Coronation of King Charles III in Britain
Photo: REUTERS
It is said that £100m ($125m) was spent by the Windsors on today’s ceremony. But there was someone to splurge for: monarchs from all over the world gathered in Westminster Abbey to watch how a crown was put on Charles’s head and he became not Charles, but Charles. He invited all (physically) able-bodied royals, breaking a thousand-year-old British tradition of not inviting overseas princes and princesses to a purely national holiday. This sacrament is intimate, between the king, his people and God. But as they say, show-offs are more valuable than money, or whatever you can’t do for a glamorous party. Almost all European monarchs are distantly related. And therefore, the coronation of Charles took place among his own, consider, in a kindred way.
Japanese Princess Kiko
Photo: REUTERS
Among the guests were Princess Charlene of Monaco, Queen Letizia of Spain, Princess Kiko of Japan, Charles’ favorite American singer Katy Perry and British actors Emma Thompson and Stephen Fry. The wits in the comments were amazed: why didn’t they invite other national heroes – Harry Potter and James Bond?
The most interesting thing about this, although modernized, but still very archaic ceremony, is the women’s outfits, especially the dresses of royal people.
Princess Charlene of Monaco
Photo: REUTERS
The glamorous show was led by Princess Charlene of Monaco. She was wearing a light cream two-piece suit and a matching pillbox hat. She was accompanied by her husband, 64-year-old Prince Albert, dressed in a ceremonial uniform with orders, monograms, epaulettes, chains and other tsatsks. Gossips claim that the union of the South African swimmer and the ruling prince is bursting at the seams. Albert had illegitimate children, and Charlene rarely appears in Monaco. But today they were together.
Queen Letizia of Spain
Photo: REUTERS
A spectacular fuchsia-colored suit with richelieu embroidery was worn by Queen Letizia of Spain. On his head is a hat with a pink veil. Nearby is the Spanish King Philip in a military uniform with a red belt and a blue ribbon. Philip is a distant relative of Charles: his mother, Queen Sophia, was a second cousin of Queen Elizabeth II, whom Phil referred to as Aunt Lilibet.
53-year-old Queen Rania of Jordan
Photo: REUTERS
53-year-old Queen Rania of Jordan (you can’t look more than 30) put on a pale cream dress. She arrived with her husband King Abdullah.
The royals were dressed according to protocol. The men are in uniforms. On the ladies – plain dresses / suits with long sleeves (sometimes gloves), pumps, high heels, a hat. And only Emma Thompson allowed herself a pink dress.
Actress Emma Thompson
Photo: REUTERS
51-year-old Queen Maxima of the Netherlands wore white. She attended the ceremony with her husband, King Willem-Alexander. He is a distant relative of Charles. King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden arrived with his daughter Crown Princess Victoria. Charles XVI is already 75 years old. In the history of Sweden, he sat on the throne for the longest time. And he, too, is a distant relative of the Windsors. His daughter Victoria wore a fitted royal blue dress. Norway was represented by Crown Prince Haakon and Princess Mette-Marit, wearing a pale pink dress. It turns out that the new British king was named after the former King Haakon VII, who was known among friends as Charles, and the late Queen Elizabeth called him Uncle Charles.
51-year-old Queen Maxima of the Netherlands
Photo: REUTERS
Crown Prince Frederik of Denmark arrived at the ceremony accompanied by his wife, Crown Princess Mary, who wore a bright purple dress. His mother Queen Margrethe, who is the only current European queen since the death of Elizabeth II, was unable to attend the ceremony due to back surgery.
King Philippe of Belgium arrived with his wife Queen Mathilde: she is in a soft pink dress. Queen Anne-Maria of Greece was with her son Crown Prince Pavlos and his wife Crown Princess Marie-Chantal. And although there is no longer a monarchy in Greece, the British royal family maintains close ties with distant relatives. As you know, the father of the current British king – Prince Philip was a Greek by nationality and was born in Corfu. The royal Greek women were dressed in blue and light blue dresses. Princess Marie-Chantal was holding a clutch in the shape of Marcel Proust’s In Search of Lost Time.
Princess Marie-Chantal
Photo: REUTERS
Grand Duke Henri of Luxembourg was accompanied by his wife Maria Teresa. She opted for a stylish navy blue pantsuit, while her husband wore a ceremonial military uniform.
Duchess Maria Teresa
Photo: REUTERS
Crown Prince Alois of Liechtenstein wore a classic tailor-made suit for today’s event, while his wife, Princess Sophie, mother of four, wore a dark lavender knee-length dress, matching coat and hat.
Princess Sophie
Photo: REUTERS
The king of Bhutan and his wife were also at the ceremony, she was wearing a long lilac dress with national ornaments. And the King of Thailand – Vajiralongkorn and with his queen Sutida. And King Tupou VI of Tonga and Queen Nanasipau. And the king of Malaysia and his wife. And Japanese Crown Prince Fumihito and Princess Kiko…
King of Bhutan with his wife
Photo: REUTERS
Today’s two-hour ceremony has been shortened from the one that happened 70 years ago – the coronation of Elizabeth II in 1953. After – the royals went to a noisy large company for a reception at Buckingham Palace.
READ ALSO
The coronation of Charles III in photographs: What the king did behind the screen, where did Prince Harry go in the parade and how yawning Louis amused everyone
We publish the brightest photos of the coronation of Charles III on May 6, 2023 (more)
