The Coronation of King Charles III

The Coronation of King Charles III Britain's King Charles III was officially crowned Saturday in a magnificent and deeply religious ceremony at Westminster Abbey. The coronation — a symbolic coming together of the monarchy, church and state — was attended by dignitaries from around the world, and thousands of people gathered in London to witness the pageantry. This event marks Britain's first coronation in 70 years. After the two-hour ceremony, Charles and his wife, Queen Camilla — who was also crowned — traveled back to Buckingham Palace in the Gold State Coach, which has been used in every coronation since 1831. They later made an appearance on the palace balcony alongside other members of the royal family. On Sunday, thousands of events took place across the country as part of the "Coronation Big Lunch," while Lionel Richie, Katy Perry, and Take That headlined the "Coronation Concert" at Windsor Castle in the evening. Charles historically became King in September when his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, passed away at the age of 96, and she was the longest-reigning monarch in British history. A storefront window in London is decorated with framed photographs and a painting of the King on Thursday. Westminster staff and police take cover from the rain on Friday. Charles McQuillan/Getty Images The King meets well-wishers outside Buckingham Palace during a walkabout on Friday. Toby Melville/Pool/Reuters A royal fan sleeps along the procession route on Friday. Emilio Morenatti/AP People travel into London on Saturday to be a part of the historic day. Sarah Tilotta/CNN Preparations are made on the balcony of Buckingham Palace. Toby Hancock/CNN A child has paint applied to his face while waiting for the procession. Sarah Tilotta/CNN Members of the Coldstream Guards march on the procession route before the coronation. Marco Bertoorello/AFP/Getty Images People gather to watch the procession. Showers moved through London on Friday. Toby Hancock/CNN People wait on the procession route ahead of the coronation. Sarah Tilotta/CNN Troops march in London ahead of the coronation ceremony. Sarah Tilotta/CNN The King's carriage leaves Buckingham Palace before the coronation. Toby Hancock/CNN Members of the public look out onto Parliament Square ahead of the coronation. Jeff J. Mitchell/Getty Images Police officers detain a protester ahead of the King's procession. Several arrests were made Saturday as protesters gathered near the procession route. Yara Nardi/Pool/Reuters A boy watches guards march on the streets in front of Big Ben. Marko Djurica/Retuers The King and Queen travel in the Diamond Jubilee State Coach as they make their short journey from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Abbey. Niall Carson/PA Images/Getty Images People line the procession route in London. Sarah Tilotta/CNN The procession takes place in London before the coronation. Sarah Tilotta/CNN Singer Katy Perry takes a selfie with guests at Westminster Abbey. The coronation guests included celebrities and world leaders. Gareth Cattermole/Pool/Reuters Musicians perform at Westminster Abbey before the coronation ceremony. Andrew Matthews/PA/AP Singer Lionel Richie poses for a selfie at Westminster Abbey. Gareth Cattermole/Pool/Reuters Prince Harry arrives at Westminster Abbey along with Princess Beatrice, one of the King's nieces. Harry accepted the invitation to his father's coronation but was without his wife, Meghan, who stayed back in California with the couple's two children. Andrew Milligan/PA/AP The King enters Westminster Abbey for his coronation. Ben Birchall/PA/AP The King arrives at Westminster Abbey for his coronation. Andrew Matthews/Pool/Reuters People watch the ceremony on a screen in Hyde Park. Emilio Morenatti/AP The King and Queen entered the Abbey to the strains of 'I was glad,' the stirring coronation anthem written by Hubert Parry for the coronation of King Edward VII in 1902. It has been sung at all coronations since then. Phil Noble/Pool/Reuters The King and Queen take part in the coronation ceremony. Yui Mok/Pool/Reuters Prince Harry looks around Westminster Abbey from his spot in the third row. He is a non-working royal and did not perform any duties during the ceremony. An anointing screen is erected for King Charles III at the coronation ceremony. The most sacred part of the service — the anointing — took place behind the screen. Yui Mok/PA/AP The King places his hands on the Coronation Bible as he takes the Coronation Oath. Yui Mok/Pool/Reuters The St. Edward's Crown is carried inside Westminster Abbey. Phil Noble/Pool/Reuters The King holds a sword during the ceremony. Victoria Jones/Pool/Reuters Prince Louis points out something to his sister, Princess Charlotte, during the ceremony. They are flanked by their parents, Prince William and Catherine, the Princess of Wales. The Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby places the St. Edward's Crown onto the head of the King. Aaron Chown/Pool/Reuters Royal fan Ben Weller reacts as he watches the coronation on a screen in London's Hyde Park. The King wears the St. Edward's Crown during his coronation. Andrew Matthews/Pool/AP The King's son Prince William, the heir apparent to the throne, kisses his father on the cheek during the ceremony. British lawmaker Penny Mordaunt carries the Sword of State during the coronation. She was involved in the ceremony because as the current Leader of the House of Commons, she is also the Lord President of the Privy Council — a body formed of senior politicians who act as the monarch's official advisers. Yui Mok/Pool/AP People in London's Piccadilly Circus walk past a giant screen showing an image of the King during the coronation ceremony. The Queen receives her own coronation. She wore the Queen Mary's Crown. Yui Mok/AP Charles and Camilla walk out of Westminster Abbey. Kirsty Wigglesworth/Pool/AFP/Getty Images The King greets multifaith leaders on his way out of Westminster Abbey. Ben Stansall/Pool/Reuters The Queen walks toward the Gold State Coach after leaving Westminster Abbey. Toby Melville/Pool/AP Prince Harry leaves Westminster Abbey after the ceremony. He did not join members of his family to ride in an impressive procession back to the palace. Instead, he got into a car alone and departed the abbey shortly after the service had ended. Toby Melville/Pool/Getty Images Troops march in London for the King's coronation. On their way back to Buckingham Palace, the King and Queen were accompanied by a huge parade of soldiers, musicians, and horses. The King and Queen travel to Buckingham Palace in the Gold State Coach after the ceremony at Westminster Abbey. The Gold State Coach carries the King and Queen back to Buckingham Palace. Carl Court/Pool/AP A horse, apparently spooked, rears back into a crowd and crashes into a barrier during the procession. The animal was quickly brought back under control. Prince William heads back to Buckingham Palace with Catherine and their three children: Louis, George, and Charlotte. Military groups take part in the parade from Westminster Abbey to Buckingham Palace. The procession passes anti-monarchy protesters. Mosa'ab Elshamy/AP The Gold State Coach that carried the King and Queen is incredibly heavy, weighing 4 tons. Because of its weight, it can travel only at a walking pace. Sarah Tilotta/CNN The King and Queen arrive at the palace to receive a royal salute from members of the military. Peter Byrne/Pool/AP The King and Queen appear on the Buckingham Palace balcony with various members of the royal family following their coronation. Toby Hancock/CNN The Red Arrows, the aerobatics display team of the Royal Air Force, fly over Buckingham Palace as members of the public watch nearby. Some members of the royal family appear on the palace balcony after the coronation. From left are Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh; Princess Charlotte; Princess Anne; Catherine, Princess of Wales; Prince Louis; Prince William; and Oliver Cholmondeley. The crowd outside Buckingham Palace watches the Red Arrows fly by as the royals stand on the balcony. The King's eldest grandson, Prince George, stands on the palace balcony between two other boys who like him served as pages of honor for the coronation: Oliver Cholmondeley, left, and Nicholas Barclay. The King and Queen wave to people from the palace balcony. Chris Jackson/Pool/AP The King and Queen look at each other on the balcony. They gave an encore wave to the crowd after initially going back inside. The King and Queen pose for a portrait flanked by "working royals" — members of the family who carry out official duties on behalf of the monarch. Hugo Burnand/Royal Household 2023/AP Musicians play while people take part in the 'Coronation Big Lunch' in London on Sunday. Thousands of community events took place across the country to commemorate the King's coronation. US first lady Jill Biden and British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak speak during a 'Coronation Big Lunch' event on Downing Street. Sylvia Daw leaves her cottage to celebrate in Alfriston, England. Kirsty Wigglesworth/AP Princess Anne, the King's sister, presents a young girl with a commemorative tin of old coins during celebrations in Swindon, England. The crowd inside the Windsor Castle grounds waves flags as Sunday's 'Coronation Concert' gets underway. A child sleeps on a makeshift throne at a street party in London's Brixton district. Abbie Trayler-Smith for CNN Lionel Richie performs on the castle grounds. He performed his hit songs "Easy" and "All Night Long (All Night)." Katy Perry dedicated her song "Firework" to King Charles. Leon Neal/Pool/Reuters From left, Prince William, Queen Camilla, King Charles and Baroness Patricia Scotland attend the concert. Gary Barlow, Howard Donald, and Mark Owen of '90s British pop group Take That perform backed by military drummers. Prince William speaks on stage. "I want to say a few words about my father, and why I believe this weekend is so important," he said. "But don't worry, unlike Lionel, I won't go on all night long." Yui Mok/Pool/Getty Images The Blackpool Tower in England is illuminated to mark the King's coronation. Carl Recine/Reuters