife Meghan Markle, 41, remained thousands of miles away in California with their kids, Archie — who turns 4 Saturday — and Lilibet Diana, 1.
Spectators criticized the new king’s willingness to include his straying son in his momentous day.
“Harry should not be here. He’s been very disloyal to the royal family,” Jaquie Cullen of Liverpool told The Post.
Harry seated away from the rest of his family. Photo by RICHARD POHLE/POOL/AFP via Getty Images
Prince Andrew was seen in wearing the formal garter robes to the ceremony, while his nephew was barred from. AP
“I was a big fan of Harry before Meghan came around. He was a good, cheeky kid,” agreed Bernie Cullen, Jaquie’s husband. “I think Meghan is very controlling.”
Mal Hill of Manchester said she was “not too happy about Harry attending.”
“I think he’s not stuck to the code,” she scoffed. “If he had something to say he should’ve said it to the family.”
But they were more forgiving of the presence of Prince Andrew, the king’s disgraced brother, who was infamously stripped of his royal and military honors amid his sex abuse lawsuit with Jeffrey Epstein accuser Virginia Roberts Giuffre in Jan. 2022.
Andrew was allowed to wear his formal garter robes. Phil Harris/Pool Photo via AP
“Harry scarred the British spirit more than Andrew,” Jaquie Cullen argued.
“Because against Andrew are only allegations but Harry has done the unforgivable.”
“Harry should not be here,” Cullen’s husband, Bernie, added.
“He’s been very disloyal to the royal family and I just don’t see why he needs to be here today. You just don’t air out your dirty laundry in public at all. He’s been so against his family, I don’t think he should be here.”
The procession entering Westminster Abbey. Photo by RICHARD POHLE/POOL/AFP via Getty Images
Members of the Royal Family in their seats for the coronation. Yui Mok, Pool via AP
The Duke of York and Giuffre reached a settlement in the case in February 2022. Andrew admitted no wrongdoing but wrote in a letter that he regretted his association with Epstein, who Giuffre claims trafficked him to the royal and other rich and powerful men.
In the day’s most pivotal moment, the new monarch, robed in golden priest-like garb, took his seat in a 700-year-old piece of furniture: the magnificent Coronation Chair.
The throne was built in 1300 for Edward I when he added Scotland to his realm.
Charles was seated in the centuries old Coronation Chair. Photo by Jonathan Brady – WPA Pool/Getty Images
Charles and Camilla seated for the coronation. Photo by Yui Mok – WPA Pool/Getty Images
It encloses the legendary Stone of Scone – dramatically dubbed the Stone of Destiny by some – which served as a coronation seat for generations of Scottish kings.
Charles sat stoically as he received a succession of symbolic objects: swords, scepters, and the Sovereign’s Orb, all fabulously bejeweled and representing his mercy, justice and power.
Finally, Justin Welby, Archbishop of Canterbury, placed the heavy, centuries-old St. Edward’s Crown on Charles’s head to signify his coronation.
The St. Edward’s Crown being brought into the ceremony. AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth, Pool
The Archbishop of Canterbury the Most Reverend Justin Welby crowning Charles. Aaron Chown/Pool via REUTERS
Charles with the crown and royal sceptres. Andrew Matthews/Pool via AP
The monarch appeared to buckle slightly under crown’s nearly five pounds of solid gold and jewels, but he quickly straightened as he stared ahead with moist, emotional eyes.
Moments later, Prince William knelt before his father as heir to the throne and swore his loyalty, pledging to serve as Charles’s “liege man of life and limb” – the same promise made by his grandfather Prince Philip to Elizabeth II, his wife, during her coronation in 1953.
The Prince of Wales gently touched the crown that he may one day wear himself, then bent to kiss his dad’s cheek.
Prince William kissing his father after he was crowned. Photo by YUI MOK/POOL/AFP via Getty Images
Queen Camilla is crowned by Archbishop of Canterbury. Photo by Richard Pohle – WPA Pool/Getty Images
Camilla wearing the Queen Mary’s Crown. Photo by Jonathan Brady – WPA Pool/Getty Images
To complete the family circle, Camilla was anointed with holy oil and Queen Mary’s Crown was placed on her head – flashing a grin to the crowd and giving a whisper of a wink to her husband.
The coronation festivities began at 10:20 am local time as a military band played “God Save the King” for Charles and his wife, Queen Camilla, as they left Buckingham Palace in the Diamond Jubilee State Coach, both arrayed in formal white Robes of State.
Moments earlier, the Royal Family’s website ditched the “Queen Consort” title that it had previously used for Camilla – referring to her for the first time as “The Queen.”
Prince Louis looking out the window after departing the coronation. Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images
Charles and Camilla leaving Westminster Abbey. AP Photo/Steve Luciano
“Her Majesty The Queen (formerly HRH The Duchess of Cornwall) supports her husband, formerly The Prince of Wales, now His Majesty The King, in carrying out his work and duties,” the website now reads.
Thousands of spectators lined the streets of London, braving the rainy weather, and cheered for their new king.
Charles formally took the throne eight months after the 70-year reign of his mother Queen Elizabeth II ended with her death in September.
He is the 40th monarch to be crowned in Westminster Abbey since it was established in the 11th century as the home of the nation’s most solemn ceremonies.
Prince George, 9, now second in line to the throne, served his grandfather as a page and followed Charles into the church as a choir sang a greeting.
Source: New York Post
