The Coronation of King Charles in the UK capital was a sumptuous affair – and among the guests were African royalty and leaders as well as other well-known figures from the continent.
Various royal couples from around the world paraded into London’s Westminster Abbey on Saturday, but Ghana’s King of the Ashanti Otumfuo Osei Tutu II and his wife Lady Julia Osei Tutu were among the most arresting:
King Mswati III of Eswatini – Africa’s last absolute monarch – was accompanied by one of his wives Queen LaMbikiza:
They had to contend with the British weather – and umbrellas were out for them as they approached the abbey:
Lesotho’s King Lestie III and Queen Masenate was also pictured walking towards the gathering of more than 2,000 guests.
The walked up the aisle to their seats with other royal families:
Commonwealth leaders showed up in force – having met King Charles the day before.
Gabon’s President Ali Bongo Ondimba (R), and his wife Sylvia Bongo Ondimba, progressed in slowly to their seats as the 64-year-old leader now walks with a stick having suffered a stroke several years ago:
Gabon joined the Commonwealth last year, one of a few nations with no historic ties to the UK to be part of the 54-member club. Below the Gabonese leader can be spotted seated with other Commonwealth leaders, including those from Malawi and Nigeria.
In the seating for other world leaders, Senegal’s President Macky Sall was in attendance with his Foreign Minister Aïssata Tall Sall, in emerald green, by his side.
South African opera star Pretty Yende wowed the guests with her voice and outfit when she sang Sacred Fire, a new piece written by composer Sarah Class for the occasion:
Later she could be seen looking down at King Charles and his attendants as they made their way down the aisle at the start of the ceremony:
Another eye-catching design was worn by Eva Omaghom, a British-Nigerian who is a cultural anthropologist and works as director of community engagement for King Charles and Queen Camilla:
Dame Elizabeth Anionwu (L), a pioneering British sickle cell nurse whose father was from Nigeria, wore a stylish Nigerian “gele” headscarf as she carried in the Sovereign’s Orb into the abbey:
Uganda-born Dr John Sentamu, the former Archbishop of York, also took part in proceedings – and was one of the Anglican Church clerics to walk up the aisle:
Style guru Edward Enninful, the Ghanaian-born editor of British Vogue and a global ambassador for the Prince’s Trust, enjoyed a selfie before the pageantry began:
And the event was also watched by people at various special sites set up in Africa, like at the British high commissioner’s residence in Kenya’s capital, Nairobi:
