The Reign of King Charles III Begins
As the heir apparent takes the throne, what does the future hold for the British monarchy?
“Queen Elizabeth II has died,” announced the BBC somberly on September 8, 2022.
Citizens of Great Britain, though they had long prepared for such an eventuality as the elder Queen’s health began to fail, greeted the news with a level of shock and sadness that surprised some nations unaccustomed to the vicissitudes of a monarchy.
Queen Elizabeth’s death represented more than the end of a royal life; her death marked the end of a long era in British history.
Queen Elizabeth II’s coronation took place in June 1953, at Westminster Abbey in London, and was a grand and elaborate ceremony watched by millions of people around the world.
The ceremony began with a procession through the streets of London, as the Queen made her way from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Abbey. Along the way, she was greeted by cheering crowds and a display of military pageantry.
At Westminster Abbey, the Archbishop of Canterbury crowned the Queen in a ceremony that followed centuries-old traditions. The coronation regalia included a crown, a scepter, an orb, and other symbolic items that represented the Queen’s role as monarch.