This Saturday the British Crown has brought out all its luster for the coronation of Carlos III, another great historical event eight months after the death of Isbael II. Among the many objects, rituals and guests present in Westminster Abbey, there are some that must be paid special attention as they are key in the ceremony.
The crowns that Carlos III will wear are one of the main elements of the ceremony. On the one hand we will see the crown of Saint Edward, used exclusively in the coronations of British monarchs since 1661. This is the second time that it has left the Tower of London since the coronation of Elizabeth II. It came out in 2013 to commemorate the diamond jubilee of the monarch herself and in December 2022 to be fitted to the head of the new king.
St Edward's crown will be placed on the new king halfway through the ceremony, but later, for the return to Buckingham from Westminster, he will wear the imperial state crown, made for Queen Victoria's coronation in 1838, which is much less heavy. Worn by Elizabeth II for the annual opening of Parliament ceremony, it is the more ostentatious of the two, although the other is more historically significant.
Among the many extraordinary gems set in this imperial crown of the State are the well-known Cullinan II and another gem that connects it to the history of Spain. It is the ruby called Príncipe Negro, which is actually a spinel and supposedly comes from the Nasrid court of the Alhambra, later it would pass to the Castilian court and later into English hands after the battle of Nájera in 1367. For his part and for To avoid controversy, Queen Camlia will wear the crown of Queen Mary of Teck, which will include three diamonds that Elizabeth II used as brooches, the so-called Cullinan III, IV and V.
Another of the peak moments of the coronation will be the anointing ceremony. It is tradition that a cloth canopy is held over the monarch's head for anointing him with oil. This element of the religious service is considered the most sacred and is hidden from public view, so it is not expected to be televised.
The sacred oil with which the Archbishop of Canterbury will anoint Charles III will not be the traditional mixture of ointments, spices and animal parts that was used until the coronation of Elizabeth II. Instead, the fat animal part has been replaced by olives harvested from the tomb of the mother of Prince Philip of Edinburgh in Jerusalem, on the Mount of Olives. It has been enshrined in the Church of the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem. This responds to sustainability and the love for animals that has always characterized Carlos III. They will pour the oil onto a 12th century spoon, the oldest object in the entire ceremony.
For roundtrip transfers from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Abbey, Charles III and Queen Camilla will use two historic, storybook floats. To get to the ceremony they will use Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee State Coach, made in 2012 to commemorate her 60th anniversary on the throne. This has air conditioning, motorized windows and a hydraulic system that absorbs blows.
To return, a slightly more suffered journey awaits them. The newly crowned kings are scheduled to ride to Buckingham in the Golden State Coach, an impressive coach that is horrible to ride in, or so Elizabeth II put it. The reason is that it was made in 1762 and that its wheels cushion the irregularities of the street very little. Both floats will cover a distance of approximately 2.1 kilometers.
Meghan Markle has given the bell and has not traveled to London. As an excuse, they say that she has stayed in Los Angeles to celebrate her eldest son Archie's birthday. The one we will see will be Prince Harry, who will be reunited with his family after publishing his memoir, but he is not expected to be around any senior members of the British royal family over the weekend.
Prince Andrew will also be in attendance, though he won't be taking part in the proceedings as a working member of the Windsors because he lost his honors over the Jeffrey Epstein-related sex scandals. One surprising guest already revealed was Andrew Parker Bowles, Queen Camilla's ex-husband, with whom he continues to maintain a good relationship. Joe Biden, King Juan Carlos, Queen Sofía, Sarah Ferguson, Princess Leonor, Lady Amelia Windsor, Zenouska Mowatt or Princess Alexandra will not be there, for a variety of reasons.
Among the royal pages who will help the kings with the heavy regalia is 9-year-old Prince George of Wales, son of Prince William, who is also set to be crowned after his grandfather and father. Together with him they will help his grandfather with the robes Lord Oliver Cholmondeley (13), son of that false lover of Prince William who the tabloids talked about and who is a great friend of the princes of Wales; also Nicholas Barclay (13) and Ralph Tollemache.
For her part, Queen Camila will be helped by her grandchildren. Laura Lopes' (née Parker Bowles) children: twins Gus and Louis Lopes (13); the younger son of her son Tom and a great-nephew named Arthur Elliot. Gus Lopes will have to play the page with his arm in a sling after breaking it while he was riding his bike.
The ceremony will bring out all the pomp and pageantry to show the world the power of UK history. Among the many relics that will go out for a walk on the occasion of the coronation are the Chair of San Eduardo, where Carlos III will sit during the ceremony and which contains the Stone of Destiny; the scepter with the cross, which shows off the largest cut diamond in the world, the Cullinan I; and the orb, which was first used at Henry VIII's coronation.
