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How the King’s Coronation Was Marked in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, From Protests to Big Screens

As the King and Queen were crowned at Westminster Abbey, the peak of the flag-waving, pomp and pageantry took place in central London.

Thousands gathered for their chance of a glimpse of the royals – although a series of protests from Just Stop Oil, Animal Rising and Republic punctuated the celebrations.

Elsewhere in the UK’s four nations, people marked the coronation in their own distinct way.

In Wales, thousands gathered at Cardiff Castle for a screening of the ceremony.

Pop-up stalls selling flags are a common sight in Cardiff on match days, but today they were selling Union flags as well as Welsh flags – a sign the day was different.

Despite the wet conditions underfoot, crowds gathered to watch the ceremony, which for the first time featured contributions in the Welsh language.

A gun salute by the 104th Regiment Royal Artillery was heard at 12.01pm once the King was crowned.

It was followed by a performance by the Regimental Band of the Royal Welsh who marched through the castle grounds.

People watch Britain's King Charles and Queen Camilla coronation ceremony at Pembroke Castle, Wales, Britain, May 6, 2023. REUTERS/Rebecca Naden
Image:People watch the coronation ceremony at Pembroke Castle in Wales
Kasia Slany and Chloe Fisher from London gesture near the Cardiff Castle, Wales, Britain May 6, 2023. They have been camping in Wales and have come to Cardiff Castle to watch Britain's King Charles and Queen Camilla coronation on a big screen. REUTERS/Joann Randles
Image:Kasia Slany and Chloe Fisher were camping in Wales and came to Cardiff Castle for the celebrations

Outside the castle, hundreds gathered with placards and banners and chants of “Nid fy mrenin” and “Not my king” were heard.

The protest featured representatives of groups including Cymru Republic and Republic UK as well as a number of political parties and contributions from guest speakers.

One of the speakers, Adam Johannes from the People’s Assembly Cardiff, described Wales as “the republican heartland of this island”.

A similar tone was felt in Scotland, a country divided on the monarchy. A recent poll suggested almost three-quarters of Scot do not support this coronation event.

Thousands of Scottish independence supporters marched through Glasgow – the biggest mass gathering in Scotland today.

Saltire flags flew high in the sky as people chanted “not my king” and “shove your coronation up your a**e”.

A person holds a placard during a Scottish Independence march which is at the same time as the coronation of Britain's King Charles and Queen Camilla, in Glasgow, Scotland, Britain, May 6, 2023 REUTERS/Russell Cheyne
Image:The Scottish Independence march in Glasgow was the biggest public event on the day of the coronation

People were in good spirits but there was a clear signal that this is a nation with a different strength of feeling, despite the deep Royal connection on Royal Deeside – the place where the late Queen passed away and where the Royal Family has spent a great deal of time at Balmoral.

A 21-gun salute rang out from Hillsborough Castle, outside Belfast, to mark the coronation of the King.

Members of the Hillsborough Fort Guard welcomed guests to a marquee in the grounds of the castle, the royal residence in Northern Ireland.

About 2,000 people gathered to watch the coronation service live on a large screen.

At the moment Charles was crowned at Westminster Abbey, the cannons were sounded by reservists from the 206 (Ulster) Battery of the 105th Regiment of the Royal Artillery.

A shot is fired by members of the 206 (Ulster) Battery Royal Artillery at Royal Hillsborough Castle and Gardens as part of King Charles and Queen Camilla's coronation, in Hillsborough, Northern Ireland May 6, 2023. REUTERS/Damien Storan
Image:A shot is fired by the 206 (Ulster) Battery Royal Artillery at Royal Hillsborough Castle

Elsewhere, crowds gathered to watch the ceremony live from public screens across Northern Ireland.

The coronation was broadcast to spectators in Belfast City Hall, Antrim Castle Gardens, Jordanstown Loughshore Park, Coleraine town hall and in the Market Square in Lisburn.

Further south in the Republic of Ireland, the mood was more muted – summed up perhaps by this solo man drinking a pint in a Dublin pub as the ceremony was broadcast in the background.

Source : News.sky

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