from msnbc world headquarters here in new york, i am alex witt. welcome to our special coverage of the coronation of britain s king charles. this is london live, you are about to see it is under light rain, it is ten a.m. british summertime. over the next five hours we will step into instant history. the scenes that we watch together will be in high definition, but centuries old. ancient ritual, but contemporary in immediate s spectacle. tradition in scope and afield but accented in modern controversy and attended by a worldwide audience, many of whom will view in fascination. others, disdain. we will try to provide a spectrum of motion and analysis in that perspective as the events unfold. happening right now, heads of state, government officials, and other dignitaries arriving at westminster abbey in anticipation of a ceremony steeped in 1000 years of tradition. the last coronation was 1953 when then 25 year old elizabeth the second was crowned queen as the four year old so
we can say to the king of kings, got himself, as does the king here today, give grace, that in thy service i may find perfect freedom. in that prayer, there is promise beyond measure, joy beyond dreams, hope that in jurors. by that prayer, for every king, every ruler and yes, for every person, for all of us, we are opened to the transforming love of god. amen. amen
last thing before we go tonight. we mark the passing of academy-award winning actor sidney poitier. in a statement today, president biden called him a once-in-a generation actor, advocate, whose work carried so much dignity, power and grace, that it changed the world on and off the big screen. nbc s joe fryer takes a look back at the long career and lasting impact of the great sidney poitier. they call me mr. tibbs. reporter: sidney poitier played characters who jumped off the screen. opposite rod steiger in the heat of the night. where did you earn it? i m a police officer. amen reporter: in the lily of the field as handyman homer smith. lots of luck, mother. i m not building a chapel. reporter: the role that won him the first lead actor oscar for an african-american. it is a long journey to this
beloved by generations for his intense, larger than life demeanor, as well as his activism for racial equality. it s especially poignant in america today. here s a brief look back at the man and his lasting impact. they call me mr. tibbs. reporter: sidney poitier played characters who jumped off the screen, opposite rod steiger in the heat of the night. now where did you earn it? i m a police officer. amen reporter: and in the lillies of the field as handyman martin smith. lots of luck, mother. yeah you. reporter: the one that won him the first ever lead oscar for an african-american. it is a long journey to this moment. reporter: raised in the bahamas, he moved to harlem as a teenager and endured the usual hard scrabble climb to an
breaking director, paving the way for black actors in film. the love by generations for his activism for racial equality. it s especially poignant in america today. here s a brief look back at the man and his lasting impact. they call me mr. tibs. reporter: sidney poitier played characters who jumped off the screen, opposite rod steiger in the heat of the night. now where did you earn it? i m a police officer. amen reporter: and in the lillies of the field as hammer man martin smith. lots of luck, mother. reporter: the one that won him the first ever lead oscar for an african-american. it is a long journey to this moment. reporter: raised in the bahamas, he moved to harlem as a teen-ager and endured the hard