
Britain prepares for the coronation of Charles the Third. The ceremony is expected to be held on May 6. As Voice of America correspondent Henry Ridgwell reports from Lodra, dozens of world leaders and heads of state have been invited to participate in this historic ceremony, while millions of people are expected to watch it on television.
Preparations are being made in heaven and on earth for the coronation of King Charles the Third. It will be a grand event full of glitter. Hundreds of thousands of people are expected to fill the streets from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Abbey.
Every detail of the ceremony has historical and religious significance. King Charles will be anointed with holy oil brought from Jerusalem. The service cross will contain fragments said to be from the cross on which Jesus was crucified and which were given to King Charles by Pope Francis.
"The ceremony has its roots about 1,000 years ago, in 973, when King Edgar was crowned in the city of Bath. As far as is known, the first to be crowned in Westminster Abbey was William, Duke of Normandy, known as William the Conqueror in 1066. The actual ritual has changed very little over the centuries," says Richard Fitzwilliams, royal affairs analyst.
Charles officially became king after the death of his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, on September 8.
The coronation is also an opportunity for the British people to celebrate the reign of their new monarch. Community celebrations are expected across Britain.
The event will echo Queen Elizabeth's coronation 70 years ago. But there will be important differences.
"Elizabeth was 25 years old when she ascended the throne after her father. "The problem with King Charles and Queen Camilla is their age," says Richard Fitzwilliams.
This is not the only challenge for the 74-year-old king. A recent poll showed that 58% of the population supports the monarchy, but among young people aged 18-24, support is only 32%.
“Unë mendoj se ai i kupton sfidat që ka përpara monarkia dhe është shumë e rëndësishme që të ketë një formë të pranimit të lidhjeve të monarkisë me tregtinë e skllevërve në vitet e kaluara. Anagazhimi i tij për mbrojtjen e mjedisit është i shkëlqyer dhe mirëpritet gjerësisht nga brezi i ri”, thotë zoti Fitzwilliams.
Mbi monarkinë vazhdon të lërë gjurmë largimi nga familja mbretërore e Princit Harry dhe Meghan Markle mes akuzave për racizëm, të cilat pallati mbretëror i ka mohuar.
Princi Andrew, vëllai i mbretit Çarls u detyrua të lërë vendin pasi arriti një marrëveshje për të shmangur ngritjen e akuzave për abuzim seksual. Analistët mendojnë se monarkia pritet të vihet përballë disa sfidave.
"The big challenge for the royal family is not to lose popularity. It is becoming irrelevant. They understand that. The Queen always said that “it is important that members of the Royal Family show up, be present and believable. They must play a role in the public life of the nation," says Robert Hardman, writer on Kingdom affairs.
The royal family hopes the coronation will be an opportunity for public celebration, but also for the renewal of the monarchy itself.
The ceremony will also mark a new chapter with many challenges. King Charles will have to deal with them if the Royal Family is to continue to be relevant in the 21st century. /VOA