King Charles III is officially Britain’s reigning monarch, as UK celebrates first coronation in 70 years.
He was crowned on Saturday at London’s Westminster Abbey with his wife Queen Camilla beside him.
The 74-year old is the eldest son of the late Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh.
His ascent to the throne followed the death of his mother in September 2022.
Queen Elizabeth II, who died at 96 was Britain’s longest-reigning monarch.
The royal family dressed in high regal fashion for the momentous occasion.
King Charles III was crowned with St. Edward’s Crown, created in 1661 and only worn by the king during the ceremony.
He wore the crimson velvet Robe of State, which was worn by King George VI at his coronation in 1937. He also wore a crimson tunic, cream silk overshirt, and Royal Navy trousers.
He changed into ceremonial regalia worn by his predecessors to be crowned: the gold-silk full-length Supertunica coat and Coronation Sword Belt, and over that, the gold cloth Imperial Mantle, originally made for the coronation of George IV in 1821 and the oldest vestment in the service.
His wife, Queen Camilla was crowned beside him, wearing Queen Mary’s Crown, created in 1911. She is the first consort to reuse a crown from a previous coronation since the 18th century, when Queen Caroline, consort of George II, wore Mary of Modena’s crown
She chose to reuse the crown in the efforts of sustainability, the press release stated.
Queen Camilla also wore two robes at the coronation: one that Queen Elizabeth wore during her 1953 coronation, and a second custom robe that was designed by Ede and Ravenscroft with Queen Camilla’s cypher, according to the royal family’s website.
“Queen Camilla looked utterly statuesque in her long white Bruce Oldfield Coronation gown, emblazoned with silver and gold embroidery,” royal fashion expert Miranda Holder said.
“The silhouette was typical of the Queen’s signature style, the elongated waist balancing out her shorter torso, the bracelet sleeves the perfect backdrop to the exquisite embroidery featuring the national emblems of the U.K.; shamrock, daffodil, a thistle and rose.”
“The gentle V-neck was the perfect frame to the magnificent Coronation necklace and the silver embroidery in the body of the dress featured British wildflowers intertwined with bunting in celebration of the couple’s passion for nature combined with this historic day.”
The Princess of Wales’ Kate Middleton featured an exquisite custom gown by Alexander McQueen – the same designer who made her breathtaking wedding gown.
The Princess of Wales kept the memory of Princess Diana as she honored her late mother-in-law with her earrings to complete her regal ensemble.
“The earrings, known as the ‘diamond and south sea pearl earrings’ feature a circular design of diamonds, a single diamond-encrusted pear and a large dangling pearl drop. Diana loved the jewels, and wore them repeatedly throughout the ’90s,” Holder noted.
The Princess of Wales and Princess Charlotte wore similar glittering leaf tiaras, as Middleton’s daughter stole the show in her stunning Alexander McQueen headpiece.
“Princess Charlotte coordinated with her mother in a typical Wales show of family unity in a similar glittering botanical hairband and sweet McQueen cape dress in court dress white,” Holder detailed.
Ifunanya Ikueze is an Engineer, Safety Professional, Writer, Investor, Entrepreneur and Educator.