President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, and their spouses Rebecca Akufo-Addo and Lady Julia attended the historic coronation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla at Westminster Abbey in London, United Kingdom, along with other world leaders and dignitaries.
More than 2,000 guests filled Westminster Abbey's seats, while hundreds more gathered outside in the downpour to watch the first in 70 years of a very religious coronation service.
According to preliminary statistics, at least 18 million people in the UK alone tuned in to the extravagant, historic event held at Westminster Abbey in London on Saturday, May 6, 2023, while many more people across the world also watched. The Foreign Office said that 90 heads of state altogether attended.
topic of a coronation
The King's opening prayer at the abbey was "I come not to be served, but to serve," which embodied the coronation's core message about the value of service.
In the first part of the ritual, Charles was referred to as the "undoubted king."
The assembly was then instructed to display their devotion by chanting "God Save the King" as a sign of respect.
The old ceremony's final stages, though, were punctuated by intervals of total quiet among the music and swearing.
Traditions including the use of the orb, sceptre, and golden sword of state—all of which are uncommon in modern life—were upheld.
Charles became King on September 8, 2022, the day after his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, passed away. Therefore, the event on Saturday has no legal value.
However, it is rife with symbolism and offers the chance for those who still support the British monarchy to celebrate the transfer of power in a centuries-old institution that continues to play a prominent role in contemporary British society.
Procession
The contemporary Diamond Jubilee State Coach, which made its debut in 2014 and has power windows, air conditioning, and shock absorbers, carried the royal couple to Westminster Abbey.
Onlookers had their first look at the kings as they made their way along the 1.3-mile procession path, dressed in vintage state robes that had previously been worn by their forebears during previous coronations.
The first people to enter Wesminister Abbey were a varied gathering of religious leaders from the Jewish, Muslim, Sikh, Buddhist, Hindu, Jain, Baha'i, and Zoroastrian groups.
The guest list includes a variety of international leaders, first ladies, diplomats, and celebrities while being shorter than Charles's mother's list from seven decades before.
First Lady Jill Biden and her granddaughter, Finnegan Biden, who was dressed in yellow, arrived at the abbey without the president, who was instead wearing a light-blue suit and gloves.
Service
Charles took the coronation oath and placed his hand on the Bible throughout the rite. The anointing, considered the most sacred aspect of the ceremony, took place during a portion of the liturgy while the king was shielded from the audience.
The only part of the ritual that was hidden from view by a privacy screen was when he was anointed with holy oil on his hands, chest, and head.
Then, from the crowning regalia, Charles was given symbolic, jewelled things such as gold spurs, swords, bracelets, an orb, a ring, a glove, a sceptre, and a rod.
At the conclusion of the ritual, the 361-year-old, solid-gold crown was put on Charles's head to the sound of trumpets and cries of "God save the king!"
It was then Camilla's time to be crowned and given a sceptre and ring, and the event perfectly illustrated how she went from being Charles's "other woman" to being his queen.