Exactly 70 years ago, the coronation of Elizabeth II as the queen of the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth realms took place at Westminster Abbey in London. She acceded to the throne upon the death of her father, George VI. it is said, an estimated 27 million people in Britain watched the ceremony on television and 11 million listened on the radio (the population of Britain at the time was just over 36 million.)
On Saturday 6th May 2023, a grey-haired 74-year-old Charles III, Elizabeth’s oldest son and formerly known as The Prince of Wales, was formally crowned King Charles III and his wife Camilla, crowned Queen, in what many described as “a coronation like no other,” a ceremony that reflected the monarch’s role today and looked towards the future, while being deeply rooted in longstanding traditions and pageantry.
In Nairobi, the outgoing British High Commissioner to Kenya, H.E. Jane Marriott was delighted to host the viewing party of the coronation ceremony and high tea at her residence, in Muthaiga. The beautiful, sunny afternoon reception saw some of Kenya’s finest in the world of business, politics, civil society, media and diplomacy attend in large numbers to witness the magnificent and deeply religious huge historic event- the first coronation of a sovereign to take place in the U.K. since that of Queen Elizabeth II in 1953.
As the prince of Wales, Charles made several private and official visits to Kenya. He first visited Kenya in 1971, then 1977, 1978 and in 1987.
In her speech, the outgoing High Commissioner to Kenya said, “The UK’s relationship with Kenya is based on deep respect, mutual interest. King Charles III will use the occasion of his coronation to promote his passions: youth, community, diversity, and sustainability, which mirrors some of his four visits to Kenya during his life.”
Kenya is one of the fastest-growing economies in the region and has a reputation for pioneering innovative business ideas in financial services, telecoms, digital and renewable energy. Kenya’s success in these areas has had a significant impact on the lives of millions of people across the region.
In the U.K, almost 4,000 invited guests, including armed forces veterans and NHS and social care staff, were in stands outside Buckingham Palace, with thousands more people in viewing areas along the route and official screening sites nearby. It is reported that more 2,200 people from 203 countries were in Westminster Abbey, with processions there before the King arrived involving faith leaders and representatives from some Commonwealth countries. They were accompanied by the governors general and prime ministers, including UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak who also gave a reading in the service.
