LONG LIVE THE KING!

The historic crowning of King Charles II and Queen Camilla combined ancient medieval tradition and contemporary firsts in a moving display of ceremony, family and celebration

- JULIET RIEDEN

There was a moment at the heart of his Coronation service when King Charles III almost teared up. His eldest son, Prince William, had just knelt in front of the newly-crowned sovereign and pledged his allegiance as “your liege man of life and limb” – which literally means William is promising to be there for his father no matter what, obligated before God to honour and serve.

Then, after Charles gently whispered “Thank you, William”, the heir to the throne lent forward and kissed his 74-year-old King on the cheek. After everything that has led up to this day – the grief of losing both parents within 17 months of each other, the painfully public battles with his “dear boy”, Prince Harry, at the most important time in his royal career, Charles filled up with emotion.

“It was incredibly touching,” said royal biographer Robert Hardman.

“It was a reminder of that moment in the Queen’s Coronation in 1953 [after] all the solemnity, suddenly the serenity cracks momentarily when Prince Philip gives her a kiss on the cheek. It’s a moment when the family breaks through all this tradition, a very reassuring moment, that to him was clearly a very poignant scene.”