The coronation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla

We’ve wrapped up our live coverage of King Charles’ coronation. You can read more about the ceremony here, or scroll through the updates below to relive the day as it happened.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Sophie Trudeau arrive at Westminster Abbey before King Charles' coronation.

The coronation ceremony was the hottest ticket in town, with scores of foreign dignitaries, British officials, celebrities and faith leaders gathered in the Westminster Abbey.

Still, the congregation, while including some 2,300 people, was much smaller than it was in 1953 when temporary structures had to be erected within the abbey to accommodate the more than 8,000 people who attended.

Here’s who was there:

The list was impressive, but there were also some notable absences:

London’s Metropolitan Police Service arrested three people in the Soho area Saturday on “suspicion of conspiracy to commit public nuisance,” which included the use and throwing of rape alarms, according to a police statement.

Those arrested included a 37-year-old woman, a 59-year-old woman and a 47-year-old man, who was also arrested “on suspicion of handling stolen goods,” police said. The three were taken to a police station in south London and were questioned, the statement added.

“The intelligence we received led us to be extremely worried about the potential risk to public safety,” Deputy Assistant Commissioner Ade Adelekan said. “We are aware of and understand there is public concern over these arrests. However, the matter is still under investigation.”

The statement went on to say that all three have been “released on bail pending further enquiries.”

Some background: The Metropolitan Police force has faced scrutiny for its “robust” approach toward demonstrators at the historic event, and today’s arrests come amid growing concern over the increase in law enforcement’s power to stifle dissent in Britain, following the recent introduction of controversial pieces of legislation.

In the London of 1953 — the year of Britain’s last coronation, for Queen Elizabeth II — archival CNN footage shows a country that was smaller, almost entirely White, Christian and full of post-war joie de vivre.

Cut to present day, and King Charles’ coronation took place Saturday with both a United Kingdom and greater Commonwealth that looks entirely different from when his mother ascended the throne.

CNN’s Bianca Nobilo took a trip around London before the ceremony to consider the relevance of the monarchy today.

Watch her report below:

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02:51 • Source: CNN

People protest as Britain's King Charles III and Britain's Camilla, Queen Consort travel in the Diamond State Coach, in the 'King's Procession', a journey of two kilometres from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Abbey in central London on May 6, ahead of their coronations. 

Anti-monarchy protest group Republic said its members are still being held at a London police station.

“The team continue to be held at Walworth police station,” the group said in an update on Twitter. “They’ve been held for around 11 hours so far.”

Earlier Saturday, Republic told CNN that London police arrested the organizers of Saturday’s anti-monarchy protest without providing any reason. 

At around 7 a.m. local time, police stopped six Republic organizers and told them they were detaining and searching, Republic Director Harry Stratton told a CNN producer at the protest.

According to London’s Metropolitan Police Service, more than 50 arrests have been made on Saturday.

The King and Queen wave to people from the palace balcony.

Britain’s pubs, restaurants and retailers are having a day of roaring trade from the celebrations marking the coronation of King Charles III. But the United Kingdom’s economy as a whole could actually suffer as workers take an extra day’s holiday Monday.

The initial boost: The historic event is expected give an instant lift to sentiment and spending in an economy beset by strikes, stubbornly high inflation and falling living standards. UK gross domestic product is expected to shrink by 0.3% this year, logging the worst performance of any major developed economy, according to the International Monetary Fund.

Last year, grocery sales through the week to June 5 — the period that included celebrations for the late Queen Elizabeth’s Platinum Jubilee — were £87 million ($108.7 million) higher compared with the average week in 2022, according to Kantar data.

As in June, UK retailers have come up with a vast array of mementos to mark Britain’s first coronation in 70 years — from commemorative biscuit tins, teddy bears and tote bags to candles, cushions and teacups.

The royal occasion will also deliver a crucial boost to the UK hospitality sector, which had barely recovered from the Covid-19 pandemic when it was hit by soaring food and energy costs.

The economic downside: But the loss of output caused by the extra public holiday on Monday, May 8, will diminish the overall benefit to the economy. (The coronation holiday will be the third holiday Monday this month.)

When UK GDP shrank by 0.6% in September 2022, the Office for National Statistics said the drop was partly explained by the extra bank holiday for the Queen’s state funeral that month, as some businesses closed or adjusted their operations that day.

You can read CNN Business’ full analysis here.

The King and Queen look at each other on the balcony. They gave an encore wave to the crowd after initially going back inside.

A historic gospel choir performance, a scaled-back flypast and a controversial invitation for public participation: Saturday’s coronation of King Charles III was filled with notable moments. 

If you’re just now catching up, here are other highlights from the once-in-a-generation royal event:

The procession: The rainy day kicked off when King Charles III and Queen Camilla travelled from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Abbey. In a slight deviation from tradition, the couple rode in the Diamond Jubilee State Coach drawn by six Windsor Grey horses. They were accompanied on the 1.3-mile route by the sovereign’s most trusted bodyguards, the Household Cavalry, and were greeted by cheering and waving crowds.

The service: The intricate service lasted just over two hours – about an hour shorter than Elizabeth II’s coronation in 1953 – and followed a traditional template. However, it has been modernized in certain key ways: The archbishop acknowledged the multiple faiths observed in the UK during the ceremony. And when the King took the Coronation Oath, he became the first monarch to pray aloud at his coronation.

The King was then anointed with holy oil by the Archbishop of Canterbury. He was also presented with coronation regalia.

Then, for the first time in coronation history, the archbishop invited the British public and those from “other Realms” to recite a pledge of allegiance to the newly crowned monarch and his “heirs and successors.” (When those plans were unveiled, it caused some controversy around the country — and the Church of England changed the wording of its invitation following the response.)

The ceremony also included a reading from the Bible by UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and, in another coronation first, gospel music.

Once the King was crowned, his wife, Queen Camilla, was crowned in her own, shorter ceremony with Queen Mary’s Crown.

The flypast: The Royal Air Force’s famous Red Arrows flew over a rainy Buckingham Palace, ending a brief and slimmed down display. The national anthem was played, and Charles and Camilla gave a few waves from Buckingham Palace to the crowd before going inside, then making a balcony encore.

The guests: The coronation ceremony was the hottest ticket in town, with scores of foreign dignitaries, British officials, celebrities and faith leaders gathered in the Westminster Abbey. Still, the congregation, while including some 2,300 people, was much smaller than it was in 1953 when temporary structures had to be erected within the abbey to accommodate the more than 8,000 people who attended.

Celebrations: On Sunday, thousands of events and street parties are expected to take place across the country as part of the “Coronation Big Lunch.” And on Sunday evening, Lionel Richie, Katy Perry and Take That will headline the “Coronation Concert” at Windsor Castle. Britons will then enjoy an extra day off on Monday.

Protests: Police said they arrested more than 50 people during the coronation, after controversially promising a “robust” approach to protesters. Nonprofit Human Rights Watch said the arrests were “something you would expect to see in Moscow not London.”

Watch a 3-minute recap of the day’s festivities here:

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03:19 • Source: CNN

London’s Metropolitan Police Service said it made dozens of arrests during King Charles III’s coronation.

“We continue to engage with organisers of a static demonstration taking place in Trafalgar Square, close to the junction with Whitehall,” it added.

Earlier on Saturday, several anti-monarchy protesters were arrested in central London ahead of the coronation of King Charles III on Saturday, the group said.

The Metropolitan Police force has faced scrutiny for its “robust” approach toward demonstrators at the historic event, and today’s arrests come amid growing concern over the increase in law enforcement’s power to stifle dissent in Britain, following the recent introduction of controversial pieces of legislation.

Nonprofit Human Rights Watch said the coronation arrests were “something you would expect to see in Moscow not London,” according to a statement obtained by the UK’s PA Media news agency.

“We absolutely understand public concern following the arrests,” Cmdr. Karen Findlay said in a police news release.

“Our duty is to do so in a proportionate manner in line with relevant legislation. We also have a duty to intervene when protest becomes criminal and may cause serious disruption,” Findlay said, adding that “the Coronation is a once in a generation event and that is a key consideration in our assessment.”

Here’s what protesters had to say about the monarchy:

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00:56 • Source: CNN

CNN’s Christian Edwards, Lindsay Isaac, Niamh Kennedy and Allegra Goodwin contributed reporting to this post.

Much has been made of the departures from tradition for the coronation of King Charles III — and this extended to the guest’s dress codes. Gone were the requests for attendees to wear grand robes or ceremonial attire in favor of a more relaxed, pared-down look.

US First Lady Jill Biden arrives at Westminster Abbey prior to the coronation ceremony of Britain's King Charles III in London Saturday, May 6.

US first lady Jill Biden wore a periwinkle blue Ralph Lauren skirt suit, accessorized with a coordinating hair bow. She was accompanied by her granddaughter, Finnegan Biden, in a chic pale yellow cape dress by Markarian — in what could be seen as a sartorial nod to show solidarity with Ukraine. Inside the Abbey, the pair was seated next to Ukrainian first lady Olena Zelenska in an icy blue dress and coat pairing.

Australian songwriter and singer Nick Cave (R) attends the coronations of Britain's King Charles III and Britain's Camilla, Queen Consort at Westminster Abbey in central London on May 6.

French luxury fashion house Dior said on Twitter that it was “honored to have dressed Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, for the coronation of King Charles III in a custom design by Kim Jones.”

Elsewhere, Australian musician Nick Cave looked chic in a classic three-piece black suit and Gucci horsebit loafers. Katy Perry (scheduled to headline the coronation concert in Windsor on Sunday) opted for a pink skirt suit and pearl choker by Vivienne Westwood — the late British designer who died in December 2022.

The distinctive necklace design may also be a nod to Queen Camilla’s own fashion legacy. Camilla has numerous three-strand pearl pieces, including the aquamarine piece she has worn consistently since the 1990s.

Across the event, international royalty used the moment to celebrate their country’s traditional garments. Crown Prince Akishino and Princess Kiko of Japan appeared in a morning suit and muted patterned silk kimono with an obi belt, respectively.

The theme of traditional dress was continued by King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck and Queen Jetsun Pema of Bhutan. King Jigme Khesar wore a Bhutanese Gho, while Queen Jetsun Pema wore a lilac-colored kira — a customary wrap dress typical in Bhutan.

See more looks here.

King Charles III has been crowned in a coronation ceremony on Saturday. 

It got us wondering: Who were the other two “Charleses” who’ve served as king? Well, they didn’t exactly have the calmest reigns. Here’s what we found:

Charles I: According to the British Royal Family’s website, the first Charles to ascend the throne did so in 1625. His reign, which ended in his beheading in 1649, was rather tumultuous.

Charles, a patron of the arts, also had “a stubborn belief that kings are intended by God to rule,” according to Encyclopedia Brittanica.

He oversaw what became the English Civil Wars and married a Roman Catholic, with financial issues leading to tensions with Parliament. He ended up dismissing Parliament in its entirety in 1629 and ruled without it for 11 years. 

Twenty years later, the army decided he must be put on trial and executed. Charles was charged with treason, but did not recognize the legality of the High Court. On the scaffolding where his execution took place, Charles called himself “a martyr of the people.”

He was not buried at Westminster Abbey, but at Windsor, “to avoid public disorder,” according to the Royal Family site.  

Charles II: After the death of his father, Charles was invited to Scotland and proclaimed king. He fled to France when the Scots were defeated by English forces in 1651. After England and Scotland were united again, he was invited back to London to sit on the throne.

Known as the “Merry Monarch,” Charles was “tall, handsome, sharp of mind, impeccably attired and charming,” according to Royal Museums Greenwich.

He married Portugal’s Catherine of Braganza, but the two spoke no common language and he continued to carry on affairs with a variety of mistresses, fathering at least 14 illegitimate children.

The devastating Great Fire of London in 1666 — which took out most of the city — and the Great Plague of London from 1665 to 1666 — in which at least 68,000 people succumbed to bubonic plague — occurred during his rule.

His later reign was “taken up mainly with attempts to settle religious dissension,” according to the Royal Family site. 

He died of a stroke in 1685 and had no legitimate heirs.

US first lady Jill Biden attended the coronation of King Charles III Saturday, reflecting on the message sent by the ceremony.

“I thought about, really, the importance of traditions, the importance of oath,” Biden said in a phone interview with CNN during her car ride from the coronation. “As I sat there, I felt this sense of decorum and civility that binds together people of all nations.”

Biden said she was moved by the message of the Archbishop of Canterbury during the ceremony. 

“What he was saying to the people was that, really – people of all nations seek hope and joy. And I thought that was such a strong message, because I think that is true, and it’s true for all people everywhere. But I think it was important at this moment that the clergy brought that in to this moment in history,” she said. 

Biden said she spoke with King Charles during a reception at Buckingham Palace on Friday, and that the King looked ahead to meeting with President Joe Biden at a later date, offering his regards. 

The first lady also spoke with Catherine, Princess of Wales, with whom she was photographed Friday evening. 

Biden has met with members of the royal family multiple times as first lady.

She said she was looking forward to high tea this afternoon with granddaughter Finnegan Biden, who joined her on the trip. Later Saturday, she will attend a private reception hosted by US Ambassador to the United Kingdom Jane Hartley. And on Sunday, she attends a lunch hosted by UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak before returning to Washington. 

“It was so meaningful to me that I that I could bring Finnegan here, that we could travel together and experience this together. And it meant a lot to both of us,” she said. 

Members of the public in Hyde park react as they watch the the Coronation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla.

While the coronation weekend’s main event might be over, the celebrations continue.

On Sunday, thousands of events and street parties are expected to take place across the country as part of the “Coronation Big Lunch.”

On Sunday evening, Lionel Richie, Katy Perry and Take That will headline the “Coronation Concert” at Windsor Castle. Ten locations around Britain will also be lit up with light displays, lasers and drones that evening.

Britons will then enjoy an extra day off on Monday, topping off the long weekend. The public has been encouraged to use the extra holiday to volunteer in their communities.

King Charles III waves from the Gold State Coach.

Here’s how leaders around the world are marking the coronation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla.

US President Joe Biden congratulated the King and Queen, noting the “enduring friendship” between the United Kingdom and United States in a tweet.

French President Emmanuel Macron said King Charles III and Queen Camilla are “friends of France.”

Proud to be by your side on this historic day,” he tweeted in French.

President of the European Council Charles Michel extended his “best wishes” to King Charles III and Queen Camilla in a tweet, adding that the council appreciates the King’s dedication to environmental efforts.

 ”🇪🇺🇬🇧 friendship,” he tweeted.

Irish Foreign Minister Micheál Martin congratulated the King and Queen on Coronation Day, “a very important day for many across these islands.”

“We will continue to work in support of the bonds of friendship between our peoples and the strong connections we share,” he said.

Finnish President Sauli Niinistö said “it was a great pleasure and honour” to be at the coronation in London.

“On behalf of Finland, we extended Their Majesties our very best wishes for a long and successful reign,” he tweeted.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni tweeted in Italian:

“The ancient Cosmatesque mosaic in Westminster Abbey, on which today the throne was placed for the coronation of King Charles III, was masterfully created by Italian craftsmen some eight centuries ago.”

“Today it is still there to amaze the world, and to tell the story of the historic and fruitful cooperation between Italy and the United Kingdom, which we are sure with King Charles III - who once again reminded yesterday that he loves Italy - will further strengthen, as we have already begun to do with PM Rishi Sunak,” she said.

“My best wishes to King Charles III, Queen Camilla and the entire British people,” she concluded.

Switzerland President Alain Berset extended “best wishes for a long and happy reign 👑🇬🇧 ” in a tweet.

French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna tweeted: “God Save The King” 

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg was at the ceremony and said in a statement:

“His Majesty King Charles III has trained and served alongside military personnel, and is the Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Navy, British Army and Royal Air Force. Thousands of sailors, soldiers and aviators are marching together in the Coronation procession.”

“The UK is a founding member of NATO and a strong and committed Ally, with a long history of stepping up to support Allies and partners,” the statement said.

 India Hicks in March 2015 in West Hollywood, California.

India Hicks, the second cousin and goddaughter of King Charles III, commended the monarch’s handling of invitations to Saturday’s coronation.

Hicks and her mother — Lady Pamela Mountbatten, who was a lady-in-waiting to Queen Elizabeth II — were not invited to attend the services, unlike previous coronations and royal events.

She called the move “absolutely brilliant” and said her mother’s initial reaction was that His Majesty was “very sensible.”

“It makes such a good impression on this time and this climate,” Hicks said.

Some background: Around 2,300 people were sent invitations to the service at Westminster Abbey. While the palace doesn’t release a detailed guest list, it confirmed that the congregation was made up of members of the royal family, as well as international representatives from 203 countries, and community and charity volunteers.

Monica the dog gets the royal treatment on Coronation Day in London.

Corgis were synonymous with Queen Elizabeth II’s long reign, but a new dog breed is ready for its time on the throne: Cavalier King Charles Spaniels.

CNN’s Anna Stewart attended a gathering on Coronation Day with 180 of the pups, with some donning their own small crowns, who braved the rain with their owners.

“They’re lovely dogs and they’re getting their day, which is really great,” one proud owner told CNN.

Buddy and Coco, clearly the king and queen of the Cavalier King Charles Spaniels on Coronation Day in London.

With four children, eight grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren, the late Queen Elizabeth II’s family appeared at events, on the Buckingham Palace balcony and in many official photographs, but rarely all together in public.

King Charles III’s coronation today offered one of our best chances to see the many royal family members assembled.

The King’s two direct heirs, his son Prince William and grandson Prince George, both played official roles in the service.

Prince William swore fealty to his father, while 9-year-old Prince George was one of eight boys chosen to “attend Their Majesties during the Coronation Service,” the palace said.

Trying to keep all the royals straight after today’s festivities? Check out this interactive family tree.

Think you’re a royals expert now? You can also take our quiz.

Britain’s King Charles III has been crowned in a once-in-a-generation royal event witnessed by hundreds of high-profile guests inside Westminster Abbey, as well as tens of thousands of well-wishers who gathered in central London despite the rain.

While Charles became King on the death of his mother, Queen Elizabeth II last September, the coronation on Saturday was the formal crowning of the monarch.

The service was a profoundly religious affair, reflecting the fact that aside from being head of state of the United Kingdom and 14 other countries, Charles is also the Supreme Governor of the Church of England.

In the most significant moment of the day, Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby placed the 360-year-old St. Edward’s Crown on Charles’ head. The spiritual leader of the Anglican Church then declared: “God Save the King.”

The intricate service lasted just over two hours – about an hour shorter than Elizabeth II’s coronation in 1953 – and followed a traditional template that has stayed much the same for more than 1,000 years.

However, it has been modernized in certain key ways. The archbishop acknowledged the multiple faiths observed in the UK during the ceremony, saying the Church of England “will seek to foster an environment in which people of all faiths may live freely.”

Read the full story here.

King Charles III stands on the balcony of Buckingham Palace after his coronation.

On the balcony of Buckingham Palace, King Charles III and Queen Camilla waved to the crowd below, flanked by pages with other members of the royal family further away on the sides — which surprised some CNN analysts.

“I was expecting to see a dynasty moment and to see the King and Queen Camilla flanked by the Waleses, by Prince William and Princess Kate,” CNN’s Julia Chatterly said.

Kate and William were “crammed into the corner,” British historian Kate Williams said. “…  This is a TV moment, this is going across the world. It’s meant to symbolize to the world what the monarchy is. Very clearly the message is: It is King Charles and Camilla; everybody else is backup.”

“I really felt in that moment, the way the rest of the family was shoved into a corner, that … the spotlight wasn’t meant to shine on anyone else except for the King and Queen,” said Trisha Goddard, a British TV presenter.

Meanwhile, US royal author Sally Bedell Smith said that those theories are the “opposite of the message” being sent through the entire coronation ceremony, but noted the family may have “needed a choreographer” for the balcony shot.

Britain's Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, and Prince Andrew leave Westminster Abbey following the coronation ceremony of Britain's King Charles and Queen Camilla.

CNN anchors have been discussing the appearances of Princes Andrew and Harry on coronation day.

Harry was seen getting into a car on his own following the conclusion of the service at Westminster Abbey.

“I think this is a soap opera part of this whole royal story,” CNN’s Christiane Amanpour said.

While the traditional role of the royal family has been “trying to unite a country,” she said, the breaks of Andrew and Harry have been notable.

Both are non-working royals, and they did not have ceremonial duties during the coronation.

Key background: Harry stepped down as a working member of the royals in 2021, and the coronation marks the first time he’s been seen publicly with family members since the release of his memoir, “Spare.” The King’s youngest son returned to London without his wife, Meghan, and their children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet. They are back in California as it is also Archie’s 4th birthday.

In 2022, Andrew was stripped of his military titles and charities, Buckingham Palace announced, after a judge ruled a sexual abuse civil lawsuit against him could proceed.

A New York judge ruled against a motion by Andrew’s legal team to dismiss a civil lawsuit brought against him by Virginia Giuffre, who alleged she was trafficked by disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein and forced to perform sex acts with the prince when she was 17. Andrew vigorously denied those claims.

A month later, he reached a deal with Giuffre to settle the lawsuit against him.

WATCH HERE FOR MORE:

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02:15 • Source: CNN

Britain's King Charles and Queen Camilla wave on the Buckingham Palace balcony.

Just when you thought the day’s boundless excitement was over, Charles and Camilla have treated us to an encore wave from the Buckingham Palace balcony.

The royals stepped out again on the balcony to the delight of the crowds on The Mall.

They’ve now gone in again, presumably for good this time, for an informal lunch.