Scots and visitors from further afield have spoken warmly of King Charles III as they turned out to see him coronated on a six-metre tall screen in Edinburgh. An estimated 1,500 people flocked to the Ross Bandstand in the capital's Princes Street Gardens to watch Charles formally ascend to the throne eight months after the death of his mother, Queen Elizabeth II.
Spectators watched in revered silence as Charles was led into Westminster Abbey and anointed with holy oils before being dressed to take the throne. Most chose to sit within the bandstand auditorium, with some 256 folding chairs placed in front of the screen for those who were unable to climb the steep stone steps that seated hundreds of others on Saturday morning.
Scores more sat on the grass or stood on the paths around the theatre, and dozens poked their heads through the fenceposts on Princes Street to take in the event from above. As the 2kg King Edward's Crown was placed upon Charles' head and the Archbishop of Canterbury proclaimed: "God Save The King", the crowd broke into spontaneous applause.
The moment was marked in Edinburgh with a 21-gun salute from the parapets of Edinburgh Castle, fired by members of 105 Regiment Royal Artillery.
No disturbances took place as the BBC broadcast was played out on the screen, organised by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport and local production firm Rogue City. However, one passer-by was heard to shout "Not My King" from the direction of Princes Street.
Police Scotland had a muted presence in West Princes Street Gardens as the crowds watched the ceremony in real time. The Record understands that no arrests have been made.
Sophie Hunt, 32, from Edinburgh, and her sisters Chloe Hunt, 24 and Lucy Terry, 33, were among those who soaked up the atmosphere in Edinburgh, bringing flags and Union Jack headbands for some extra pizazz.
Chloe said: "It was really special to witness. I feel really glad to have gotten to see it. We just wanted to be here for the atmosphere, celebrating it as a community. I think they [the Royals] bring people together.
"I think Charles could be quite relatable. That's what people want." Sophie added: "They make me feel quite proud - I like the tradition that they are carrying forward."
Lucy compared the literal crowning moment to something out of "a Disney film, like a fairy tale." But she added: "They are becoming more relatable, you can see that with William. People have to be able to relate to them or else there won't be a place for them at all."
Her daughter Lulu Terry, 12, said: "I feel like it'll forever be there [in my memory]. It was a special moment to watch."
Scots young and old turned out to watch the ceremony in Edinburgh, despite recent polling that suggested the majority of the country was not fussed about Charles' ascension to the throne. Melanie Blackburn, 49, and Cathy Mains, 66, travelled into town from Bo'ness especially for the big-screen event with Union Jack bowler hats in tow.
Cathy said: "I'm very proud. We're the only country that can put on a show like this. There aren't many people celebrating in Scotland and I think that's sad. I wanted to be part of it, to get the atmosphere." Melanie added: "I like Charles just the way he is but I think [the monarchy] will be different under him."
A year ago, when Brits were marking the 70th year on the throne for Charles' mother, Cumbrian pals Yvonne Mahaffy and Pam Collis had booked tickets for the musical Six in Edinburgh this Saturday night. But, when their booking aligned with the Coronation plans, they decided to leave for Scotland early so they could catch the ceremony being streamed.
Yvonne said of the Scottish celebrations: "We came up here and there's not very much in the way of Union flags but in Cumbria it's very different. There's been parties, afternoon teas, all sorts to mark the occasion.
"Everyone used to laugh at Charles for talking to his plants and thinking about the climate. But the young people that think the monarchy is outdated are into the causes that he supports. People need to go back and read up on him before they judge him. It's not a great time for anyone but this gives me hope."
Pam added: "Charles has got a vested interest in Scotland and the royal family spends a lot of time here. Nobody does pomp and ceremony like the British and it would be a shame to ever see that go."
Among those young people in attendance were Hannah Leslie, 16, Ben Kean, 17 and Mia Williams, 17, who travelled into Edinburgh from across the Lothians to witness history. Mia said: "We're living in a really big part of history for the monarchy. People should experience it."
Ben added: "This is a ceremony that is one thousand years old and the death of the Queen was quite significant. I've never been brought up as a royalist but I watched The Crown and I realised just how much the Queen had to do with the running of the country.
"It's about having stability - and people look up to them, and I think the monarch is still someone that can be looked up to. It's exciting to watch because I think a lot of things will change, like the scaling down of the monarchy as it moves into the modern world."
Hannah noted: "You get a sense that the coronation is bringing everyone together, being among people that share the same views as you and getting to watch something as spectacular as this. I do think people think of the monarchy as being an English thing and I think they could bring it back to being a Scottish thing."
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