Courtesy: Dawn News/AFP/Reuters/Instagram

Charles, 74, and Queen Camilla, 75, crowned king and queen at Westminster Abbey.

Charles III on Saturday finally met his date with destiny after a lifetime as heir to his late mother Queen Elizabeth II, as he was officially crowned king in the first coronation in Britain since 1953.

At 12:02pm exactly (1102 GMT), the Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby placed the solid gold St Edward’s Crown on Charles’s head as a sacred and ancient symbol of the monarch’s authority.

Charles III crowned king at Westminster Abbey, London, UK on Saturday. — Screengrab from Royal Family livestream

Camilla crowned queen at Westminster Abbey, London, UK on Saturday. — Screengrab from Royal Family livestream

Cries of “God Save the King” rang out from the 2,300-strong congregation at Westminster Abbey and trumpet fanfares sounded at the climax of the solemn religious confirmation of his accession.

William, Prince of Wales, and Catherine, Princess of Wales at the coronation of Charles III at Westminster Abbey, London, UK on Saturday. — Screengrab from Royal Family livestream

Outside, ceremonial gun salutes blasted out across land and sea while bells pealed in celebration at churches across the country.

The build-up to the ceremony — the religious confirmation of Charles’s accession after the death of his mother Queen Elizabeth II last September — has been mostly celebratory.

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.

Nevertheless, dozens of Republic activists held aloft banners on the route of the procession route, declaring: “Not My King.” Both Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International voiced concern at the arrests. “This is something you would expect to see in Moscow, not London,” HRW said.

London’s Metropolitan Police had some 11,500 officers on the streets in one of its biggest-ever security operations. It has warned that it has an “extremely low threshold” for protests.

Britain’s King Charles and Queen Camilla travel in the Diamond Jubilee State Coach from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Abbey to his (their) coronation ceremony in London, Britain on May 6, 2023. — Reuters

Faith leaders and faith representatives in the procession through Westminster Abbey ahead of the coronation ceremony of King Charles III and Queen Camilla in London on May 6, 2023. — Reuters

Troops in full military uniform from various military barracks march, as part of Britain’s King Charles’ coronation in London, Britain on May 6, 2023. — Reuters

People react as they wait to watch Britain’s King Charles’ procession to his coronation ceremony from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Abbey, at The Mall in London, Britain on May 6, 2023. — Reuters

Well-wishers line the route of the ‘King’s Procession’, a two kilometres stretch from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Abbey, in central London, on May 6, 2023 ahead of the Coronation of King Charles III. — Reuters

Police ride on horseback at the Mall before the coronation of Britain’s King Charles III in London Saturday on May 6, 2023. — Reuters

King Charles III leaves Clarence House ahead of his coronation ceremony on May 6, 2023. — Reuters

First Lady of the United States, Dr Jill Biden and her granddaughter Finnegan Biden (left) arriving at Westminster Abbey, central London, ahead of the coronation ceremony of King Charles III and Queen Camilla on May 6, 2023. — Reuters

Members of Household Cavalry march, on the day of Britain’s King Charles’ coronation, in London, Britain on May 6, 2023. — Reuters

Troops march the streets in front of Big Ben in Westminster on the day of Britain’s King Charles’ coronation in London, Britain on May 6, 2023. — Reuters

Well-wishers gather on the Mall outside Buckingham Palace ahead of the coronation of Britain’s King Charles and Camilla, Queen Consort, in London, Britain on May 5, 2023. — Reuters

Royal fans wait at the Mall, ahead of the coronation of Britain’s King Charles and Camilla, Queen Consort, in London, Britain on May 4, 2023. — Reuters

Members of the anti-monarchist group Republic stage a protest close to where Britain’s King Charles III and Britain’s Camilla, Queen Consort will be crowned at Westminster Abbey in central London on May 6, 2023. — Reuters

Crowds in Trafalgar Square take shelter from the rain ahead of the coronation ceremony of King Charles III and Queen Camilla at Westminster Abbey, London on May 6, 2023. — Reuters

Header photo: King Charles III being crowned on Saturday. — Screengrab from Royal Family live stream