From traditional robes to bold headpieces, royals and guests wore a rainbow of colors to Britain’s King Charles‘ coronation on Saturday, flooding London’s Westminster Abbey with a rainbow of hues and designs.
The monarch wore the crimson velvet Robe of State worn by his grandfather King George VI at his coronation in 1937, as well as a crimson coronation tunic and cream silk overshirt with royal navy trousers.
He dressed into the ceremonial regalia worn by his predecessors to be crowned: the gold-silk full-length Supertunica coat and the Coronation Sword Belt, and over that the gold cloth Imperial Mantle, originally produced for George IV’s coronation in 1821 and the service’s oldest vestment.
A white leather glove embroidered with gilt metal thread was placed onto his right hand.
Charles was crowned with the historic St Edward’s Crown that has been used since the coronation of King Charles II in 1661.
Queen Camilla arrived in the Robe of State originally made for the late Queen Elizabeth in 1953 over an ivory gown embellished with silver and gold floral embroidery and designed by British couturier Bruce Oldfield at King Charles’ coronation event.
Both left the Abbey in purple Robes of Estate – Charles’, previously worn by George VI and Camilla’s designed by the Royal School of Needlework and featuring nature-themed embroidery.
“For the first time, insects including bees, butterflies, a beetle, and caterpillar feature on the Coronation Robe, drawing on the themes of nature and the environment and reflecting Their Majesties’ affection for the natural world,” Buckingham Palace said.
The Prince and Princess of Wales, William, and Catherine wore formal robes and mantels over their outfits, with the heir to the throne in the ceremonial dress uniform of the Welsh Guards and his wife wearing a headpiece made of silver and crystal leaves instead of a tiara.
Both she and her daughter Charlotte wore ivory silk crepe gowns embroidered with rose, thistle, daffodil, and shamrock designs – a reference to the United Kingdom’s four nations – made by Alexander McQueen, the same label Kate picked for her wedding gown in 2011.
Charles’ siblings wore traditional robes as well, while his nieces – Princesses Beatrice, Eugenie, Zara, and Lady Louise – wore fuchsia, blue, and floral print skirts or jackets.
Prince Harry, who is no longer a working royal, wore a morning gown.
Among the celebrity guests were actress Emma Thompson in a red coat adorned with rose designs and U.S. singer Katy Perry, who will perform at the coronation concert in Windsor on Sunday, dressed in a fitted lilac short-sleeved skirt suit with matching opera gloves and statement hat.
Veteran actresses Maggie Smith and Judi Dench, who has portrayed both Queen Elizabeth I and Queen Victoria on screen, chose different shades of blue.
Singers Nick Cave and Lionel Ritchie, who will also perform at Sunday’s concert, wore three-piece black suits, while actor Stephen Fry added a touch of color with a yellow waistcoat.
Traditional clothes from across the Commonwealth were on display, and peers wore red robes.
US and French first ladies Jill Biden and Brigitte Macron wore powder blue and pastel pink dresses, respectively, while Ukraine’s first lady Olena Zelenska wore a matching green dress and coat.
The Abbey was strewn with fuchsia, orange, and red statement hats and fascinators.
