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King Charles’ Coronation, In Photos

Kate Middleton, Prince William and Prince Harry were just some of the 2,200 attendees at the Westminster Abbey ceremony.
Carly Ledbetter
By 

Senior Reporter, HuffPost

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King Charles’ coronation day is finally here, eight months after the sovereign ascended to the throne in September upon the death of his mother, Queen Elizabeth II.

The monumental day ― one that the monarch has waited for all his life ― kicked off in London with a procession from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Abbey, where coronations have taken place since 1066.

The ceremony consisted of six parts: the recognition, the oath, the anointing, the investiture (which includes the crowning), the enthronement and the homage.

Following the ceremony, the British royal family made their way back to the palace’s balcony for an afternoon flypast of military aircraft.

King Charles III, wearing the Imperial State Crown, leaves Westminster Abbey in London following his coronation ceremony.
King Charles III, wearing the Imperial State Crown, leaves Westminster Abbey in London following his coronation ceremony.
Jacob King - PA Images via Getty Images

Members of the British royal family, heads of state and even foreign royals (a major coronation first) made up some of the 2,200 guests invited to witness the king’s crowning. While that might seem like a lot of people, it’s nowhere near the 8,251 people who attended Elizabeth’s coronation on June 2, 1953.

Thousands of people turned out in the rain for a glimpse of the king in person, while millions more from around the globe tuned in to watch the ancient ceremony and the following celebrations.

Not everyone is interested in the pomp and circumstance surrounding the coronation, as the day included protests, most notably from the anti-monarchy group Republic. The group, headed by Graham Smith, invited members of the public to wear yellow and meet at Trafalgar Square from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Early on Saturday morning, Smith and other members of Republic were arrested before the ceremony even kicked off.

“Republic’s protest will be the first time a major royal event has been met by a significant anti-monarchy protest,” Smith said in an email sent earlier this week. “We aim to use the opportunity to kick-start a major debate on the future of Britain’s democracy.”

See more photos from the big day below:

JACOB KING via Getty Images
The Princess of Wales speaks with guests Friday during a reception for overseas guests attending the coronation of King Charles III.
Leon Neal via Getty Images
People wearing cardboard masks of King Charles III and Queen Camilla are seen on Friday as preparations continue for the coronation.
SOPA Images via Getty Images
Another royal superfan wrapped in a Union Jack enjoys a drink at her camp on The Mall near Buckingham Palace.
Carl Court via Getty Images
A royal fan adjusts her fake crown as she waits on The Mall in London ahead of Charles' coronation on Saturday.
SOPA Images via Getty Images
Royal superfans wearing Union Jack outfits stand in their camp on The Mall near Buckingham Palace on the eve of the coronation.
WPA Pool via Getty Images
Charles speaks to guests Friday during a reception at Buckingham Palace for overseas guests attending his coronation.
JACOB KING via Getty Images
The Princess of Wales (center) speaks with Crown Princess Mary of Denmark and Crown Prince Frederik of Denmark during a reception for overseas guests.
WPA Pool via Getty Images
Prince William speaks to Queen Suthida and King Vajiralongkorn of Thailand during a reception at Buckingham Palace.
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The Princess of Wales speaks with the first lady of the United States, Jill Biden, and her granddaughter Finnegan Biden during a reception at Buckingham Palace.
Samir Hussein via Getty Images
Queen Rania and Abdullah II of Jordan at Buckingham Palace on Friday.
Samir Hussein via Getty Images
Prince Albert II and Princess Charlene of Monaco attend the coronation reception for overseas guests at Buckingham Palace.
PIROSCHKA VAN DE WOUW via Getty Images
Protestors and well-wishers line the route of the "King's Procession," a stretch from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Abbey, as they wait Charles and Camilla to pass in the Diamond State Coach, in central London, on Saturday ahead of their coronations.
Niall Carson - PA Images via Getty Images
Charles and Camilla travel from St James's Palace to Buckingham Palace in London ahead of their coronation ceremony.
Niall Carson - PA Images via Getty Images
Charles and Camilla arrive by car at Buckingham Palace.
Jeff Spicer via Getty Images
Katy Perry and Edward Enninful arrive at Westminster Abbey ahead of the coronation.
Jacob King - PA Images via Getty Images
First lady of the United States Jill Biden arrives ahead of the coronation ceremony.
WPA Pool via Getty Images
Baroness Floella Benjamin (right) arrives at Westminster Abbey ahead of the coronation.
Gareth Cattermole via Getty Images
Lionel Richie speaks with Sadiq Khan in Westminster Abbey ahead of the coronation.
Guy Smallman via Getty Images
Supporters of the Republic pressure group protest against the coronation on the edge of Trafalgar Square at the top of Whitehall on Saturday.
Guy Smallman via Getty Images
More supporters of Republic.
Jeff J Mitchell via Getty Images
Justin Trudeau, prime minister of Canada, and Sophie Grégoire Trudeau attend the coronation.
PAUL ELLIS via Getty Images
Speaker of the House of Commons Lindsay Hoyle arrives at Westminster Abbey ahead of the coronations.
Samir Hussein via Getty Images
Charles and Camilla travel in the Diamond Jubilee Coach built in 2012 to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the reign of Queen Elizabeth II at Buckingham Palace ahead of the coronation.
Jeff Spicer via Getty Images
King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck and Queen Jetsun Pema of Bhutan attend the coronation.
PHIL NOBLE via Getty Images
Former Prime Minister Boris Johnson poses in a selfie prior to the coronation.
Jeff Spicer via Getty Images
Abdullah II of Jordan and Queen Rania attend the coronation.
Jordan Pettitt - PA Images via Getty Images
Charles and Camilla are carried in the Diamond Jubilee State Coach.
Jeff Spicer via Getty Images
King Letsie III of Lesotho and Masenate Mohato Seeiso, Queen of Lesotho, enter Westminster Abbey.
Jeff Spicer via Getty Images
The Prince of Monaco and Charlene, Princess of Monaco, attend the coronation.
TOBY MELVILLE via Getty Images
Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, arrives at Westminster Abbey.
WPA Pool via Getty Images
The Prince and Princess of Wales arrive.
TOBY MELVILLE via Getty Images
Princess Anne, the Princess Royal, arrives at Westminster Abbey.
WPA Pool via Getty Images
Princess Beatrice, her husband Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi and Prince Harry arrive ahead of the coronation.
WPA Pool via Getty Images
Prince Andrew, Duke of York, and Zara and Mike Tindall arrive ahead of the coronation.
WPA Pool via Getty Images
Prince Edward and Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, arrive with Lady Louise Windsor (right) and the Earl of Wessex (left) at the coronation.
PHIL NOBLE via Getty Images
Prince Louis and Princess Charlotte hold hands as they arrive at Westminster Abbey.
TOBY MELVILLE via Getty Images
Prince George (center) stands at Westminster Abbey ahead of the coronations of Charles and Camilla.
Joe Giddens - PA Images via Getty Images
George (center) and Charles outside Westminster Abbey. George was one of his grandfather's four Pages of Honour at the ceremony.
WPA Pool via Getty Images
Charles takes part in his and Camilla's coronation ceremony.
WPA Pool via Getty Images
Charles bows his dead during the ceremony.
YUI MOK via Getty Images
Louis pointing at something interesting in Westminster Abbey.
RICHARD POHLE via Getty Images
The Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby places the St Edward's Crown onto the head of King Charles III.
WPA Pool via Getty Images
King Charles III is crowned with St Edward's Crown by the Archbishop of Canterbury.
WPA Pool via Getty Images
A closer look at the monumental moment.
CARLOS JASSO via Getty Images
A young member of the public is "crowned."
WPA Pool via Getty Images
A look inside Westminster Abbey during the coronation.
WPA Pool via Getty Images
Charles holds the Sovereign's Orb during his coronation ceremony.
WPA Pool via Getty Images
Princess Charlotte and the Princess of Wales share a sweet moment during the coronation.
WPA Pool via Getty Images
Prince William touches the St Edward's Crown during his homage to his father, King Charles.
YUI MOK via Getty Images
The Prince of Wales kisses his father, King Charles III, wearing St Edward's Crown, during the king's coronation ceremony.
WPA Pool via Getty Images
Charles after being crowned with the St Edward's Crown, as William and Charlotte look on.
WPA Pool via Getty Images
Members of the British royal family pictured during the coronation ceremony of Charles and Camilla.
RICHARD POHLE via Getty Images
Charles walks wearing St Edward's Crown during the coronation.
ANDREW MATTHEWS via Getty Images
Charles and Camilla leave Westminster Abbey.
WPA Pool via Getty Images
The Duke of York during the coronation.
WPA Pool via Getty Images
Prince Harry leaves Westminster Abbey.
ODD ANDERSEN via Getty Images
The Prince of Wales exits Westminster Abbey.
Dan Mullan via Getty Images
Princess Anne rides on horseback behind the Gold State Coach carrying the newly crowned king and queen as they travel down The Mall.
Jeff J Mitchell via Getty Images
Charles and Camilla set off from Westminster Abbey on route to Buckingham Palace.
ODD ANDERSEN via Getty Images
The Prince and Princess of Wales return to Buckingham Palace.
DANIEL LEAL via Getty Images
Louis smiles through the window as he travels with his family back to Buckingham Palace.
JANE BARLOW via Getty Images
George peers out the window over his brother.
ROB PINNEY via Getty Images
Prince Edward, Duke of Edinburgh, smiles as he departs following the coronation.
Carl Court via Getty Images
Charles and Camilla travel in the Gold State Coach, completed in 1762 and used at every coronation since that of William IV in 1831.
DANIEL LEAL via Getty Images
Charles — wearing the Imperial State Crown — and Camilla — wearing a modified version of Queen Mary's Crown — wave from the Buckingham Palace balcony after viewing the Royal Air Force flypast.
Jordan Pettitt - PA Images via Getty Images
The royals on the Buckingham Palace balcony view a flypast by aircraft from the Royal Navy, Army Air Corps and Royal Air Force.
ADAM GERRARD via Getty Images
The British Royal Air Force's aerobatic team, the "Red Arrows," perform a flypast over central London.
Christopher Furlong via Getty Images
Louis makes another great face during the flypast, as his brother George looks at him with a grin.
Samir Hussein via Getty Images
William and Kate share a smile on the palace balcony.
Leon Neal via Getty Images
Charles give a last wave from the Buckingham Palace balcony.
WPA Pool via Getty Images
The Prince of Wales holds a can of 'Return of the King' Coronation Ale as he stands next to the Princess of Wales as they speak to people during a walkabout meeting members of the public on the Long Walk near Windsor Castle on May 7.
WPA Pool via Getty Images
Kate Middleton smiles during a walkabout meeting members of the public on the Long Walk near Windsor Castle, where the Coronation Concert to celebrate the coronation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla is being held on May 7.
ODD ANDERSEN via Getty Images
Britain's Prime Minister Rishi Sunak welcomes U.S. First Lady Jill Biden for a Coronation Big Lunch organized in Downing Street, in London on May 7.
PETER NICHOLLS via Getty Images
Prince Edward, the Duke of Edinburgh waves as he attends a Big Lunch with residents and representatives from the Royal British Legion, the Scouts and the Guides in Cranleigh Village Hall on May 7.

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