London (EFE).- London dawns this Saturday decked out to host the coronation ceremony at Westminster Abbey of the Kings of the United Kingdom, Charles III and Camila, an ancient ritual that is celebrated for the first time in the 21st century.
Westminster Abbey will have 2,300 guests
According to the details revealed by the Duke of Norfolk, Edward Fitzalan-Howard, responsible for organizing the ritual, the abbey will receive some 2,300 guests, including a hundred heads of state and for the first time kings of other countries, such as Don Felipe and Doña Letizia from Spain.
As preparations for the coronation began, it was decided that the ceremony at the temple would be different from the one that took place in 1953 with the monarch’s mother, Elizabeth II.
“It was agreed from the start that it would not be possible to close the abbey for five months to allow for an extra capacity of 8,000 people, due to the cost and challenges of installing new seats in this old building,” he told reporters.
A procession that will leave Buckingham Palace at 10:20 local time (09:20 GMT) will take Carlos and Camila to Westminster to begin the ceremony at 11:00 (10:00 GMT).
With the active role for the first time of representatives of different religions, the religious service will be accompanied by twelve new musical compositions, by authors such as Andrew Lloyed Weber or Patrick Doyle.
Highlight of the ceremony
The ceremony, which will culminate in the imposition of the crown by the Archbishop of Canterbury, primate of the Anglican Church, will last an estimated two hours.
After her, the kings will return again in procession to Buckingham, escorted by some 7,000 soldiers and aboard the sumptuous Golden State Carriage, used in each coronation since that of George IV in 1821.
Greeting from the balcony of Buckingham Palace
Once back in the palace, another of the most anticipated images will arrive: the traditional greeting from the balcony. The media do not stop speculating about which members of the Royal Family will accompany the kings at that time and especially if Prince Enrique, his youngest son, will have some kind of role.
The low-flying flight of 60 planes over the heads of the attendees, scheduled for 2:30 p.m. (1:30 p.m. GMT) will culminate the festivities, before Carlos III and Camila retire in private with their families.
In a message late on Friday, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak stressed that the coronation will be a “moment of extraordinary national pride” as, in his opinion, “no other country is capable of mounting such a dazzling display ”.
“No other country can put on such a dazzling display: the processions, the pageantry, the ceremonies and the street parties. But it’s not just a show. It is a proud expression of our history, our culture and our traditions,” Sunak said.