Rosie DiManno: Coronation of King Charles III a rich spectacle of regalia — and fraught family relations

LONDON-The splendour. The solemnity. And, aye, the silliness.

I mean no disrespect. But the trappings of regalia for the crowning of a sovereign - orb, sceptre, spurs and swords, the Stone of Scone, bracelets signifying sincerity and wisdom, silver-gilt spoon for the anointing with holy oil (vegan oil on this occasion) - are all sacramentally arcane, medievally obscure, pulled from the mists of time into the 21st century.

There is an anachronistic whimsy to it, if swathed in sombreness and religious observance. Like a courtly masque of monarchy, everyone playing their dress-up part.

Then the King spoke his first prayer and the gravity of coronation swept through Westminster Abbey: I come not to be served but to serve."

That was what Charles III chose to avow at his coronation Saturday, an echo down through the years of the troth which his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, gave when she was enthroned seven decades ago, pledging a lifetime of fidelity to her subjects.

Even stony hearts should have softened.

As when William, the Prince of Wales, bent his knee and affirmed: I will bear unto you, as your liege man of life and limb. So help me God." And he kissed his father's cheek.

Charles - your King and mine - was heard to say: Thank you, William."

While three rows back in the congregation, Prince Harry sat with his princess cousins Eugenie and Beatrice, a bit cast member on the most important day of his dad's life, present but not present. Nor would he appear several hours later with King Charles and Queen Camilla on the balcony of Buckingham Palace, apparently uninvited to the traditional assembly of inner-circle royals, their relaxed ta-da moment of acknowledgment to the cheering throngs beyond the wrought-iron gates. The Duke of Sussex wasn't included in the official photos taken inside either.

Erased in so many ways from the pageantry and the historical record of the only coronation many of us will ever witness. And that's on him. The rebellious, erstwhile, endlessly grousing son who abandoned country and clan in an act of stupendous self-ostracism.

Harry came and within 24 hours was gone.

Though most of the world's inhabitants, spectators to the spectacle, cannot possibly identify with the hallowed rituals and ancient heraldry of coronation, plenty of us can empathize with a family riven by fraught relations, discord and bitterness. It was the first time the second child of Charles and Diana - the child his mother hoped would be wingman to William" - had been in the company of father and brother since his Netflix docuseries, Harry & Meghan," aired in December and the subsequent publication of his body-slamming memoir, Spare." Rapprochement of the rift seems increasingly unlikely. This wasn't an olive branch; it was scarcely a twig.

At least he was there, as the King had wished, albeit RSVP-ing after the deadline, leaving courtiers with no time to accommodate his inclusion, no idea really about Harry's fly-by itinerary. Unlike wife Meghan, who sent her regrets, remaining at the couple's California estate with their children, Archie and Lilibet, ostensibly because it was Archie's fourth birthday Saturday. Which everybody knows is just so much bollocks. The Duchess of Sussex, fairly or unfairly, has been demonized in Britain for leading her husband by the nose to America and away from his duties, Harry converting himself into a non-working" royal, an ersatz celeb whose currency cheapens by the hour.

Clearly, Meghan would not dared have shown her face and risked public scorn.

Anyway, that's all an aside to the extravaganza, however lower-keyed - and shorter - Charles had deliberately orchestrated it. There was still a procession to-and-from that extended for two kilometres, somehow kept in marching and band-playing sync, with upwards of 7,000 troops arrayed by regiment, in ceremonial dress: bearskin hats and gleaming helmets, plumes and feathers, sashes and garters. A mounted RCMP unit, in their crimson serge tunics, had pride of place in the recessional parade.

Princess Anne cut a magnificent figure astride her horse, Falkland, changing into uniform as Charles' Gold-Stick-in-Waiting - a role she described as the sovereign's original protection officer" - for the journey back to Buckingham Palace. Charles' grandson, nine-year-old Prince George - second in line to the throne - was a Page of Honour, as proud parents William and Kate looked on.

The 74-year-old King, oldest ever crowned, arrived clad in the Imperial mantle but was required to make a clutch of sartorial quick changes over the next hour. His vestments included the ornately embroidered Robe Royal, made for King George IV's coronation in 1821, the 15-pound Imperial Robe of State, trimmed with Canadian ermine, the sleeved gold Supertunica coat and the Colobium Sindonis (Latin for shroud tunic") - a simple white tunic donned for the most religiously sacred moment of the proceeding, which took place behind a screen so that no one could see, where the Archbishop of Canterbury anointed Charles with chrism blessed in Jerusalem. The tunic is sentimentally precious to Charles because it was worn by his grandfather, King George VI, at the 1937 coronation.

And crowns? Yes, we've got crowns.

Archbishop Justin Welby placed on Charles' head the 17th-century St Edward's Crown - which replaced an earlier version melted down by the Roundheads, during Britain's brief experiment with republicanism. Recently removed from the Crown Jewels display at the Tower of London for this purpose, the St Edward's Crown - studded with nearly 450 gems - is used only at coronations. Charles later swapped it out, as is the custom upon departure from the Abbey, for the Imperial Crown featuring 2,868 diamonds. It is worn for ceremonial state occasions, such as the Opening of Parliament. The late Queen called it her party hat."

Diamond Jubilee State Coach to the Abbey, Gold State Coach from the Abbey. But four-year-old Prince Louis stole the show, riding in the first carriage behind the King and Queen, delighting the tens of thousands who lined the procession route by waving enthusiastically, later gawking and pointing in awe from the palace balcony during the military flypast, scaled back because of the rainy weather conditions.

Kate wore a crepe ivory dress by Alexander McQueen and, in tribute to Diana, her late mother-in-law's pearl-and-diamond earrings and necklace set. But no tiara, opting instead for a floral headpiece fashioned from silver bullion and crystal. Her daughter, eight-year-old Princess Charlotte, had a matching mini-me version.

Charles had culled the guest list from the more-than 8,200 who had attended his mother's 1953 coronation to a mere 2,200 - with some notable snubs, such as the Duchess of York, Sarah (Fergie), who retains the title but, like Diana, was stripped of her HRH designation. (Afterwards, Sarah told The Independent: I was moved to tears and felt so proud watching the new King and Queen being crowned.)

The Abbey congregation nonetheless included a who's who of crowned personages - nine European royals, representatives of royal families from Bhutan, Jordan, Tonga and Thailand and the Imperial house of Japan, plus a bunch of rounders from deposed monarchies - and about half of the global leaders (but not President Joe Biden, represented by the first lady), 90 heads of state, 14 prime ministers, Justin Trudeau among them.

In a last-minute change to the program, the Archbishop dropped a controversial bit where he'd originally directed everyone to pay homage ... to their undoubted King" - Charles had reportedly bridled - instead, inviting those present and watching at home to offer their support ... with a moment of private reflection."

In a gesture to Britain's multicultural populace, Charles was greeted as he moved toward the Abbey doors by religious representatives of Jewish, Muslim, Sikh, Hindu, Buddhist and Catholic faiths. As King, however, Charles vowed to protect and maintain the Protestant religion and preserve the rights of the Church of England," as set out by an act of British Parliament. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, a practising Hindu, read an Epistle from the Bible during the service.

While it was feared that anti-monarchists would try to disrupt proceedings in what was the largest security operation ever undertaken, a Not My King" demonstration by about 2,000 protesters gathered at Trafalgar Square was largely peaceful. By end of day, however, Metropolitan Police reported they'd made 52 arrests - 32 on suspicion of conspiracy to cause a public disturbance, and seizing lock-on devices.

Another minor crisis averted was the dearth of trained bell-ringers, which triggered a peal appeal. But in the end, the bells did ring out from all 38,000 churches in the realm.

And of course it rained, first a gentle sprinkle, then a pavement-pounding cloudburst.

But coronations down through the centuries have endured riots, plague and pestilence.

What's a rainy day in May?

God save the King.

Rosie DiManno is a Toronto-based columnist covering sports and current affairs for the Star. Follow her on Twitter: @rdimanno