LONDON, May 6 (Reuters) – From traditional dresses to statement headdresses, royals and guests donned colorful outfits for the coronation of Britain’s King Charles III on Saturday, filling London’s Westminster Abbey with a mix of hues and designs.
The monarch wore the same crimson velvet robe of state worn by her grandfather King George VI during her coronation in 1937.
He changed into the ceremonial regalia worn by his predecessors for their coronations: a gold-silk full-length supertunica coat and coronation sword belt, and above it, a gold cloth imperial mantle, originally made for George IV’s coronation in 1821 and dated. Dress in service.
An embroidered white leather glove was placed on his right hand.
Charles was crowned with the historic St. Edward’s Crown, which has been used since the coronation of King Charles II in 1661.
Queen Camilla arrived in an ivory gown embellished with silver and gold floral embroidery by British couturier Bruce Oldfield over a robe of state made for the late Queen Elizabeth in 1953.
The two left the Abbey in purple robes of estate – Charles’, previously worn by George VI and Camilla, were designed by the Royal School of Needlework and featured nature-themed embroidery.
“For the first time, insects including bees, butterflies, a beetle and a caterpillar have been featured on the coronation robes, drawing on themes of nature and the environment, reflecting Their Majesties’ affection for the natural world,” Buckingham Palace said.
The Prince and Princess of Wales, William and Catherine, accompanied the heir to the throne and his wife in the ceremonial dress of the Guards of Wales, wearing silver and crystal leaf headdresses. turban
She and her daughter Charlotte wore ivory silk crepe frocks adorned with embroidered rose, thistle, daffodil and shamrock motifs – a nod to the four nations of the United Kingdom designed by Alexander McQueen, the same label Kate chose for her wedding dress in 2011.
She paid tribute to the late Princess Diana, wearing pearl and diamond earrings that once belonged to her, and for Queen Elizabeth, a necklace commissioned by George VI in 1950.
Charles’ siblings wore traditional attire, while his nieces Princesses Beatrice, Eugenie, Zara and Lady Louise wore dresses or coats in fuchsia, blue and floral prints respectively.
Her son Prince Harry, no longer a working royal, wore morning clothes.
Celebrity guests included actress Emma Thompson in a red coat with rose motifs and American singer Katy Perry at Sunday’s coronation concert in Windsor, wearing a pink short-sleeved skirt with opera gloves and a hat.
Legendary actresses Maggie Smith and Judi Dench opted for different shades of blue. Singers Nick Cave and Lionel Richie wore three-piece black suits to Sunday’s concert, while actor Stephen Fry added some color with a yellow waistcoat.
There were traditional costumes from across the Commonwealth and the peers were dressed in red.
Black dresses were also popular with American and French first ladies Jill Biden and Brigitte Macron, who wore powder blue and pale pink respectively, while Ukraine’s first lady Olena Zelenska opted for a sage dress and coat.
The abbey had colorful hats and charms in fuchsia, orange and red.
Reporting by Marie-Louise Gumuchian Editing by Alexandra Hudson
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