Tag: King Charles III

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British Asian Trust Adds Nikhil , Neerja to India Advisory Council

Through Zerodha, he has committed $100 million to Rainmatter Foundation, which supports solutions for climate change, specifically afforestation, ecological restoration and livelihoods…reports Asian Lite News

The British Asian Trust, a charity founded by King Charles III, has announced the appointment of entrepreneurs Nikhil Kamath and Neerja Birla to its India Advisory Council.

Kamath, co-founder of one of India’s largest stockbrokers ‘Zerodha’; ‘True Beacon’, a wealth management firm; and venture capital firm ‘Gruhas’, hopes to address complex social changes in India in his new role with the Council.

“I am committed to partnering with innovative and pioneering social organisations as part of my philanthropic approach. I’m therefore honoured to join the British Asian Trust’s India Advisory Council, made up of notable business leaders and philanthropists. Together, we aim to address complex social challenges innovatively and at scale across the country,” Kamath said in a statement released by the Trust.

Through Zerodha, he has committed $100 million to Rainmatter Foundation, which supports solutions for climate change, specifically afforestation, ecological restoration and livelihoods.

He is the youngest Indian to sign Bill Gates and Warren Buffet’s ‘The Giving Pledge’, making a promise to give at least 50 per cent of his wealth to charity.

Additionally, he is a key figure in the ‘Young India Philanthropic Pledge’, a commitment by India’s new age philanthropists to dedicate a minimum of 25 per cent of their wealth to enhance global change, starting with India.

Neerja Birla, Founder and Chairperson of Aditya Birla Education Trust (ABET), said she is thrilled to join the Council and expand her work in mental health across India.

“Significant barriers continue to exist in providing the right support for mental health to millions of citizens in the country. The British Asian Trust is doing commendable work in this space across the world,” she added.

Her initiative ‘Mpower’ seeks to foster a positive change in attitudes towards mental health through awareness and advocacy and provides holistic care so that individuals with mental health concerns may lead meaningful and productive lives with the utmost respect and dignity.

Bharath Visweswariah, Executive Director (India), at the British Asian Trust, said that the inclusion of Kamath and Birla into their advisory council will contribute immensely to the future of their work in India.

“Nikhil’s passion for conservation and livelihoods and Birla’s outstanding journey in education and mental health will help us expand our impact innovatively and effectively,” Visweswariah added.

The two join other eminent business and philanthropic leaders on the Council, including Reliance’s Mukesh Ambani, S. Ramadorai CBE, former chairman of National Skill Development Council and Bombay Stock Exchange, and Natasha Poonawalla, Chairperson, Villoo Poonawalla Foundation and Executive Director of Serum Institute of India.

ALSO READ-Global Leaders Overlooking Early Climate Warnings: King Charles

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Princes Harry, Andrew Pushed to third row

Both Harry, 38, the Duke of Sussex, and 63-year-old Andrew, the Duke of York, were in the royal ranks for the coronation at London’s Westminster Abbey, albeit without a formal role.

Princes Harry and Andrew attended the coronation of King Charles III but were relegated to the third row of the royal family seating — and did not join them later Saturday on the Buckingham Palace balcony.

Charles’s younger son Harry and his American wife Meghan quit royal duties in 2020 and have since unleashed a string of barbed attacks on the monarchy.

Andrew, the king’s eldest brother, has been frozen out over his past association with the disgraced late US financier Jeffrey Epstein and a related sexual abuse allegation which was settled out of court.

But both Harry, 38, the Duke of Sussex, and 63-year-old Andrew, the Duke of York, were in the royal ranks for the coronation at London’s Westminster Abbey, albeit without a formal role. Andrew was driven in a state car from Buckingham Palace to the Abbey and part of the crowd in a grandstand in front of the palace booed as he went past.

Harry and Andrew walked into the abbey with other members of the Windsor family. It was the first time Harry has joined his family since subjecting them to a torrent of stinging criticism in his recent memoir “Spare” and in a series of television interviews.

Meghan has remained in California with the couple’s young children, thereby avoiding potentially awkward interactions with her in-laws.

Smiles in the abbey

Former British Army captain Harry, who served in Afghanistan, was wearing a morning suit with his medals, while Andrew — who flew Royal Navy helicopters in the 1982 Falklands War — wore his robes as a knight of the garter.

Harry was seen chatting with Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi, husband of his cousin Princess Beatrice, Andrew’s elder daughter. He also had a quick word with the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, after entering the Great West Door.

Welby married Harry and Meghan at St George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle in May 2018. Both Harry and Andrew were seen smiling as they walked through the abbey to their seats.

They were both seated on the third row — out of keeping with their places in the line of succession to the throne.

Harry is fifth in line, following his brother Prince William, and William’s three children — Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis of Wales.

Andrew is eighth in line, coming after Harry and his children — Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet of Sussex. Andrew sat at the end of the row next to Beatrice. Harry sat next to Jack Brooksbank, the husband of Andrew’s younger daughter Princess Eugenie, the cousin who is perhaps Harry’s closest ally in the family.

Balcony no-show

The pair were absent from the horse-drawn procession through central London back to Buckingham Palace, with Harry seen getting into a car to leave the abbey.

Saturday marks Archie’s fourth birthday, so Harry seemed to have made a swift exit back to his home in California. Neither he or Andrew appeared with the royal family on the Buckingham Palace balcony following the ceremony.

Andrew’s links with Epstein — boyfriend of the prince’s friend Ghislaine Maxwell — came back to haunt him. A US woman, Virginia Giuffre, said she was pressured to have sex with Andrew when she was 17 after being delivered by Epstein, who was convicted in 2008 of procuring a child for prostitution.

Andrew denied the allegations in a November 2019 BBC interview that nonetheless went down badly. Within days, he stepped back from his patronages and in May 2020 he permanently resigned from all public roles.

The case was settled out of court in February 2022, with Giuffre accepting a donation to her charity and no admission of liability from Andrew. He took part in events surrounding Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral but, beyond mourning his mother, Charles has shown no sign of allowing Andrew a return to public life.

ALSO READ: King Charles III crowned with regal pomp

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Dalai Lama greets King Charles III

Dalai Lama greets King Charles III on coronation(vishal)

On the occasion of his coronation, Tibetan spiritual leader, The Dalai Lama, has written to King Charles III to offer his warm congratulations. “May your Majesty live long,” he wrote, “and the people of the UK enjoy happiness and prosperity.”

“Having been privileged to enjoy your friendship for many years, I am confident that you will continue to accomplish this great responsibility with kindness and affection, dedicated to the service of others.”

“Today,” His Holiness added, “the international community is going through very challenging times. I believe we must make concerted efforts to achieve a more compassionate, peaceful world by resolving problems like the gap between rich and poor and protecting the natural environment of this planet that is our only home, in the spirit of the oneness of humanity.”

He concluded his letter: “I wish you every success in meeting the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead in fulfilling the hopes and aspirations of the British people and contributing to the creation of a more peaceful world, free of violent conflict.”

ALSO READ: Lord Indarjit Singh presents Glove to King Charles III

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Coronation was just amazing to see, says Jill Biden

An American president has never attended a British coronation and President Joe Biden asked the first lady to represent the U.S. in his place.

First lady Jill Biden, who represented the United States at Saturday’s coronation of Britain’s King Charles III, said there was “such beauty in the pageantry of the ceremony” and it was “just amazing to see.”

“You can’t imagine that moment where you actually see the crown being placed on the head of the king and then on the head on the queen,” she said during a telephone interview with The Associated Press after the ceremony in London. “It’s really surreal to see and experience that moment.”

Charles’ wife, Camilla, also was crowned queen during Britain’s first coronation in 70 years. His mother, Queen Elizabeth II, died last September after a seven-decade reign.

An American president has never attended a British coronation and President Joe Biden asked the first lady to represent the U.S. in his place. The White House said Jill Biden’s appearance marked the first time that a U.S. first lady was present for a British coronation.

She brought one of her granddaughters, Finnegan Biden, 24, on the trip.

First Ladies of US and Ukraine Jill Biden and Olena Zelenska respectively meet with Kate Middleton in London.

“It’s my honor to represent the people of the United States and I wanted to be here,” Jill Biden said. “It was so meaningful to me that I could bring Finnegan here, that we could travel together and experience this together and it’s meant a lot to both of us.”

The first lady spoke as she and Finnegan headed to afternoon tea following the coronation at Westminster Abbey. “We thought that was something that was so British,” she said of their tea time. “It was something we really wanted to do together.”

She said sitting and watching the ceremony led her to think about the importance of traditions. “I felt as I sat there, I felt this sense of decorum and civility that binds together people of all nations,” she said.

At the coronation, Jill Biden sat beside Olena Zelenska, the first lady of Ukraine. Jill Biden said they talked about Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and that Zelenska thanked her again for the support from the United States.

Jill Biden said she paid close attention to Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby’s message that people everywhere seek hope and joy.

“And I thought that was such strong message because I think that is true,” she said. “And it’s true for all people everywhere, but I think it was important at this moment that the clergy brought that in to this moment in history.”

The first lady attended a Buckingham Palace reception Friday that was hosted by Charles. She said Charles recounted to her his most recent telephone conversation with President Biden and asked her to “give my best to your husband.”

She said she and Princess Kate chatted as mothers about the lengths to which they go to keep their children quiet in church, feeding them pieces of candy and such.

“She said she didn’t know if her son could sit still for two hours and we just had a good laugh over it,” Jill Biden said. “It’s just something, I think, that’s common to a lot of us.”

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Lord Indarjit Singh presents Glove to King Charles III

The King reused the Coronation Glove made for the Coronation of his grandfather, King George VI, in the interests of sustainability and efficiency.

At the Coronation on Saturday, the Glove to hold the Sovereign’s Sceptre during the Crowning, was presented to King Charles III by Lord Indarjit Singh of Wimbledon.

The Glove is worn to hold the Sovereign’s Sceptre during the Crowning and then removed before processing to the Throne Chair, the Royal.UK wrote. The Coronation Glove or gauntlet is made for the Sovereign’s right hand. The King reused the Coronation Glove made for the Coronation of his grandfather, King George VI, in the interests of sustainability and efficiency. It was presented by the Worshipful Company of Glovers, made by Dents the glovemakers, and embroidered by Edward Stillwell and Company in 1937.

This Glove has been conserved by Dents with support from the Worshipful Company of Glovers and was re-presented by the Company ahead of the Coronation on 6th May, the Royal.UK wrote.

The Glove is made of white leather and the wrist is embroidered with gilt metal thread, wire and spangles in the form of national emblems including the Tudor Rose, thistle, shamrock, oak leaves and acorns. The back of the hand with an embroidered ducal coronet in red velvet above the coat of arms of the family of the Dukes of Newcastle. The wrist is lined with red satin.

The King reused historic items of clothing from the Royal Collection, worn by previous monarchs at past Coronations, during the Coronation Service at Westminster Abbey. The ‘vestments’ were worn as the King was crowned by the Archbishop of Canterbury in the Coronation Chair.

His Majesty reused vestments which featured in the Coronation Services of King George IV in 1821, King George V in 1911, King George VI in 1937 and Queen Elizabeth II in 1953, including the Colobium Sindonis, the Supertunica, the Imperial Mantle, the Coronation Sword Belt and the Coronation Glove, the Royal.UK wrote.

Although it is customary for the Supertunica and the Imperial Mantle to be reused, King Charles III also reused the Colobium Sindonis, Coronation Sword Belt and Coronation Glove worn by his grandfather King George VI, in the interests of sustainability and efficiency, the Royal.UK wrote.

Lord Indarjit Singh is a British Sikh peer. The House of Lords, also known as the House of Peers, is the upper house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom.

Lord Indarjit Singh represented the Sikh community at Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral, former Member of Parliament Tarlochan Singh said in the statement. He had also attended the wedding of the son of the then-Prince of Wales Charles.

King Charles III is also serving as the Head of the Church of England and all the ceremonies are conducted by the Archbishop. However, it is reported that King Charles expressed his desire to be a defender of all faiths while serving as head of the Christian faith in the UK.

It is for the first time that peers from different faiths – Muslim, Hindu, Sikh and Jewish were part of the procession during the coronation ceremony.

The Sikh community had hailed the decision of King Charles to give equal status to all religions, Tarlochan Singh said in the statement. The UK Government named 90-year-old Lord Indarjit Singh to represent the Sikh community.

Earlier this month, the UK’s royal family revealed new details, including a new Twitter emoji ahead of the coronation of King Charles III, which is scheduled to take place next month.

Taking to the official Twitter handle, the Royal Family said, “A special emoji for the Coronation has gone live today! The emoji, based on St Edward’s Crown, will appear when any of the following hashtags are used: #Coronation #CoronationConcert #TheBigHelpout #CoronationWeekend #CoronationBigLunch”.

On the morning of the Coronation, the Royals travelled from Buckingham Palace in The King’s Procession to Westminster Abbey in the Diamond Jubilee State Coach – which was created in 2012 for Queen Elizabeth II’s Diamond Jubilee.

The King’s Procession, accompanied by The Sovereign’s Escort of the Household Cavalry departed Buckingham Palace and proceeded down The Mall, passing through Admiralty Arch and Trafalgar Square, down Whitehall and along Parliament Street to Westminster Abbey.

The procession from Westminster Abbey to Buckingham Palace took the same route in reverse.

The procession included Armed Forces from across the Commonwealth and the British Overseas Territories, and all Services of the UK’s Armed Forces.

The members of the Royal family travelled in the Gold State Coach, which was commissioned in 1760 and was first used by King George III to travel to the State Opening of Parliament in 1762, and has been used at every Coronation since that of William IV in 1831. (ANI)

ALSO READ: Era of King Charles III begins

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Gulf leaders join international dignitaries in London

Several leaders and official representatives of Gulf countries were among the estimated 2,000 guests at the coronation of the United Kingdom’s King Charles III at Westminster Abbey in London on Saturday.

As announced on Thursday, Saudi Arabia was represented by Prince Turki bin Mohammad bin Fahd bin Abdulaziz, a minister of state and cabinet member, who attended the historic ceremony on behalf of King Salman. With him was Prince Khalid bin Bandar bin Sultan, the Saudi ambassador to the UK.

Prince Turki spoke with the king during a pre-coronation ceremony at Buckingham Palace on Friday.

King Abdullah II of Jordan and his wife Queen Rania were seated close to the king and queen of Spain, Felipe VI and Letizia.

Qatar’s Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani made the journey to London alongside his consort Sheikha Jawaher for Saturday’s event, and the duo were also photographed meeting with King Charles on Friday.

The UAE delegation at the coronation was led by Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed, the vice president and deputy prime minister, who was also in attendance at Friday’s reception.

“Sheikh Mansour pointed out the significant role played by the late Queen Elizabeth II in strengthening the longstanding friendship that brought together the United Kingdom and the UAE since the era of the founding father, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al-Nahyan and which was further consolidated during the era of the late Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al-Nahyan,” a UAE government statement said.

Bahrain’s King Hamad bin Isa Al-Khalifa attended the coronation and was accompanied by Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad Al-Khalifa.

“King Hamad exchanged cordial talks with King Charles III on the depth of the robust long-standing friendly relations between the two royal families and countries, affirming the steady growth of the historical ties between the two kingdoms across various fields,” the Bahrain News Agency reported ahead of the ceremony.

Meanwhile, Sayyid Theyazin bin Haitham Al-Said, a member of the Omani royal family, attended with the sultanate’s foreign minister Sayyid Badr Al-Busaidi, while Crown Prince Sheikh Mishaal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah of Kuwait attended on behalf of Emir Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah.

Other international dignitaries in attendance included US First Lady Jill Biden, French President Emmanuel Macron, Japan’s Emperor Naruhito, EU Commission President Urusula von der Leyen, and Olena Zelenska, the first lady of Ukraine.

Biden was representing the US in the absence of her husband and her appearance marked the first time that a US first lady has been present for a British coronation.

She said there was “such beauty in the pageantry of the ceremony” and it was “just amazing to see,” adding: “You can’t imagine that moment where you actually see the crown being placed on the head of the king and then on the head on the queen. It’s really surreal to see and experience that moment.”

ALSO READ: King Charles III crowned with regal pomp

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Sunak reads from Bible at coronation

Rishi Sunak, Britain’s first Prime Minister of Indian heritage and a practising Hindu, reading from a biblical book will resonate with the multi-faith theme being struck for the Christian ceremony.

Britain’s Prime Minister Rishi Sunak read from the biblical book of Colossians at the coronation of King Charles III in keeping with the tradition of British Prime Ministers giving readings at state occasions.

Sunak, Britain’s first Prime Minister of Indian heritage and a practising Hindu, reading from a biblical book will resonate with the multi-faith theme being struck for the Christian ceremony.

Sunak described the coronation as “a proud expression of our history, culture and traditions”.

The service has been designed to reflect the changes in the UK since King Charles’ mother Queen Elizabeth II’s coronation in 1953, the character of Britain as it is today, and the Church of England’s role in contemporary society.

As one of the newer elements, the 74-year-old monarch also prayed aloud using words specially written for the occasion that reflect the “duty and privilege of the Sovereign to serve all communities”.

Thousands have congregated at the Abbey today and millions are watching the live telecast on screens.

But even before King Charles and Queen Camilla, 75, left Buckingham Palace aboard the Diamond Jubilee State Coach for a rainy procession to the Abbey, police arrested dozens of protesters using new powers rushed onto the statute book to crack down on direct action groups.

The coronation is the first since 1953 and the first of a king since 1937. It is only the second to be televised and the first in colour and streamed online.

Much of the two-hour Anglican service, led by the Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby, would be recognisable to the 39 other monarchs crowned at Westminster Abbey since 1066.

ALSO READ: King Charles III crowned with regal pomp

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King Charles III crowned with regal pomp

Charles was the 40th sovereign to be enthroned in the abbey — and, at 74, the oldest

King Charles III was crowned Saturday at Westminster Abbey, in a ceremony steeped in ancient ritual and brimming with bling at a time when the monarchy is striving to remain relevant in a fractured modern Britain.

At a coronation with displays of royal power straight out of the Middle Ages, Charles was given an orb, a sword and scepter and had the solid gold, bejeweled St. Edward’s Crown placed atop his head as he sat upon a 700-year-old oak chair.

In front of world leaders, foreign royals, dignitaries and a smattering of stars, the monarch declared, “I come not to be served but to serve,” and was presented as Britain’s “undoubted king.”

Inside the medieval abbey, trumpets sounded, and the congregation of more than 2,000 shouted “God save the king!” Outside, thousands of troops, hundreds of thousands of spectators and scores of protesters converged.

It was the culmination of a seven-decade journey for the king from heir to monarch.

To the royal family and government, the occasion — code-named Operation Golden Orb — was a display of heritage, tradition and spectacle unmatched around the world.

To the crowds gathered under rainy skies — thousands of whom had camped overnight — it was a chance to be part of a historic event.

But to millions more, the day was greeted with a shrug, the awe and reverence the ceremony was designed to evoke largely gone.

And to a few, it was reason to protest. Hundreds who want to see Britain become a republic gathered to holler “ Not my king.” They see the monarchy as an institution that stands for privilege and inequality, in a country of deepening poverty and fraying social ties. A handful were arrested.

As the day began, the abbey buzzed with excitement and was abloom with fragrant flowers and colorful hats. Notables streamed in: U.S. first lady Jill Biden, first lady Olena Zelenska of Ukraine, French President Emmanuel Macron, eight current and former British prime ministers, judges in wigs, soldiers with gleaming medals, and celebrities including Judi Dench, Emma Thompson and Lionel Richie.

During the traditional Anglican service slightly tweaked for modern times, Charles, clad in crimson and cream velvet and ermine-trimmed robes, swore on a Bible that he is a “true Protestant.”

But a preface was added to the coronation oath to say the Anglican church “will seek to foster an environment where people of all faiths and beliefs may live freely.” It was the first ceremony to include representatives of the Buddhist, Hindu, Jewish, Muslim, and Sikh faiths, as well as the first in which female clergy took part.

Charles was anointed with oil from the Mount of Olives in the Holy Land — a part of the ceremony so sacred it was concealed behind screens — before being presented with the Sovereign’s Orb and other regalia.

Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby then placed the crown on Charles’ head, while he sat in the Coronation Chair — once gilded, now worn and etched with graffiti. Underneath the seat was a sacred slab known as the Stone of Scone, on which ancient Scottish kings were crowned.

For 1,000 years and more, such grandiose ceremonies have confirmed the right of British kings to rule. Charles was the 40th sovereign to be enthroned in the abbey — and, at 74, the oldest.

These days, the king no longer has executive or political power, and the service is purely ceremonial since Charles automatically became king upon death of his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, in September.

The king does remain the U.K.’s head of state and a symbol of national identity — and Charles will have to work to bring together a multicultural nation and shore up support for the monarchy at at time when it is waning, especially among younger people.

While most Britons view the monarchy on a spectrum ranging from apathy to mild interest, some are fervently opposed to it. The anti-monarchy group Republic said several of its members, including its chief executive, were arrested as they arrived at a protest in central London.

Police, who’d warned they would have a “low tolerance” for people seeking to disrupt the day, said they made 52 arrests. Human Rights Watch said arrests of peaceful protesters were “something you would expect to see in Moscow, not London.”

The multimillion-pound cost of the all the pomp — the exact figure unknown — also rankled some amid a cost-of-living crisis that has meant many Britons are struggling to pay energy bills and buy food.

Charles has sought to lead a smaller, less expensive royal machine for the 21st century, and his was a shorter, smaller affair than his mother’s coronation.

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Era of King Charles III begins

Charles III was crowned monarch of the United Kingdom and 14 other Commonwealth nations after a lifetime as heir apparent to his late mother, Queen Elizabeth II.

Leaders in the United States and Europe sent congratulations to Britain’s King Charles III and Queen Camilla on their coronation on Saturday, while China called for “cooperation” and “peace”.

US hails ‘enduring friendship’

US President Joe Biden, whose country was represented at the lavish ceremony in London by First Lady Jill Biden, paid tribute to the “enduring friendship between the US and the UK”.

He tweeted that the countries’ relationship was “a source of strength for both our peoples” and that he was “proud” his wife could be there for the “historic occasion”.

In an interview aired Friday, he said he would meet Charles, 74, in July to talk in particular about environmental issues.

China urges ‘cooperation and peace’

Chinese President Xi Jinping urged the UK to work for “a stable and mutually beneficial… relationship” with his country after recent strains in their relations.

“China and Britain, both permanent members of the UN Security Council, should take a long-term and strategic view to jointly promote the historical trend of peace, development and win-win cooperation,” he said.

EU sees ‘symbol of stability’

The head of the European Union’s executive, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, called the coronation “a testament to the enduring strength of the British monarchy”.

“A symbol of stability and continuity,” von der Leyen tweeted, alongside a picture of her at the pageant-filled ceremony in Westminster Abbey.

EU Council President Charles Michel said the members of the 27-nation bloc, which the UK voted to leave in 2016, “appreciate the king’s vast experience to promote understanding and respect” and “his tireless efforts to promote the sustainability of our planet”.

Germany praises climate ‘ally’

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, who is in Kenya for a visit, also welcomed the newly crowned monarch’s interest in tackling climate change.

“(It) is very important that he is someone who is committed to a close cooperation between Great Britain and the European Union, and who also has his own personal agenda to advance climate protection,” Scholz said. “That will also help us.”

‘Friends of France’

French President Emmanuel Macron, who also attended the London ceremony, sent his “congratulations” to Charles and Camilla, calling them “friends of France”.

“Proud to be with you on this historic day,” he tweeted.

‘Best wishes’ from Rome

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, whose country was represented at the coronation by President Sergio Mattarella, sent her “best wishes to King Charles III, to Queen Camilla and the entire British people”.

In a message on social media, she noted the symbolism of the Italian craftsmanship involved in the rare mosaic floor of Westminster Abbey.

She said the ancient “Cosmati pavement” on which the Coronation Chair was placed was “masterfully created” and “there to amaze the world and to recall the historic and fruitful cooperation between Italy and the UK, which we are certain… will further strengthen with King Charles III”.

Friend of Greece

The foreign ministry in Greece, where Charles’s father Prince Philip was born in 1921 on the island of Corfu, tweeted in English to “warmly congratulate HM King Charles III, a proven friend of Greece, in his Coronation day”.

It wished him “success in his duties” and said it was “looking forward to continuing excellent cooperation and further deepening bilateral historic relations”.

‘True friend of Ukraine’

Volodymyr Zelensky, the Ukrainian president, congratulated King Charles and offered him and the British people thanks for their support in the war against Russia.

He described King Charles and Queen Camilla as “true friends of Ukraine” and said his reign marked “the beginning of a new era for the British monarchy”.

“I wish King Charles III many years of a successful reign and to the people of the United Kingdom prosperity and our shared victories,” Zelensky said in his nightly video address. “I thank you for your support! Thank you to all the British people!”

Modi greets the King

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated King Charles III and Queen Camilla on their coronation that took place on Saturday. Charles III was crowned king in a solemn Christian ceremony steeped in 1,000 years of history and tradition, but adapted to reflect 21st-century Britain.

Taking to Twitter, PM Modi said, “Warmest congratulations to King Charles III and Queen Camilla on their coronation. We are sure that the India-UK relationship will be strengthened further in the coming years.”

In his tweet PM Modi also said that he was sure that the India-UK relationship will be strengthened further in the coming years.

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King Charles’ France visit postponed

The Buckingham Palace said the decision to postpone the visit by the King and Queen Consort Camilla was due to the “situation in France

Amid ongoing protests across France against the government’s decision to raise the retirement age from 62 to 64, an upcoming three-day visit by the UK’s King Charles III to Paris has been postponed at the suggestion of French President Emmanuel Macron.

In a statement on Friday, the Buckingham Palace said the decision to postpone the visit by the King and Queen Consort Camilla was due to the “situation in France”, reports the BBC.

“Their Majesties greatly look forward to the opportunity to visit France as soon as dates can be found,” the statement added.

The trip to Paris and Bordeaux was due to begin on Sunday.

On Thursday, the two cities witnessed some of the worst violence since the anti-government demonstrations began in January.

While suggesting to postpone the visit, Macron said that from the moment on Thursday night when the labour unions announced a 10th national day of action for March 28, he felt it would be inappropriate for the British Royals to travel to France.

“As we have considerable friendship, respect and esteem for His Majesty and the Queen Consort and the British people, I took the initiative this morning to call (the King) and explain the situation… Common sense and friendship led us to suggest a postponement,” the BBC quoted the French President as saying in a statement.

Protests against reform bill in France.

Macron further said that his country has proposed moving the trip to early summer, “when things calm down again”.

The UK government also added the decision had been “taken with the consent of all parties”.

Several French cities saw violence on the sidelines of Thursday’s largely peaceful demonstrations that attracted more than a million people, reports the BBC.

While the entrance to the town hall in Bordeaux was set alight, in Paris, tear gas was fired.

According to Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin, 903 fires were lit in Paris where garbage has been left uncollected since March 6.

Hundreds of police officers were hurt across France, but protesters were injured by stun grenades and the Council of Europe said there was no justification for “excessive force” by authorities.

The trip by King Charles was deemed to be a hugely important one as it would a first state visit since he became the monarch, and as well as to one of the UK’s closest and oldest allies.

The King and Camilla were due to ride along the Champs-Elysees in the heart of Paris and have a banquet at Versailles with President Macron.

Camilla was expected to open an art exhibition at one of the main Paris attractions, the Musee d’Orsay.

They were then expected to head to Bordeaux.

The King and Camilla were due to travel from France to Germany on March 29.

Charles’s first state visit will instead begin in Berlin.

ALSO READ: Camilla’s title to be changed after King Charles’ coronation