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King Charles III's coronation: The biggest moments of the historic event

PHOTO: King Charles III and Queen Camilla are pictured in the Throne Room at Buckingham Palace, London, in a photo made available by Buckingham Palace, May 8, 2023, following the coronation.
0:57
Hugo Burnand/Royal Household 2023 via AP
Young royals steal the show at king's coronation
By Katie Kindelan, Morgan Winsor, Yi-Jin Yu
Last Updated: May 6, 2023, 11:40 AM

King Charles III had his crowning moment Saturday as the United Kingdom celebrated its first coronation in 70 years.

MORE: PHOTOS: Coronation of King Charles III

Charles and his wife Queen Camilla were celebrated in a weekend of festivities, highlighted by Saturday's coronation service at Westminster Abbey.

Key moments:

  • King Charles and Queen Camilla's official coronation photos released
  • William honors Charles with moving speech
  • Charles, Camilla return for encore appearance on Buckingham Palace balcony
  • Charles is crowned with 400-year-old crown
  • 1st look at Camilla in St. Mary’s Crown
  • Charles pledges the coronation oath
  • William pays homage to Charles, public invited to also
Here is how the coronation events unfolded. All times Eastern.

May 06, 2023 11:40 AM

ABC News royal contributors weigh in on crowning moment

As Charles was crowned king, ABC News royal contributors weighed in on the moment.

Robert Jobson said he was feeling "deep pride in my country and the royal family and the clergy."

"Particularly a bit of relief for the king because I thought when the archbishop was trying to get that crown on his head, he was trying a little too hard," Jobson added, with a laugh.

Victoria Murphy commented on how the "mood really shifted."

"It was very solemn, it was quite tense, it felt very serious and then suddenly, it actually feels quite joyous now," Murphy said. "It feels like a moment of celebration."

PHOTO: King Charles III sits as he receives The St Edward's Crown during the coronation ceremony at Westminster Abbey, London, Saturday, May 6, 2023. (Jonathan Brady/Pool Photo via AP)
Jonathan Brady/POOL via AP
King Charles III sits as he receives The St Edward's Crown during the coronation ceremony at Westminster Abbey, in London, May 6, 2023.
Jonathan Brady/POOL via AP

Sir Peter Westmacott, who previously served as Charles' secretary, said he also felt "a sense of great pride" and is "delighted for my old boss."

"It's a wonderful moment of pageantry and the mixture of humility and service," Westmacott added, "but also the crowning of a monarch in a way that no other country in this world still does or indeed knows how to do as we do."

Ailsa Anderson, who previously served as press secretary to Charles' late mother, Queen Elizabeth II, described feeling "rather emotional about it all."

"However you prepare for something like this, to actually see it has made me swell with pride but also emotional and also proud of my former boss, the Archbishop of Canterbury, who has been faultless in this service," Anderson said. "I think this service is pretty stupendous."

Kristina Kyriacou, who previously served as the communications secretary to Charles and Camilla, said she was "absolutely overjoyed."

"I couldn't be happier. I feel very, very emotional," she added. "This is a king who has worked every second and every hour of the day for the past 60 years. You know, since his teens, he has absolutely worked in public service serving his mother, serving the nation and the commonwealth -- and he deserves this. And I hope everyone understands all the good that he has done and all the causes that he has championed."

PHOTO: Britain's King Charles III with the St Edward's Crown on his head attends the Coronation Ceremony inside Westminster Abbey in central London, May 6, 2023.
Richard Pohle/POOL/AFP via Getty Images
Britain's King Charles III with the St Edward's Crown on his head attends the Coronation Ceremony inside Westminster Abbey in central London, May 6, 2023.
Richard Pohle/POOL/AFP via Getty Images

May 06, 2023 11:29 AM

Charles, Camilla receive Holy Communion

Charles and Camilla removed the St Edwards Crown and St. Mary’s Crown, respectively, before taking their seats at the Chairs of Estate and receiving communion.

The bread and wine for the communion is consecrated with the same wording from the Book of Common Prayer as was used at the queen’s coronation in 1953.


May 06, 2023 11:19 AM

1st look at Camilla in St. Mary’s Crown

Camilla’s crowning moment is here as she is anointed on the head by the archbishop, and presented with the queen consort’s ring.

Camilla is crowned with the Queen Mary’s Crown, marking the first time a new crown was not created for a queen consort.

PHOTO: Queen Camilla is crowned with Queen Mary's Crown during her coronation ceremony at Westminster Abbey, London, May 6, 2023.
Jonathan Brady/AP
Queen Camilla is crowned with Queen Mary's Crown during her coronation ceremony at Westminster Abbey, London, May 6, 2023.
Jonathan Brady/AP

The Queen Mary Crown was redesigned though for Camilla, including the removal of the replica of the controversial Koh-i-Noor diamond.

Camilla's crown features the Cullinan III, IV and V diamonds, a tribute to Elizabeth, who counted the diamonds as part of her personal jewelry collection.

PHOTO: The Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby places a modified version of Queen Mary's Crown onto the head of Britain's Camilla, Queen Consort during the Coronation Ceremony inside Westminster Abbey in central London, May 6, 2023
Richard Pohle/POOL/AFP via Getty Images
The Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby places a modified version of Queen Mary's Crown onto the head of Britain's Camilla, Queen Consort during the Coronation Ceremony inside Westminster Abbey in central London, May 6, 2023, she will be known as Queen Camilla after the ceremony.
Richard Pohle/POOL/AFP via Getty Images

As Camilla is enthroned, the choir is singing “Make a Joyful Noise,” a new anthem composed by Andrew Lloyd Webber for the coronation.



May 06, 2023 11:09 AM

William pays homage to Charles, public invited to also

William pays homage to his father on behalf of the royal family, following an homage from the Archbishop of Canterbury on behalf of the Bishops of the Church of England.

In a coronation first, members of the public are invited to pay homage to Charles too, led by the archbishop.

PHOTO: The Prince of Wales touches St Edward's Crown on King Charles III's head during his coronation ceremony in Westminster Abbey, London, May 6, 2023.
Yui Mok/Pool via REUTERS
The Prince of Wales touches St Edward's Crown on King Charles III's head during his coronation ceremony in Westminster Abbey, London, May 6, 2023.
Yui Mok/Pool via REUTERS
PHOTO: The Prince of Wales kisses his father King Charles III during his coronation ceremony in Westminster Abbey, London, May 6, 2023.
Yui Mok/Pool via REUTERS
The Prince of Wales kisses his father King Charles III during his coronation ceremony in Westminster Abbey, London, May 6, 2023.
Yui Mok/Pool via REUTERS

The public homage sparked controversy when plans for it were first revealed, with critics saying they should not have to pledge allegiance to the king. The archbishop responded to the controversy by telling the BBC the oath is "an invitation; it's not a command.”
Charles' younger son Harry was seen in the congregation paying homage to his father.


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