Britain’s King Charles takes the crown as President Higgins, Taoiseach and Prince Harry among those in attendance

Charles has been crowned King of England.

As St Edward’s Crown was placed on the Charles’ head, there was complete silence in Westminster abbey as the congregation stood for the momentous occasion.

The 2,300 guests then echoed the archbishop’s cry of God save the King.

He was officially enthroned as the Archbishop of Canterbury proclaimed: “Stand firm, and hold fast from henceforth this seat of royal dignity.”

The enthronement traditionally represents the monarch taking possession of his kingdom.

The Archbishop of Canterbury has paid homage to the King Charles III on behalf of the Church of England.

The Archbishop said: “I, Justin, Archbishop of Canterbury, will be faithful and true, and faith and truth I will bear unto you, our Sovereign Lord, Defender of the Faith, and unto your heirs and successors according to law. So help me God.”

In a break with tradition, the Prince of Wales was the only blood prince to pay homage during the service.

Kneeling before his father, he said: “I, William, Prince of Wales, pledge my loyalty to you and faith and truth I will bear unto you, as your liege man of life and limb. So help me God.”

Prince Harry was seen in the television footage watching intently as the archbishop raised St Edward’s Crown above his father’s head before crowning him.

And when a few minutes later the congregation paid homage to the new monarch, Harry was seen, along with the other royals around him, speaking the words: “God save King Charles. Long live King Charles. May the King live forever.”

Britain’s Queen Camilla has been anointed in public by the Archbishop of Canterbury, in a break with tradition.

The Dean of Westminster poured oil from the ampulla into the coronation spoon, and held the spoon for the Archbishop of Canterbury.

As she was anointed the Archbishop says: “Be your head anointed with holy oil.

“Almighty God, the fountain of all goodness; hear our prayer this day for thy servant Camilla, whom in thy name, and with all devotion, we consecrate our Queen.

“Make her strong in faith and love, defend her on every side, and guide her in truth and peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.”

Charles and Camilla were welcomed at Westminster Abbey’s great west door by the Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby, who will anoint and crown the monarch, after travelling through the capital’s streets in a carriage procession.

Thousands of well-wishers lined the route the couple’s Diamond Jubilee Coach took from Buckingham Palace, with a few die-hard royalists sleeping in tents to secure the best spot to catch a glimpse of the King and Queen.

World leaders, prime ministers from overseas realms, foreign monarchy and the extended British royal family were seated inside the ancient place of worship.

President Michael D Higgins will be joined at the coronation of King Charles III in London today by Taoiseach Leo Varadkar.

Mr Varadkar attended a reception at Buckingham Palace yesterday evening where spoke to Kind Charles and members of the British Government, Royal Family and a range of other international heads of state and government.

Mr Higgins is the first Irish head of state to attend a coronation.

Others attending today’s ceremony include actress Dame Emma Thompson, musicians Lionel Richie and Nick Cave, presenters Ant and Dec and actresses Dame Judi Dench, Dame Maggie Smith and Dame Joanna Lumley.

Future kings, the Prince of Wales and his son Prince George, who will both play a role in the coronation, were in place and the Princess of Wales arrived with Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis.

Prince Harry was seated in the third row, two rows behind William, but the Duchess of Sussex has remained at home in the US.

All eyes were on Harry on Saturday as he sat with his relatives in public for the first time since he criticised Charles, the Queen, William and the Princess of Wales in his memoir, Spare.

For the late Queen’s funeral last September, Harry sat in the second row at Westminster Abbey, directly behind Charles.

William and Kate will sit in the front row at the abbey for the historic ceremony, with their children Prince George and Princess Charlotte.

Their youngest child, Prince Louis, who recently turned five, will take his seat after processing through the abbey, but will retire once the ceremony begins.

Also in the front row to see Charles and Camilla crowned was the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh.

In the second row were the Duke and Duchess of Kent and the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester.

Harry and Andrew will be absent from the procession behind the Gold State Coach carrying the newly crowned King and Queen from Westminster Abbey back to Buckingham Palace after the ceremony.

Harry is expected to attend only the abbey ceremony before returning to the US.

Andrew stepped away from public life after a controversial Newsnight interview in November 2019 and the furore over his friendship with paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein.

Virginia Giuffre sued Andrew for allegedly sexually assaulting her when she was 17 after she was trafficked by Epstein.

Andrew denied the claims but paid millions in an out-of-court settlement in the US civil case.

The King will become the 40th reigning monarch to be crowned at Westminster Abbey, the nation’s coronation church, since William the Conqueror was anointed monarch within its walls on Christmas Day 1066.

Charles and Camilla’s Diamond Jubilee Coach arrived in the midst of a Sovereign’s Escort provided by the Household Cavalry’s Blues and Royals and Life Guards with their shining breastplates and plumed helmets and led by the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment band.

The monarch and his wife’s entrance through the west door was heralded by a fanfare from four State Trumpeters of the Household Cavalry and the abbey congregation stood as one.

A large ceremonial procession was lined up before the King and Queen with representatives of all elements of the nation’s ceremonial and spiritual life.

There were recipients of Orders of Chivalry and Gallantry, Heralds from the College of Arms in their colourful tunics, senior clergy associated with the monarchy and the glittering coronation regalia carried by leading figures.

Among those gathered was double Olympic Gold medallist Lord Coe, a member of the Order of Companions of Honour, Willie Apiata, New Zealand’s only living Victoria Cross recipient, and Lincolnshire farmer Francis Dymoke the King’s champion carrying the Royal Standard.

St Edward’s Crown, the 17th century artefact Mr Welby will use to crown Charles, was carried by General Sir Gordon Messenger, Lord High Steward of England.

With their lavish and unwieldy robes, the King and Queen walked single file along the nave of the abbey with Camilla ahead of Charles as the hymn I Was Glad As They Said Unto Me was sung.

Earlier today several protestors carrying placards that read ‘Not My King’ were detained by London Metropolitan police.

Campaign group Liberty said the arrests of protesters ahead of the coronation “sets a dangerous precedent for us as a democratic nation”.

In a statement, a spokeswoman said: “Protest is a fundamental right, not a gift from the state – but our right to stand up for what we believe in is under threat, and that has been particularly clear in the lead-up to the coronation this morning.

“Already in recent days we have seen protest groups sent intimidatory letters, anti-protest laws rushed through, and facial recognition being deployed against millions of people.

“And this morning we saw people arrested before they started protesting – despite having been given the go-ahead by police. This is extremely concerning and sets a dangerous precedent for us as a democratic nation. Our right to protest must be protected, not clamped down on.”