LONDON — Charles III was officially crowned king of the United Kingdom of Britain and Northern Ireland on Saturday in a lavish and luxurious ceremony.
Charles, 74, and his wife, Queen Camilla, 75, were crowned at Westminster Abbey just eight months after Charles ascended the throne following the death of his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, on September 8.
First Lady Jill Biden represented the United States at Saturday’s coronation, calling the ceremony “really surreal”. An American president has never attended a British coronation.
“You can’t imagine that moment where you actually see the crown being placed on the head of the king and then on the head of the queen,” she said during a telephone interview with The Associated Press. “It’s really surreal to see and experience that moment.”
“It’s my honor to represent the people of the United States and I wanted to be here,” Jill Biden said. “It was so meaningful to me that I could bring Finnegan here, that we could travel together and experience this together and it’s meant a lot to both of us.”
Dozens of anti-monarchy activists along with other protesters were arrested. Prince Harry attended the ceremony but his wife Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, did not attend. The couple has lived in Los Angeles after breaking away from the Royal Family, a move that has been seen as both controversial and brave.
Buckingham Place responded to the news in a rare message from Queen Elizabeth last year.
“The whole family is saddened to learn the full extent of how challenging the last few years have been for Harry and Meghan. The issues raised, particularly that of race, are concerning. Whilst some recollections may vary, they are taken very seriously and will be addressed by the family privately,” the letter read.
Harry has alleged that Meghan was bullied amid racist remarks from his family but the Royal Family has denied all the claims.
