By 
The Diamond Jubilee State Coach carrying King Charles III and Queen Camilla left Buckingham Palace Saturday for a parade through downtown London to their coronation in Westminster Abbey.
As the horse-drawn carriage passed, the troops lining The Mall in front of the palace displayed their arms and screamed “God save the king” to the delight of hundreds of onlookers.
Meanwhile, dozens of protestors were arrested as police used new powers pushed onto the statute book to crack down on direct action groups.
Republic, an anti-monarchy organization that demands an elected head of state, reported six of its organizers were detained, while climate campaigners Just Stop Oil said 19 of its members were detained.
Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International both expressed concerns.
“This is something you would expect to see in Moscow, not London,” HRW stated.
The Metropolitan Police Service in London has 11,500 officers on the streets in one of its largest-ever security operations. It has issued a warning that it has an “extremely low threshold” for protests.
It is the first coronation since 1953 and the first of a king since 1937. It is just the second to be aired, the first in colour, and the first to be watched online.
At 1100 GMT, the St Edward’s Crown – a solid gold, sacred symbol of the monarch’s authority used only once in the reign will be placed on Charles’s head to screams of “God Save the King.”
To mark the first coronation of a British monarch since 1953 and only the fifth since 1838 trumpet fanfares will ring out across Westminster Abbey and ceremonial gun salutes will be fired across land and sea.
Bells will ring out in celebration at churches across the country, followed by a 7,000-strong military parade through the streets of the capital by liveried soldiers on foot and horseback.
Changes
Much of the two-hour Anglican liturgy, directed by Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby, would be familiar to the 39 other kings who have been crowned at Westminster Abbey since 1066.
While many of the complicated rites and ceremonies to establish Charles as his people’s “undoubted king” have not changed, the king has worked to modernize some components of the service.
For the first time, women will serve as bishops, and leaders of Britain’s non-Christian faiths and Celtic languages will be prominent.
As king, Charles is the highest governor of the Church of England, but he reigns over a more religiously and ethnically diverse country than his mother inherited in the aftermath of WWII.
He has also attempted to make the congregation’s 2,300 members more representative of British society, encouraging ordinary members of the public to sit alongside heads of state and global monarchy.
Another difference is that the coronation themes reflect his longstanding passion in biodiversity and sustainability.
Seasonal flowers and foliage have been transported from the wind-battered Isle of Skye in northwest Scotland to Cornwall on England’s southwest coast to fill the abbey.
Previous coronation ceremonial garments will be reused, and the anointing oil will be vegan.
Opposition
The coronation was regarded as “a proud expression of our history, culture, and traditions” by Britain’s Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.
However, not everyone is convinced: polls show that support for the monarchy is dwindling, particularly among younger people.
Prince Andrew, Charles’s eldest brother, was booed as he approached the abbey, owing to his association with the late convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein.
Overseas, Charles’ position as hereditary king and head of state of 14 Commonwealth countries appears to be deteriorating.
Both Jamaica and Belize declared this week that countries are heading towards becoming republics, and Australia, Canada, and others may follow suit in the future.
Meanwhile, Britons dealing with rising living costs have questioned whether taxpayers should foot the tab for the coronation, which is expected to cost more than £100 million ($126 million).
Support
Nonetheless, the massive crowds of royal admirers that have gathered on The Mall outside Buckingham Palace all week show that the royals continue to play an important part in British society and history.
Many of those gathered to witness have flown in from other countries, highlighting the royal family’s unrivalled position as Britain’s premier global brand.
Christine Wilen travelled to the event from Niagara Falls, Canada.
“I’m very excited to be here, to be a part of this history,” Wilen remarked, sporting a Canadian-themed visor and sweater.
