• Police arrest scores of anti-monarchy protesters
• Tinubu: I look forward to further engagements with you
A gathering of about 100 world leaders and a television audience of millions across the world watched in awe yesterday as King Charles III was crowned in Britain’s biggest ceremonial event for seven decades; a sumptuous display of pageantry dating back 1,000 years.
An estimated crowd of 2 million others massed on the streets of a rainy London after the historic first coronation in Britain since 1953.
But it was not all cheers across the country as the police smashed a rally by anti-monarchy protesters who were calling for the abrogation of the throne.
The protesters’ van full of ‘Not My King’ banners was scoured by the police.
Human Rights Watch described the arrest as incredibly alarming.
“This is something you would expect to see in Moscow not London,” it said in a statement in London.
President-elect Bola Tinubu expressed his desire for further engagements between Nigeria and Britain in the years ahead.
The Archbishop of Canterbury, the spiritual leader of the Anglican Church, placed the 360-year-old St Edward’s Crown on Charles’ head as he sat upon a 14th Century throne in Westminster Abbey.
The historic and solemn event dates back to the time of the 74-year-old’s predecessor William the Conqueror in 1066.
Charles’ second wife Camilla, 75, was also crowned queen during the two-hour ceremony, which while rooted in history, was also an attempt to present a forward-looking monarchy, with those involved in the service reflecting a more diverse Britain and leaders from all faiths.
For a nation struggling to find its way in the political maelstrom after its exit from the European Union and maintain its standing in a new world order, its supporters say the royal family provides an international draw, a vital diplomatic tool, and a means of staying on the world stage.
“No other country could put on such a dazzling display – the processions, the pageantry, the ceremonies, and street parties,” Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said.
Despite Sunak’s enthusiasm, the coronation took place amid a cost of living crisis and public scepticism, particularly among the young, about the role and relevance of the monarchy.
Yesterday’s event was on a smaller scale than the one staged for Queen Elizabeth in 1953 but was no less spectacular, featuring an array of historical regalia from golden orbs and bejewelled swords to a sceptre holding the world’s largest colourless cut diamond.
While the coronation was not essential, it was regarded as a means to legitimise the monarch in a public way.
The king and queen left Buckingham Palace for the abbey in the modern Black Diamond State Jubilee Coach accompanied by cavalrymen wearing shining breastplates and plumed helmets.
Hundreds of soldiers in scarlet uniforms and black bearskin hats lined the route along The Mall, the grand boulevard to Buckingham Palace. Tens of thousands ignored the light rain to mass in a crowd more than 20 deep in some places to watch what some saw as a moment of history.
“The split-second glance of seeing the king is really important but I think the whole day as well … the idea of the nation coming together.
“You very much feel the pride in the nation,” said Mark Strasshine after the royal coach went by.
Police arrest ‘Not My King’ protesters
Hundreds of republicans booed and waved banners reading “Not My King”.
The protesters, who were in yellow and waved placards, stood shoulder-to-shoulder with royal fans bedecked in Union flags as thousands of people lined the procession route.
As the ranks of the protesters swelled, the chants of ‘Not My King’ rang round the streets.
The chants elicited boos and rivaling chants of ‘God Save the King’ from supporters of the crown.
In no time, the police descended on the protesters after warning they would have an ‘extremely low threshold’ in dealing with anyone who tried to disrupt the day.
Some of the protesters were soon arrested and their van which was filled with ‘Not My King’ banners scoured.
One of those arrested was a defiant royalist shouting ‘He is My King’.
He was detained for allegedly throwing an object.
More than 11,000 policemen were deployed to ensure order
The Republic campaign group said its leader, Graham Smith, had been arrested along with five other protesters.
Lawmaker Clive Lewis, who was among the anti-monarchy protesters, said: “It is an unequal and out-of-date system because it has a hereditary billionaire individual born into wealth and privilege who basically symbolises the inequality of wealth and power in our society.”
The Metropolitan Police said a number of arrests had been made and the individuals were being held “on suspicion of breaching the peace.”
“Earlier today we arrested four people in the area of St Martin’s Lane. They were held on suspicion of conspiracy to cause public nuisance. We seized lock-on devices,” it said in a tweet.
“A further three people were arrested in the area of Wellington Arch. They were held on suspicion of possessing articles to cause criminal damage. There will be further updates later today.”
The Daily Mail One reported that a video showed members of the public quizzing police on why Republic members had been arrested, with an officer saying: “I’m not going to get into a conversation about that – they are under arrest, end of.”
Human rights activist Peter Tatchell told Yahoo: “The police broke their promise that peaceful anti-monarchy protests would be permitted.
“They arrested the head of Republic and other protesters, confiscated Republic’s official placards, photographed everyone and erected a huge watchtower in front of the Republic protest so the king would not see us.
“It’s an outrageous abuse of police powers and an attack of freedom of expression. This just reconfirms that the police cannot be trusted.”
However, not everyone was against police taking action against protesters. Tory deputy chairman Lee Anderson tweeted: “Not My King? If you do not wish to live in a country that has a monarchy the solution is not to turn up with your silly boards. The solution is to emigrate.”
Inside the abbey, bedecked with flowers and flags, politicians and representatives from Commonwealth nations including President Muhammadu Buhari took their seats alongside charity workers and celebrities, including actors Emma Thompson, Maggie Smith, Judi Dench and U.S. singer Katy Perry.
Much of the ceremony featured elements that Charles’ forebears right back to King Edgar in 973 would recognise, officials said. Handel’s coronation anthem “Zadok The Priest” was sung as it has been at every coronation since 1727.
But there was also the new, including an anthem composed by Andrew Lloyd Webber, famed for his West End and Broadway theatre shows, and a gospel choir.
Charles’ grandson Prince George and the grandchildren of Camilla acted as pages.
However, there was no formal role for either Charles’ younger son Prince Harry, after his high-profile falling out with his family, or his brother Prince Andrew, who was forced to quit royal duties because of his friendship with late U.S. financier Jeffrey Epstein, a convicted sex offender.
They sat in the third row behind working members of the royal family.
Charles looked serious as he swore oaths to govern justly and uphold the Church of England – of which he is the titular head – before the most sacred part of the ceremony when he was anointed on his hands, head, and breast by Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby with holy oil consecrated in Jerusalem.
After being presented with symbolic regalia, Welby placed the St Edward’s Crown on his head and the congregation cried out “God save the King”.
After the service, Charles and Camilla departed in the four-tonne Gold State Coach built for George III, the last king of Britain’s American colonies, riding to Buckingham Palace in a one-mile procession of 4,000 military personnel from 39 nations.
It is the largest show of its kind in Britain since the coronation of Charles’ mother.
“When you see everyone dressed up and taking part it is just fantastic. It makes you so proud,” said teacher Andy Mitchell, 63, who left his house in the early hours to get into London.
“My big concern is that younger people are losing interest in all of this and it won’t be the same in the future.”
Tinubu writes Charles, seeks further engagements between Nigeria, Britain
President-elect Bola Tinubu, in a congratulatory letter to King Charles 111 yesterday, expressed the desire for further engagements between Nigeria and Britain in the years ahead.
He said: “It is heartwarming that your ascension to the throne is coming after the 70-year-reign of your iconic mother, Queen Elizabeth II, whose death last September left the entire world in grief, given her eventful reign.
“Bearing your unique place in history as the first King to be inaugurated in Britain since 1937, I trust that you will follow in the glorious footsteps of your late mother and even surpass her achievements in United Kingdom and the Commonwealth.
“Particularly remarkable about you is your love for the environment, importantly your lifelong crusade for sustainability and biodiversity.
“I hope that you will continue to push for these initiatives with kind eyes on the situation and plight of the under-privileged people in Africa and around the world.
“As the President-elect of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, I also hope that during your reign, the excellent bilateral relationship between Nigeria and Britain will continue and even become stronger in the interests of our two countries.
“I look forward to further engagements with you and the opportunity of a meeting in the nearest future as both of us had earlier indicated in discussions with mutual friends and associates.”
He prayed that God might grant the king strength and wisdom and “make your reign successful for the benefit of not only the people of the Great Britain, but for the entire world.”
