But not for King Charles III, sovereign of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. On Wednesday, he took part in a second ceremony in Scotland that bore all the regal trappings of a coronation, if not the same legal status.
It was Scotland on parade. Bagpipes, kilts, drums and a Shetland pony named Corporal Cruachan IV marched down Edinburgh’s Royal Mile to honor King Charles III.
Two months after his lavish coronation at Westminster Abbey in London, Scotland hosted its own event to mark the new monarch’s accession to the throne.
While Charles and Queen Camilla weren’t crowned a second time, the new king was presented with the Honors of Scotland — the crown, scepter and sword of state — items he received with reverence during a service at St. Giles’ Cathedral. The Stone of Destiny, an important symbol of Scottish identity, was also moved to the cathedral for the festivities.
Crowds gathered on the famous Royal Mile in Edinburgh to cheer a People’s Procession, involving about 100 people representing various aspects of Scottish life, and a Royal Procession, featuring hundreds of service personnel, along with military pipe and drum bands.
However, not everyone on streets was celebrating as people throughout the U.K. face a cost-of-living crisis fueled by high food and energy costs. Also present were about 100 anti-monarchists who booed and loudly chanted “Not my king”.
Our Republic, which campaigns for an elected head of state in Scotland, staged a protest outside the Scottish parliament, and shouts of “Not our king” were picked up by microphones as Charles left the cathedral.
Protesters brandishing black-and-yellow signs that said “Not my King” were conspicuously visible along the parade route in Edinburgh. That was in stark contrast to coronation day in May in London, when the police rounded up members of an anti-monarchy group before they could assemble near Trafalgar Square.
Coming back to the ceremony, it followed a similar multi-faith format to the Coronation at Westminster Abbey here in May. The Christian ceremony was joined by a Hindu priest, a Muslim Imam, a Jewish Rabbi and a Buddhist monk for the segment entitled “blessings and greetings from representatives of faith and belief communities”.
“May Goddess Sri Lakshmi and God Sri Venkateswara bless Your Majesties and the royal family with purity and unity of thoughts, words and deeds to serve and uplift the people of the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth,” said Dr Srihari Vallabhajousula, Honorary Priest of the Hindu Temple of Scotland in Glasgow, in his reading.
The Prince and Princess of Wales – William and Catherine, known as the Duke and Duchess of Rothesay in Scotland, were among those present at the ceremony along with other senior royals in Edinburgh.