“He left all the pageantry and splendour to his son, the Prince of Wales, the future George II, who ran a sort of rival court at Leicester House,” says Reynolds. Always richly dressed he was nicknamed “dapper George,” by one courtier.
In addition to fashion, he was “also almost obsessionally interested in uniforms, insignia and protocols of rank. He always wore the Order of the Garter for example,” says Reynolds. The last monarch to lead his troops into battle, and proud of his image as a soldier king, George II was also responsible for introducing uniforms for the army and navy.
He wears it well
The pendulum swung back once again with George III who, it was said, dressed so unassumingly he could mingle in the crowd without being noticed. Although Reynolds thinks that might be something of an exaggeration, she does think the stories are a part of this characterisation of him as a very down-to-earth king who in the prints of the time was depicted as Farmer George.
George III was “very frugal,” says Reynolds, and “not really interested in his appearance at all.” Although she notes that he did “understand the need to dress for the role whenever necessary, so he wears the Coronation robes with great swagger in Ramsay’s portrait.”
“He was always most at ease in uniforms of office,” she says. So much so that he devised his own Windsor Uniform, influenced by the European trend for civilian uniforms which had been introduced by Louis XIV as a means of indicating a close connection with the monarch. Consisting of a dark blue coat with red collar and cuffs and pale breeches, “it was his favourite style of dress for the last 30 years of his life,” says Reynolds.
Initially only worn by members of the Royal Family, it was gradually adopted by senior attendants in the royal household, and by the aristocracy. “It became a demonstration of a close relationship with the king but also a public demonstration of support for him during his difficult periods, including when he was ill. At a thanksgiving service to celebrate his return to health many were wearing the uniform,” says Reynolds.
A version is still worn by members of the Royal Family for events at Windsor, and it has influenced the uniforms of visitor services staff at Windsor and in London.
LONDON — In a ceremony of pageantry, quirks and ancient tradition, King Charles III, Britain’s 62nd monarch, was on Saturday officially crowned head of state of the United Kingdom and 14 Commonwealth realms.
The king, who succeeds his late mother, Queen Elizabeth II, was coronated at London’s Westminster Abbey alongside his wife Camilla in a two-hour ceremony attended by world leaders, members of the royal family, foreign dignitaries, faith leaders, and heads of state.
The historic event was overseen by the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, and punctuated with rituals, regalia, and objects dating back centuries.
These included oaths, spurs, a Jewelled Sword of Offering, various sceptres and an orb. The king was anointed with holy oil via a coronation spoon, while the watching public were offered the chance to declare their loyalty by proclaiming: “God save King Charles.”
Among the 2,000 guests were French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife, Brigitte. First Lady Jill Biden, the wife of U.S. President Joe Biden, was also present, accompanied by her granddaughter, Finnegan. They wore blue and gold attire respectively, interpreted as support for Ukraine, whose flags share the same colors.
The U.S. president himself chose not to attend, but wrote on Twitter: “Congratulations to King Charles III and Queen Camilla on their Coronation. The enduring friendship between the U.S. and the U.K. is a source of strength for both our peoples. I am proud the First Lady is representing the United States for this historic occasion.”
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen sat beside President of the European Council Charles Michel, despite long-standing tensions between Brussels’ two most prominent politicians. European Parliament President Roberta Metsola was also in the congregation.
U.S. Special Presidential Envoy for Climate John Kerry was seen speaking briefly to former U.K. Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg, now president for global affairs at Meta. King Charles has been a life-long campaigner on the environment.
U.K. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, who gave a reading during the service, was joined by senior members of his Cabinet and as well as all his living predecessors, including Tony Blair, Boris Johnson and Liz Truss — the latter having served in Downing Street for just 49 days last year. Commons Leader Penny Mordaunt, a member of Sunak’s Cabinet, took a leading role in the ceremony, carrying the sword of state due to her ceremonial role as lord president of the privy council.
Keir Starmer, leader of the U.K.’s opposition Labour Party, sat next to the leader of the Liberal Democrats, Ed Davey, while leaders of the devolved nations in the U.K. were also in attendance. Prince Harry was seated among members of the U.K. royal family, though his wife, Meghan Markle, remained in California with their children.
Also present were the presidents of Germany and Italy, Frank-Walter Steinmeier and Sergio Mattarella, China’s vice-president, Han Zheng, and the prime minister of Pakistan, Shehbaz Sharif. Han’s attendance had been a subject of controversy in the U.K. due to his central role in China’s repression of Hong Kong.
There were also leaders from the 14 Commonwealth nations for whom Charles is head of state, including Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and New Zealand’s Chris Hipkins, as well as representatives from Grenada, Papa New Guinea, the Bahamas and others.
Celebrities such as singer Katy Perry, chef Jamie Oliver, actor Emma Thompson, and British TV duo Ant and Dec also took seats in the Abbey.
Thousands of flag-carrying members of the public gathered along the procession route | Niklaas Halle’n/AFP via Getty Images
Britain is a constitutional monarchy, and as head of state King Charles has a ceremonial role in opening and dissolving parliament, appointing a government, and approving bills before they become law. He also meets weekly with Sunak, the prime minister.
However, the ability to make and pass legislation rests with politicians in an elected parliament.
Thousands of flag-carrying members of the public enjoyed another British tradition — light summer drizzle — as they gathered in the early hours along the procession route from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Abbey. Before the coronation, the head of the U.K.’s leading republican movement, which held a protest in Trafalgar Square, was among those arrested by police.
Members of the royal family were gathered on the Buckingham Palace balcony later Saturday afternoon ahead of a series of celebratory events taking place Sunday, including a pop concert at Windsor Castle. Monday has been designated a public holiday in Britain to mark the occasion.
This article is being updated as the ceremonies continue.
King Charles III was crowned at a ceremony at Westminster Abbey in London on Saturday.
The coronation was attended by members of the king’s family as well as global leaders, and watched by people across the United Kingdom and many others worldwide.
The following photos offer a glimpse into the coronation, the first of a British monarch in almost 70 years.
An army contingent marches across Westminster Bridge | Sgt Donald C Todd/EPA-EFEMounted police on the Mall | Jon Super/WPA Pool via Getty ImagesSpectators gather to watch the coronation procession | Yara Nardi/WPA pool via Getty ImagesPeople sit in Hyde Park to watch coverage of the coronation | Ian Forsyth/Getty ImagesWell-wishers along the procession’s route | Niklaas Halle’n/AFP via Getty ImagesKing Charles III and Queen Consort Camilla are carried to Westminster Abbey in the Diamond Jubilee State Coach | Stefan Rousseau/WPA Pool via Getty ImagesPrince William and Princess Catherine | Pool photo by Phil Noble/AFP via Getty ImagesPrince Harry | Pool photo by Andy Stenning/AFP via Getty ImagesBritish Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Akshata Murty | Toby Melville/WPA Pool via Getty ImagesU.S. First Lady Jill Biden and Finnegan Biden | Andrew Milligan/WPA Pool via Getty ImagesFrench President Emmanuel Macron and Brigitte Macron | Pool photo y Ben Stansall/AFP via Getty ImagesCanadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Sophie Trudeau | Toby Melville/WPA Pool via Getty ImagesKing Charles III arrives at Westminster Abbey | Andrew Matthews/WPA Pool via Getty ImagesThe Archbishop of Canterbury crowns King Charles III | Pool photo by Victoria Jones/AFP via Getty ImagesThe Archbishop of Canterbury crowns Queen Camilla | Richard Pohle/WPA Pool via Getty ImagesKing Charles III leaves Westminster Abbey | Pool photo by Ben Stansall/AFP via Getty ImagesKing Charles III and Queen Camilla en route to Buckingham Palace | Pool photo by Rob Pinney/Getty ImagesPrince William and Princess Catherine depart Westminster Abbey | Jeff J Mitchell/Getty ImagesKing Charles III and Queen Camilla move down the Mall | Dan Kitwood/Getty ImagesKing Charles III and Queen Camilla on the Buckingham Palace balcony | Dan Kitwood/Getty Images
