King Charles III has been crowned in Westminster Abbey in London, in a solemn Christian coronation steeped in 1,000 years of history and tradition but updated to represent 21st-century Britain.
The build-up to the ceremony — the ecclesiastical confirmation of Charles’ accession following his mother Queen Elizabeth II’s death last September — has been mostly joyous.
Thousands of people turned central London red, white, and blue on Saturday for King Charles III’s coronation, with a sea of Union Jack banners lining the streets.
But even before Charles, 74, and Queen Camilla, 75, left Buckingham Palace aboard the Diamond Jubilee State Coach for a rainy procession to the abbey, police arrested dozens of protesters using new powers rushed onto the statute book to crack down on direct action groups.
The anti-monarchy movement Republic — which wants an elected head of state — said six of its organisers were detained, while climate activists Just Stop Oil said 19 of its number were held.