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Key events
The UK’s ambassador to Ukraine, Dame Melinda Simmons, has noted the similarity of the carpet layout in the abbey to the Ukrainian flag, and said she “lost her composure for a minute”. The ambassador is currently in Kyiv.
King Charles has knelt before the altar and offered a prayer, saying:
God of compassion and mercy, whose Son was sent not to be served but to serve, give grace that I may find in thy service perfect freedom, and in that freedom knowledge of thy truth. Grant that I may be a blessing to all thy children, of every faith and belief, that together we may discover the ways of gentleness and be led into the paths of peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Here are some of the latest images from Westminster Abbey to come across on the news wires:
King Charles takes the oath
Charles says:
I, Charles, do solemnly and sincerely in the presence of God profess, testify, and declare that I am a faithful Protestant, and that I will, according to the true intent of the enactments which secure the Protestant succession to the throne, uphold and maintain the said enactments to the best of my powers according to law.
A choir is now singing.
Charles specifically promises to uphold “the Protestant reformed religion established by law” and “preserve inviolably the settlement of the Church of England”.
The King has now indicated he is willing to take the oath, and places his hand upon the bible, and the archbishop of Canterbury is reading him the oath.
Former Lord Advocate of Scotland Lady Elish Angiolini, former soldier Christopher Finney and Baroness Amos, a Labour politician, have taken part in the recognition.
A bible is now being presented to King Charles by Rev Dr Iain Greenshields, moderator of the general assembly of the Church of Scotland. He tells the King:
To keep you ever mindful of the law and the Gospel of God as the rule for the whole life and government of Christian princes, receive this book, the most valuable thing that this world affords. Here is wisdom; this is the royal law; these are the lively oracles of God.
Despite speculation that Charles’ slimmed down coronation would be more secular in nature, it remains an essentially Christian church service.
In this part of the ceremony, known as the recognition, Charles will face all four points of the compass and be presented with the words “I here present unto you King Charles, your undoubted King.”
The archbishop says:
Dearly beloved, we are gathered to offer worship and praise to Almighty God; to celebrate the life of our nations; to pray for Charles, our King; to recognise and to give thanks for his life of service to this Nation, the Realms, and the Commonwealth; and to witness with joy his anointing and crowning, his being set apart and consecrated for the service of his people. Let us dedicate ourselves alike, in body, mind, and spirit, to a renewed faith, a joyful hope, and a commitment to serve one another in love.
A choir is now singing Kyrie eleison. Bryn Terfel is singing in Welsh, the first time the language has been used in a coronation ceremony of a monarch of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Other languages from around the country will also be used in other parts of the service.
At the start of the service a child has approached Charles III and said “Your Majesty, as children of the kingdom of God we welcome you in the name of the King of kings.”
Charles replied “In his name and after his example I come not to be served but to serve.”
Justin Welby, archbishop of Canterbury, has then given a welcome. He will now give an address.
Here are the Prince and Princess of Wales, who will one day presumably have their own coronation day in the same Abbey.
If you have been watching the video live stream, apologies but you might need to refresh the page and press play again now that the service has started.
Here is a view of Princess Charlotte arriving. Her brother has a formal role in the ceremony, but she will only be taking part in the procession back to Buckingham Palace at the end of the service.
The music as Charles enters the abbey is based on Psalm 122 and was composed for the Coronation of Edward VII in 1902, and it includes a Latin cry of long live Charles and long live Camilla. The lyrics are:
Was glad when they said unto me
We will go into the house of the Lord.
Our feet shall stand in thy gates,
O Jerusalem.
Jerusalem is builded as a city,
that is at unity in itself.
Vivat Regina Camilla! Vivat!
Vivat Rex Carolus! Vivat!
O pray for the peace of Jerusalem,
They shall prosper that love thee.
Peace be within thy walls,
and plenteousness within thy palaces.
King Charles III has entered Westminster Abbey for the coronation ceremony
King Charles III has entered Westminster Abbey for the coronation ceremony.
Here is the king outside the Abbey with his page boys, inclduing grandson Prince George.
The royal regalia is now being carried into the abbey by a series of dignitaries, including MP Penny Mourdant, the first woman to be a sword-bearer at a coronation.
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