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London has dawned this Friday taken by the coronation of Carlos III and his wife Camila.
Hundreds of tents accumulate on The Mall, the avenue that leads from Trafalgar Square to Buckingham Palace.
Neither the rain, nor the dirt floor, nor the cold of the night nor the incessant presence of tourists and foreign and local media discourage fans of the British royal family.
Some 11,500 police officers patrol the streets of the city.
70 years have passed since the last time this ceremony of centuries-old traditions was seen.
In 1953, Queen Elizabeth II, who died last September, was crowned.
Carlos witnessed that moment when he was barely four years old and now, at 74, it is his turn to wear the crown of San Eduardo.
The festivities will continue until Monday.
Complete guide to the coronation of Carlos III and Camila: where to see it, schedules, procession and guests
03:06
What does Carlos III mean with his coronation suit?
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Rafael de MiguelLondon
An “abhorrent” loyalty oath
Hours before the Coronation ceremony is held, the controversy is served.
The Archbishop of Canterbury's idea of
democratizing
the traditional loyalty oath that nobles and aristocrats swore to the enthroned king has sparked much criticism.
Justin Welby wanted the civil society guests gathered in Westminster Abbey, and the rest of the British citizens who were following the event, to repeat in unison “I swear to pay true allegiance to Your Majesty and to your heirs and successors in accordance with the law.
May God help me”, before shouting the legendary God Save The King.
“I can think of nothing the king could find more abhorrent than that.
He has never wanted to be revered, nor for anyone to pay tribute to him, except as a joke", journalist Jonathan Dimbleby, a personal friend of Carlos III, author of his biography, and the man who interviewed the then prince, told the BBC. of Wales and coaxed his confession of infidelity to Lady Di.
Given the way in which members of the royal family send their messages through the press, it is inevitable to question whether Dimbleby is giving his opinion or trying to get a message across before it is too late.
The Archbishop of Canterbury, for the moment, has limited himself to saying that the formula is a suggestion, not an imposition on the guests, and that the idea "came from a collective effort", to remove part of the responsibility.
ACT.5 MAY 2023 - 14:12
The country
6,000 fewer guests than at the coronation of Elizabeth II
For the first time in the history of the British monarchy, the enthronement will be attended by crowned kings.
Until now, no other member of foreign royalty had to be present at the coronation of the new king, because the ceremony was understood as a sacred act between the sovereign and the people.
On this occasion, they will be able to attend, but the number of guests has been reduced by more than 6,000 compared to that of her mother, Queen Elizabeth II.
Carlos III wants the ceremony to be more sustainable, less pretentious than what tradition indicates and to be more modern and close to the present moment.
Such has been the reduction of guests that not even Sarah Ferguson, ex-wife of his brother Andrés and mother of her nieces, is invited to the event.
Despite her separation, she continues to live with the prince and is the one who has taken care of the queen's corgis after her death last September.
ACT.5 MAY 2023 - 14:10
Andrea JimenezMadrid
King Charles III, on his arrival at Westminster Abbey.
/ SEBASTIEN BOZON / AFP
Three days of rehearsals at Westminster Abbey
There are less than 24 hours left for Carlos III to be crowned as the new king of the British monarchy.
A mere formality for someone who has been practicing as such since the death of her mother, Queen Elizabeth II, on September 8, 2022. For such a special and long-awaited occasion, everything has to be perfect.
For this, the rehearsals in London have been repeated since Tuesday night.
Hundreds of soldiers took to the streets of London to practice the parade that they will carry out from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Abbey, including the floats and instruments that will provide the soundtrack to the event.
These rehearsals were joined hours later, already on Wednesday morning, by King Carlos III and Camila, along with the Princes of Wales, Guillermo and Kate, and their three children, Jorge, Carlota and Luis.
Camila's grandchildren also attended, who will play an important role in the ceremony.
This same Friday, despite the rain in London, the protagonists of the coronation have been seen by car leaving Clarence House, the royal residence where they live, on their way to the abbey to continue with the rehearsals.
ACT.5 MAY 2023 - 14:04
The country
A reception at Buckingham
The first coronation guests have already begun to arrive in London.
It is expected that this afternoon more than 1,000 people will attend the reception to be held at Buckingham Palace, where most of the coronation guests will attend, as well as all those who will not be able to attend due to capacity restrictions in the Westminster Abbey, where 2,000 guests will gather tomorrow.
Two future queens, who will not be at the enthronement ceremony, will attend the reception at the palace.
One of them is the eldest daughter of Guillermo and Máxima de Holanda, Amalia de Holanda.
So will Princess Elizabeth, daughter of King Philippe and Queen Mathilde of Belgium.
Former monarchs will also be present, such as Princess Beatriz of the Netherlands, who abdicated in 2013 in favor of her son, Guillermo de ella.
The kings of Spain, Felipe and Letizia, will attend both the reception at the palace and the coronation.
ACT.5 MAY 2023 - 13:48
Elizabeth II of England
Historical photos of the coronation of Elizabeth II
The country
On June 2, 1953, Elizabeth of England became queen of the British monarchy in a ceremony that was broadcast on television for the first time in history.
In a few weeks, it will be 70 years since that day.
Since that time, her son and her current monarch has been preparing to be the next king.
More than 8,000 people attended the coronation of Elizabeth II, 6,000 more than those who will attend her son's.
The ceremony was deeply religious and provided a moral boost in the harsh post-war years as millions around the world celebrated the historic day.
ACT.5 MAY 2023 - 13:37
Maria PorcelLondon
12 women from Essex: "We can't wait to see William, Kate and the children"
At 6:00 in the morning, Nathalie and nine other members of her family arrived at The Mall, soon to be joined by two others.
In all, a dozen women between the ages of 25 and 75, fully decked out in flag hats and unnecessary but fun British flag sunglasses.
They only bring chairs, umbrellas and food.
No tents.
But they are not afraid of the cold: they have decided to spend the next 24 hours here, all to see the British royal family, of whom they are fans.
She says they are looking forward to seeing William and Kate, the heirs, along with their three children and are also looking forward to the passing of the historic floats.
Among them they also comment on the situation of Enrique and Meghan.
They think it's "great" that Carlos's youngest son has decided to live his life in California,
but also that he is present on such a fundamental day for his father.
Groups and talks will not be missing.
ACT.5 MAY 2023 - 13:38
Maria PorcelLondon
London, focused on the coronation
Everything in central London makes it clear that this weekend is special.
In main streets such as Oxford Street, banners with the emblem of the coronation of Carlos III hang.
Souvenir
shops
are packed, and banks, hotels, museums, pubs and supermarkets are decorated in red, white and blue.
There are a multitude of closed areas and an extensive police presence;
It is estimated that 11,500 agents will be on the streets, more than at the funerals for Elizabeth II last September.
With hundreds of people camped out, The Mall takes center stage, the avenue that leads from Trafalgar Square to Buckingham Palace.
Since Monday, a handful of tents have accumulated in it, which this Friday already number in the hundreds.
Neither the rain, nor the dirt floor, nor the cold of the night nor the incessant presence of tourists and foreign and local media discourage fans
of
the British royal family.
ACT.5 MAY 2023 - 13:22
The country
The coronation of Carlos III, live
Good morning,
We start the live narration of the coronation of Carlos III, which will begin tomorrow Saturday at 10:20 local London time, an hour later in mainland Spain.
It will do so from Buckingham Palace, where the monarchs will get on the Diamond Jubilee carriage, built to commemorate Elizabeth II's 60 years on the throne, to parade in the king's procession.
They will cross The Mall, one of the most emblematic walks in London, until they reach Trafalgar Square.
From there, they will continue their way through Whitehall until they reach Westminster Abbey, where the coronation ceremony is held.
This tour will last approximately 30 minutes.
At 11 (12 Spanish time), the liturgy will begin, which will last an estimated two hours and will be divided into five stages.
After the coronation, the kings will return to the palace,
but this time they will do it in the Golden State carriage -created for the coronation of Queen Victoria in June 1838-.
At half past one in the afternoon (London time) the kings will arrive at the palace to greet their subjects from Buckingham's balcony.
They will not do it alone, as a part of the Windsor family is expected to accompany the newly crowned.
Specifically, the princes of Wales, William and Catherine, and their three children.
After the salute, the coronation ceremony will officially end, although the festivities will continue throughout the weekend.
as a part of the Windsor family is expected to accompany the newly crowned.
Specifically, the princes of Wales, William and Catherine, and their three children.
After the salute, the coronation ceremony will officially end, although the festivities will continue throughout the weekend.
as a part of the Windsor family is expected to accompany the newly crowned.
Specifically, the princes of Wales, William and Catherine, and their three children.
After the salute, the coronation ceremony will officially end, although the festivities will continue throughout the weekend.
ACT.5 MAY 2023 - 12:58
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