New Delhi: King Charles III and Queen Consort Camilla have been formally crowned as the United Kingdom's next sovereign rulers. The royal pair were anointed with holy oil from Jerusalem and were presented with the Coronation Regalia from the crown jewels, comprising crowns, sceptres, and golden orbs, as part of the ritual in Westminster Abbey. Here's a quick rundown of some of the priceless items that were seen at the coronation.
1. The Coronation Spoon:
The silver-gilt coronation spoon from the 12th century is the oldest piece of royal regalia. It is used to anoint the new monarch with holy oil, a tradition dating back to the Old Testament. The holy oil used in Charles III's ceremony was extracted from olives picked on Jerusalem's Mount of Olives and sanctified for the occasion at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. This oil was then poured from an eagle-shaped golden Ampulla or flask.
2. The Gold Ampulla:
The gold ampulla, shaped like an eagle with outstretched wings, and the coronation spoon are used for the most sacred phase of the service: anointing the monarch with holy oil. The eagle's head unscrews to allow oil to be poured into the spoon, and there is a tiny hole in its beak through which oil is poured. Legend has it that in a dream, Thomas Becket saw the things brought to him by the Virgin Mary to be used to anoint future kings.
Also Read: All About King Charles' And Queen Consort Camilla's Crown
3. Sovereign's Orb:
The monarch's sovereignty over the Christian world is symbolised by this approximately 3-pound (1.32-kilogram) gold globe crowned with a cross. The Sovereign Orb was placed on King Charles III's right hand during the ceremony before being taken to the high altar for the coronation.
The three sections of the Sovereign's Orb depict the three continents known to the mediaeval world, separated by rows of diamonds, pearls, rubies, and sapphires.
4. The Three Swords And The Jewelled Sword:
The swords of mercy, spiritual justice, and temporal justice are likely to be among the first objects seen during the coronation, as they are carried before the sovereign in the procession into Westminster Abbey, upright and unsheathed. They represent royal powers and responsibilities, with the sword of mercy having a symbolic blunt end.
The sword of offering is one of the things that the sovereign receives after the anointing during the ceremony. The King was robed and given a number of symbolic artefacts, such as a sword, spurs, armills, or bracelets. The spurs signify knightly virtues such as safeguarding the weak and the church, whilst the armills represent the monarch's link with their people as well as the values of sincerity and wisdom.
5. Sovereign's Scepter With Cross:
The Sovereign's Sceptre with Cross is one of two sceptres presented to King Charles III during the Coronation. The Sceptre itself was constructed in 1661 for the coronation of King Charles II upon the monarchy's restoration. The Cullinan I (530.2 carats), the world's biggest cut colourless diamond, was put into the Sovereign's Scepter in 1911. The Holy Spirit is represented by a dove on the second sceptre. During the event, Camilla, the queen consort, was also given two sceptres, including one made of ivory, which is typically given to the queen consort.