Coronation fever has swept all over the world today, as thousands have gone above and beyond to celebrate the crowning of King Charles.
From the Prince Philip-worshipping island of Vanuatu, to the bustling Croatian city of Osijek, royalists are paying a variety of touching tributes to His Majesty.
It comes as King Charles pledged his faith to Britain in a historic ceremony, surrounded by the Prince and Princess of Wales, Prince Harry and numerous other Royal Family members.
Nations across numerous continents were seen to stream the landmark event too, with crowds gathering in the Philippines and the United Arab Emirates to watch the spectacle on huge screens.
On the island of Vanuatu, one tribe declared Charles as the ‘son of our power’, as they celebrated his crowning after being presented with his portrait.
Members of the tribe on Vanuatu have declared Charles the ‘son of our power’, and have today been presented with a portrait of the new King
Meanwhile in Australia, a group of Indigenous men performed a traditional smoking ceremony to mark King Charles’ Coronation day
Osijek’s pedestrian bridge was lit up in red, white and blue at the heart of the Croatian city
The Kastom people around the villages of Yaohnanen and Yakel, on Tanna, Vanuatu, have also long believed that the late Duke of Edinburgh was the son of a mountain spirit.
The communal belief has stemmed out of ancient legend, which says that the spirit’s son travelled overseas to a distant land where he married a powerful woman, before returning home.
This theory strengthened when Philip visited the remote island in 1974, and Charles has since met the villagers during a 2018 tour of the South Pacific island.
As they celebrate Charles’ coronation today, villagers from Iaohnanen and Yakel on received a portrait from Britain’s Acting High Commissioner Michael Watters.
Ahead of the ceremony in Westminster Abbey, Chief Johnson Iakapass said islanders would celebrate the new King with a flag-raising ceremony.
They also planned to take part in celebrations involving ceremonial dances and lots of kava, a traditional drink in a yellow coconut shell.
‘It will be a big celebration. We’re talking about 5,000 to 6,000 people gathering together to celebrate the crowning of this king,’ the Chief told ABC.
‘This person is really meaningful to the people of Tanna.
Villagers from Iaohnanen and Yakel on Vanuatu’s Tanna island received a portrait of King Charles III from Britain’s Acting High Commissioner Michael Watters
Pictured: Vanuatu is a nation made up of around 80 islands in the South Pacific Ocean
The Prince of Wales with Chief Sine Mao Tirsupe, President of the Malvatumauri National Council of Chiefs, during a visit to the Chiefs’ Nakamal, as he visits the South Pacific island of Vanuatu during his tour of the region in 2018
Sikor Natuan, the son of the local chief, holds two official portraits (one holding a pig-killing club, left) of Britain’s Prince Philip in front of the chief’s hut in the remote village of Yaohnanen on Tanna in Vanuatu
Tribesmen holding portraits of Britain’s Prince Philip in the town of Yaohnanen, near the town of Yakel
Chief Johnson Iakapass said there would be a flag-raising ceremony to celebrate the coronation
‘It’s another thing that will bring back the history of England and Tanna and keep remembering the friendship on this island.’
According to Kirk Huffman, an expert on Vanuatu and authority on what is known as the Prince Philip Movement, the tribespeople likely switched their focus to King Charles following the death of Prince Philip and Queen Elizabeth II.
Mr Huffman told The Mirror: ‘The movement has nothing to do with “worshipping a white man”, as they believe that the Duke of Edinburgh was originally from their island (not from anywhere in Europe or other ‘remote areas’ like that).
‘Interest there may now eventually focus on King Charles (as the son of their god/spirit/guardian/power).
The 400-strong community believe that after his death, Philip’s spirit will return home to their island, and will bring peace and harmony to the world.
‘People may say that we’re crazy,’ said one villager. ‘But that makes me believe he’ll come home even more,’ he told Channel 4’s Meet The Natives.
The tribe believe that Tanna and England were once the same island.
‘When they broke apart, things started to go wrong for you on the other side of the world,’ explains one tribesman. ‘So our God of the volcano sent his son on a special mission to try to help you in England.
‘You, the people of England, have always been told that Prince Philip was born in Greece, then he came to your country to join the navy where he met your young Queen.’
‘But we believe that Prince Philip is a spirit, born in Tanna, who was sent to England to bring peace, unity and harmony to the world.’
The Prince of Wales is given a grass skirt to wear prior to receiving a chiefly title during a visit to the Chiefs’ Nakamal, as he visits the South Pacific island of Vanuatu in 2018
A member of the tribe can be seen heading deep into the forest and says: ‘Every year we plant new yams which grow new shoots that keep Prince Philip’s spirit alive.’ Pictured, the yam plants
It is the tribe’s belief that Prince Philip and the yam plant are one defined being which keeps all of us alive. Pictured, the yam plants
‘All happiness comes from Him,’ says one tribe member, while another enthuses: ‘I love Him so much…I pray for my life to connect to His.’
A third added: ‘He’s the spirit and he’s the son of our god. Everyone believes in him and his name is Prince Philip.’
In 2007, five of the tribe members were invited to travel to England to meet Prince Philip as part of Channel 4 documentary, ‘Meet the natives.’
The tribe (pictured) believe that Prince Philip is a spirit, born in Tanna, who was sent to England to bring peace, unity and harmony to the world
During their pilgrimage, the tribe are met with some resistance from those who have abandoned the traditional ways, actively rejecting Western lifestyles and Christianity (pictured)
Keen to share one message with those who no longer believers, a member of the tribe recalled a recent meeting with Prince Charles
During the trip, they took the opportunity to deliver a special message to the Duke of Edinburgh – with the chiefs wanting to know if the pawpaw was ripe yet or not – which was their way of knowing whether Prince Philip’s spirit was ready to return home to the island.
‘My heart rejoices that He is returning to Tanna,’ exclaimed one,’ while another explains: ‘The prophecy states that when Prince Philip’s work is over in England, He will come back to Tanna. The fish will leap from the sea, the harvest will never fail and we will all live forever.’
‘These days we have plenty of food and our life is good.
‘Why then do we really need Prince Philip?’ asks one person, to which another replies:
‘The goodness we are experiencing is a gift from someone else and that someone who is greater than all of us, is Prince Philip.
‘That’s the story we are delivering to the people everywhere. He is the ending of the story and only He has the final word.’
A further member of the tribe can then be seen heading deep into the forest and says: ‘Here we grow the sacred yam plant that we worship.
‘Every year we plant new yams which grow new shoots that keep Prince Philip’s spirit alive.
This yam propagates the next one, which then produces new yams. Meaning that He can never really die because the yam spirit is eternal.’
It is the tribe’s belief that Prince Philip and the yam plant are one defined being which ‘keeps all of us alive.’
During the pilgrimage, the tribe pass through the mountains where they believe the spirit of Prince Philip was born before he left for the coast.
At last they arrive at the coast where Prince Philip left for England to marry the Queen – it’s also where he’s said to have returned some 50 years later.
Now, many years later, the human form of Prince Philip has died, and the tribe believe he has finally sent them his sign.
‘This is the pawpaw I asked about in the castle,’ explains the tribesman, cutting it from the plant. ‘The one that Philip told me about. And now it is ripe!’
Believing the time is right for the Duke of Edinburgh’s spirit to return to Tanna, the five of them embark on a pilgrimage across their island in a bid to share the good news with everyone they meet.
In the 1970s, the Royal Britannia was on the tour of the south pacific when it sailed past our island.
‘Our grandfather saw Prince Philip on board, lit up by the sun.
‘It was that moment which confirmed to us he really is defined.’
A tribesmen who witnessed it happen, explains: ‘My father, Kehma, told me His kava here. Philip’s ship was due to pass our island.
‘Dad said He will come here to drink kava at night. As I prepared the kava, Prince Philip shone a search light from His ship.
His spirit came ashore, drank the kava and went back to His ship. So He drank the kava and left!’
However, during their pilgrimage, the tribe are met with some resistance from those who have abandoned the traditional ways, many of the villagers still live the ‘kustom’ way of life, actively rejecting Western lifestyles and Christianity, and continue to worship their Gods.
Keen to share one message with those who no longer believers, a member of the tribe explains: ‘Recently, Prince Charles visited our islands.
‘The High Commissioner contacted me from the Embassy. He said it’s vital Charles meets us five ambassadors who met his Father in England.
‘I was already in Port Vila, so I went to give Prince Charles a message on behalf of us all.’
He continues: ‘On his arrival he shook hands with me and I told him that we are giving you this rod and telling you that the chiefs who foretold your Father’s prophecy are dead.
The men were captured kneeling before a portrait of the new King as a brass band played behind them
This event took place at a tree-planting event hosted by the Government House in Sydney
Antananarivo’s town hall ‘Lapan’ ny tanana’ shone a bright shade of blue in Madagascar
He shook my hand and said: ‘Thank you. I almost missed what I came for. It’s a special mission isn’t it.”
‘Charles accepted from me the story about his Father. He will keep our faith alive. Prince Charles.’
In Australia, a group of Indigenous men performed a prestigious smoking ceremony to mark King Charles’ Coronation day.
The traditionally dressed men were captured proudly kneeling before a portrait of the new King as a brass band played behind them.
This event took place at a tree-planting event hosted by the Government House in Sydney, with Australia remaining to be one of the 54 countries in the Commonwealth.
On the other side of the world in Chiang Mai, Thailand, crowds proudly waved Union Jack flags outside a hotel in the country’s northern region.
Others nearby appeared to have organised a festival celebrating Charles’ big day too, brimming with food, music and activities.
Similar festivities took place in Yaounde, Cameroon, with familiar red, white and blue decor laid out on the grass amidst the royal ceremony.
Crowds proudly waved Union Jack flags outside a hotel in Chiang Mai, Thailand
Festivities took place in Yaounde, Cameroon, with red, white and blue decor laid out on the grass amidst the royal ceremony
The British Embassy in UAE celebrated the Coronation in a bunting-filled bar
Meanwhile, numerous countries streamed the ceremony on huge screens, with crowds gathering to watch at bunting-filled bars in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and mass-scale picnics in the Philippines.
The British Embassy in the UAE tweeted: ‘Our embassy staff and HM Ambassador took #watchpartygoals to the next level during the coronation ceremony! We had themed snacks, and fancy crowns. It was a blast celebrating together!’
In the Philippines, another Twitter used added: ‘The British Embassy is hosting a livestream picnic at Quezon Memorial Circle with different booths.’
Canada, France, Germany, and South Africa are among other countries believed to be watching the Coronation today, with coverage running on a number of TV networks.
Other countries, such as Croatia and Madagascar also lit up local landmarks with Britain’s national colours in the midst of the unforgettable event.
Osijek’s major pedestrian bridge was lit up in one of Croatia’s largest cities, while Antananarivo’s town hall shone a bright shade of blue in Madagascar.
