In Britain's grandest ceremonial event in seven decades, King Charles III was crowned in London's Westminster Abbey.
The Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, put the 360-year-old St. Edward's Crown on Charles' head as he sat upon a 14th-century throne in Westminster Abbey in front of a congregation of roughly 100 international leaders and a television audience of millions.
Since 1066, Charles has been the 40th reigning royal to be crowned in the abbey, the nation's coronation church.
He is the oldest king to ever ascend to the British throne, at the age of 74.
Camilla, his second wife, was subsequently anointed queen.
The event took place more than seven months after Charles was crowned king in September when his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, died after a 70-year reign.
The coronation was less in size than Queen Elizabeth's coronation in 1953, but it still attempted to be magnificent, with an assortment of historical regalia ranging from golden orbs and bejeweled swords to a sceptre bearing the world's biggest colorless cut diamond.
Tens of thousands of supporters braved the light rain to celebrate on the royal procession and military parade for the coronation.
“No other country could put on such a dazzling display—the processions, the pageantry, the ceremonies, and street parties,” Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said.
The Christian ceremony's prayers focused on the subject "Called to Serve," a quality linked with the late Queen, who committed her life to the Commonwealth.
The archbishop gave a speech to the 2,300 guests, who included world leaders, celebrities, UK lawmakers, foreign monarchs, everyday heroes, and the royal family.
"We are here to crown a king, and we crown a King to serve," Welby said to the assembly.
“What is given today is for the gain of all. For Jesus Christ announced a kingdom in which the poor and oppressed are freed from chains of injustice. The blind see. The bruised and broken-hearted are healed.”
Speaking to Charles and Camilla, Welby said: “The weight of the task given you today, Your Majesties, is only bearable by the spirit of God, who gives us the strength to give our lives to others.”
Charles spoke the King's Prayer, the first time a monarch has spoken to God openly during a coronation, and he spoke about the sovereign's duty to serve all communities.
"God of compassion and mercy, whose son was sent not to be served but to serve, give grace that I may find in thy service perfect freedom and knowledge of thy truth," he implored the monastery.
“Grant that I may be a blessing to all thy children, of every faith and conviction, that together we may discover the ways of gentleness and be led into the paths of peace. Through Jesus Christ our Lord, amen.”
Following the service, Charles and Camilla will ride to Buckingham Palace in the four-tonne Gold State Coach created for George III, the last king of Britain's American colonies, in a one-mile parade of 4,000 military men from 39 nations.
It will be the largest spectacle of its type in Britain since Charles' mother's coronation.
