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THE CORONATION OF KING CHARLES III AND QUEEN CAMILLA

Sovereign's Orb and Sovereign's Sceptre with Cross.

The King is pictured wearing the Robe of Estate, the Imperial State

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He is seated on one of a pair of throne chairs that were especially made for use at the 1902 coronationof King Edward VII. Those chairs were also used by King Charles and Queen Camilla at Westminster Hall to receive addresses from the Speakers of both Houses of Parliament last year.

The Queen is pictured in the Green Drawing Room wearing

Queen Mary's Crown and Robe of

Estate. In a statement, the King expressed his and Camilla's "most sincere

King Charles III and Queen Camilla are pictured here with members of the working Royal Family. and heartfelt thanks" to all those who helped to make the Coronation weekend "such a special occasion".

To people who joined in the celebrations, the King said: "To know that we have your support and encouragement, and to witness your kindness expressed in so many different ways, has been the greatest possible Coronation gift."

King Charles added that he and his wife would now rededicate their lives to "serving the people of the United Kingdom, the Realms and Commonwealth".

In a statement, the King expressed his and Camilla's "most sincere and heartfelt thanks" to all those who helped to make the Coronation weekend "such a special occasion".

To people who joined in the celebrations, the King said: "To know that we have your support and encouragement, and to witness your kindness expressed in so many different ways, has been the greatest possible Coronation gift."

King Charles added that he and his wife would now rededicate their lives to "serving the people of the United Kingdom, the Realms and

Commonwealth".

Music underpinned the entire celebration, in keeping with history. Each stage was marked by either a grand choral work, an ethereal motet, an extravagant organ composition or an evocative melody, all performed by some of the most accomplished singers and musicians in the world.

King Charles and Queen Camilla entered the abbey to the strains of "I was glad," the stirring coronation anthem written by Hubert Parry for the coronation of King Edward VII in 1902 and sung at all coronations since then.

Queen Camilla was a regal sight in ivory, silver and gold. But who was she wearing?

But the old was blended with the new; Charles had asked Andrew Lloyd Webber -- whose music is more familiar to audiences in the West End than congregations in Westminster Abbey -- to write a Coronation Anthem, "Make a Joyful Noise," which played after Camilla was enthroned.

Unsurprisingly, it was a British designer, Bruce Oldfield, who she has a longstanding relationship with. Simple, tailored and cut from Peau de Soie, a silk fabric with a dull luster finish, her coronation dress was more akin to a coat dress with an embroidered underskirt as opposed to a traditional dress.

Meanwhile, there was widespread speculation before Saturday as to whether Prince Harry would be at his father's coronation.

The Duke of Sussex attended the coronation ceremony at Westminster Abbey on Saturday, sitting in the third row.

Prince Harry attended without his wife, Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, who reportedly stayed back in the US with their children on the account of Archie's fourth birthday.

Wearing a morning suit with his military medals, Harry arrived alongside his uncles, Prince Edward and Prince Andrew, and two of his cousins, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie.

The coronation marked the first time the prince publicly met members of his family since the release of his memoir, "Spare."

A balcony flypast

The weather did not favor King Charles -- and while crowds seemed unperturbed by the rain, it did alter plans for the traditional

Royal Air Force flypast. The display was formed only of helicopters and the colorful Red Arrows, and not the expected Typhoons, Spitfires, Hurricanes and Lancaster bombers. But crowds instead enjoyed not one but two appearances on the balcony by the new King and Queen, who provided an encore after seemingly waving goodbye to supporters. That wrapped up an eventful day, which had drawn thousands onto London's streets.

Evelyn Maisoreva Southern African Correspondent Cleopatra Magazine

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