CORONATION OF CHARLES III AND HIS WIFE

On 6 May 2023, the coronation of Charles III and his wife, Camilla, as the king and queen of the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth realms took place at Westminster Abbey. This momentous event followed the passing of Charles's mother, Elizabeth II, and his subsequent ascension to the throne on 8 September 2022.

The ceremony centered around an Anglican service of Holy Communion, featuring various rituals. Charles took an oath, received an anointing with holy oil, and was presented with the coronation regalia, symbolizing both his spiritual role and secular duties. Representatives from the Church of England and the British royal family pledged their allegiance to him, while people across the Commonwealth realms were also invited to do the same. Camilla's coronation, though shorter and simpler, also took place during the ceremony. Afterward, the royal family traveled in a grand procession to Buckingham Palace and appeared on the balconies to greet the public. Compared to Elizabeth II's coronation in 1953, this service was modified to reflect the diversity of faiths, cultures, and communities in the United Kingdom and was shorter in duration. enthronement in the 21st century and the 40th to be held at Westminster Abbey since William the Conqueror's coronation in 1066.

The coronation sparked a mix of celebrations and protests throughout the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth realms. In the UK, people partook in street parties, volunteer work, special church services, and a concert at Windsor Castle on 7 May. Surveys conducted in April 2023 revealed that the British public had mixed feelings about the event and its funding. While the ceremonies in London and Windsor attracted large crowds, there were also protests by republican groups. The arrest of 64 protestors drew criticism from human rights organizations. Commonwealth realms such as Antigua and Barbuda, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand organized their own celebrations, but some Indigenous groups and other realms used the occasion to raise awareness about the impacts of British colonialism.

Background

Charles III became king immediately upon the death of his mother, Elizabeth II, at 15:10 BST on Thursday 8 September 2022. He was proclaimed king by the Accession Council of the United Kingdom on Saturday 10 September,[4] which was followed by proclamations in other Commonwealth realms. [5] During Elizabeth's reign, planning meetings for Charles's coronation, codenamed "Operation Golden Orb", were held at least once a year, attended by representatives of the government, the Church of England, and Charles's staff.

Service and procession

The earl marshal, Edward Fitzalan-Howard, assumed responsibility for organizing the coronation. A committee of privy counsellors was tasked with coordinating the event. On 11 October 2022, the date for the coronation was announced as 6 May 2023. This decision allowed for an appropriate period of mourning following the passing of Queen Elizabeth II before the ceremony took place.

To handle requests for historic or ceremonial roles at the coronation, a Coronation Claims Office was established within the Cabinet Office. This office replaced the Court of Claims. General Sir Gordon Messenger and Admiral Sir Tony Radakin were appointed as the lord high steward and lord high constable of England, respectively, positions specifically associated with coronations.

The holy anointing oil used in the ceremony was consecrated at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre on 6 March 2023. Patriarch Theophilos III of Jerusalem oversaw the consecration, under the supervision of HosamNaoum, the Anglican archbishop of Jerusalem. The oil followed a similar formula to that used in the coronation of Elizabeth II, but without animal products such as civet.

Military dress rehearsals occurred on 17, 18, and 19 April. On 3 May, Charles, Camilla, William, Prince of Wales, Catherine, Princess of Wales, their children, and Anne, Princess Royal, attended rehearsals at Westminster Abbey in preparation for the coronation.

From 25 April, Westminster Abbey was closed to tourists and worshippers to make way for the necessary preparations. It remained closed until 8 May. Similar to past coronations, some attendees had limited visibility due to the filled capacity of the abbey's nave.

Guests

The coronation, classified as a state event, was financed by the British government, which also had the authority to determine the guest list. A total of approximately 2,200 guests from 203 countries received invitations. Among them were members of the British royal family, representatives from the Church of England and various other faith communities in Britain, influential politicians from the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth, as well as heads of state from foreign nations. In comparison to the coronation in 1953, where virtually the entire Parliament of the United Kingdom attended, the number of British political attendees was significantly reduced. The guest list also encompassed 850 individuals representing communities and charitable organizations. This group included 450 recipients of the British Empire Medal and 400 young people, half of whom were nominated by the British government. Due to safety regulations at Westminster Abbey, the number of guests was restricted. Notably, unlike previous coronations, no temporary stands were constructed in the vicinity.

Cost

The state-funded coronation was organized by the British government, which held the authority to curate the guest list. Invitations were extended to approximately 2,200 guests hailing from 203 countries. Distinguished attendees comprised members of the British royal family, representatives from the Church of England, as well as diverse faith communities in Britain. Additionally, influential politicians from the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth, along with foreign heads of state, were included in the guest list. In contrast to the previous coronation in 1953, where nearly the entire Parliament of the United Kingdom was present, the number of British political attendees was noticeably reduced. Furthermore, the guest list incorporated 850 individuals representing various communities and charitable organizations. This inclusive group featured 450 recipients of the British Empire Medal and 400 young individuals, half of whom were nominated by the British government. Westminster Abbey's safety regulations necessitated limitations on the number of guests, with no temporary stands being erected in the vicinity as seen in previous coronations.

Coronation service

The coronation day comprised various significant events, starting with a procession from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Abbey. The main ceremony, conducted by the Church of England, incorporated distinct elements and revolved around a Holy Communion service. Charles and Camilla made their entrance into the abbey, where Charles was presented to the people and officially acknowledged as the monarch. Following this, Charles took a solemn oath, pledging to uphold the law and protect the Church of England. He was then anointed with sacred oil, adorned with the coronation regalia, and crowned with the illustrious St Edward's Crown. Subsequently, he was enthroned and received homage from Justin Welby, the archbishop of Canterbury, as well as from William, the Prince of Wales. The people in attendance were also invited to express their allegiance. Camilla, too, underwent an anointing, coronation, and enthronement process. The King and Queen concluded the service by participating in Holy Communion before proceeding out of the abbey. Lastly, they made an appearance on the palace balcony alongside other members of the royal family, witnessing a flypast by the Royal Air Force.

Anachronistic Coronation Ceremony

In the modern world, the existence of a king is out of sync with the times. It is an anachronism that does not align with the values and realities of today. Yet, the world recently witnessed the coronation of another monarch in the Kingdom of Britain, a lavish and opulent ceremony, while millions of Britons are being pushed into poverty. This juxtaposition is abominable, especially considering that millions of poor individuals in the United Kingdom struggle to afford food and have barely survived a harsh winter.

Even if we set aside the controversy surrounding the Kohinoor diamond, which was taken from a young Sikh king, the ceremony itself cannot be redeemed from the fact that almost everything else involved was either stolen, snatched, or funded through the toil and suffering of millions across the globe. From the red coats worn by the ceremonial guards to the gold-plated carriage, these symbols of grandeur ultimately trace their origins to the capital amassed through looting and slavery.

The monarchy represents the brutal exploitation of Nigeria and other nations, which involved the enslavement and forced migration of countless individuals. Throughout the vast empire on which "the sun never set," people were sold, abused, and starved to death in order to establish and maintain the kingdom that the monarch's office represents. This coronation, broadcasted with unapologetic hypocrisy, serves as a stark reminder of the empire's numerous war crimes and heinous acts against humanity. The office of the king has never even offered a token apology for the devastating impact it had on the world—an impact unparalleled in human history.

Excusing these actions as acceptable for their time period is a feeble argument. The acceptability of such crimes against humanity is a construct of human society. Just as ISIS might claim their actions are acceptable in the current age of human sensitivity, there have been civilizations influenced by enlightened philosophies such as Jainism and Buddhism that, for over two millennia, rejected the notion that such crimes against humanity or any living being could ever be acceptable. So, who truly defined the time periods when such atrocities were deemed acceptable?

With the advent of social media and the democratization of narratives, individual family histories from the colonial era are coming to light, causing the colonial narrative, upheld for over 70 years since actual colonization ceased, to crumble. Celebratory accounts of the contributions of colonization, such as the establishment of railways, globalization, and increased trade, are being questioned. Is it worth sacrificing the lives, dignity, and freedom of countless individuals for these so-called achievements? In light of what we now know about the true cost of colonization, can any of these supposed benefits justify the millions who perished?

It is worth noting that the invention of zero, the discovery of gravity by Brahmagupta, the development of trigonometry and trigonometric tables by Aryabhata, and the accomplishments of the ancient surgeon Susruta did not require colonization. The introduction of railways primarily served to expedite the transfer of resources and wealth to the United Kingdom, where the coronation took place. The capital accumulated through this plundering funded further revenue generation for Britain. Additionally, as I defined "Digital Colonization" over a decade ago, unfair trade agreements continued to pour disproportionate economic benefits into Britain. As the colonies and these trade agreements vanished, Britain has started its journey back to its historic standing in the international community, a position it held before the Romans discovered it and adopted aspects of civilization from the Greeks and Persians.

The repugnance of the coronation ceremony extends beyond what it symbolizes; it also lies in how it was conducted. It perpetuated the blending of religion and government, still taking place within an Anglican church, with the church anointing the king to reinforce the notion that the monarch is divinely.