Thomas Mackintosh
Live reporter

Image source, Reuters

It has been a day of celebration in south London as thousands of Crystal Palace fans gathered along the streets of Croydon to celebrate the team's first major honour.

Just over a week ago, Eberechi Eze's goal was enough to see off Manchester City under the Wembley arch and it is safe to say Crystal Palace fans from all over the world have not stopped smiling.

Throughout our coverage this afternoon we have had messages from Palace fans in New Zealand, Colombia and Zambia - watching on as the open-top bus made its way to Selhurst Park. Some fans were lucky enough to get a ticket to be inside the stadium or watch the parade up close.

Then, against the backdrop of fans kitted out in red and blue, the sound of fireworks and confetti flickering in the air, the FA Cup trophy was held aloft on the Selhurst Park pitch.

The party for Crystal Palace fans will no doubt continue well into the summer, but this is where we will be pausing our coverage of this afternoon's FA Cup trophy parade.

Thank you for joining us and have a good night.

As the celebrations come to a close, here are some of the highlights of today's parade.

Thousands of fans, of all ages, lined the streets, turning this corner of south London into a sea of red and blue.

Image source, PA Media

Image source, PA Media

Image source, PA Media

Image source, PA Media

Image source, PA Media

Image source, PA Media

Image source, PA Media

Imogen James
Live reporter

It's been an eventful and happy day. Where to begin?

It was a relatively short parade, compared to those of some other winning teams, but it certainly brought a flood of emotion. Here's what happened today:

• Fans began gathering from early morning, lining the streets around the Crystal Palace stadium Selhurst Park
• "It's unreal. I feel like I'm dreaming," one fan told the BBC ahead of the winner's parade, after supporting the club for most of his life
• Two buses, packed full of the FA Cup winners and decorated for the occasion, carried the squad past happy fans, some of them in tears
• With them was the trophy that the team and its fans have been waiting on for years
• The FA Cup was lifted inside the stadium to chants of "Eagles!", as manager Oliver Glasner told the crowd they were "always behind us"

Jamie Reid
Reporting from Selhurst Park

I've been speaking to Jackie and her son Luke.

"Today is amazing. I've been waiting for this all my life, from watching the Palace off the Sainsbury's roof where I used to work," Jackie tells me.

"They are such a special group of players; they're amazing. I'm lost for words because I didn't think this had ever happen in my lifetime.

"Glasner has pulled the group together - I've been crying all week!"

Luke says it's been very special: "Next season, hopefully big things... [Europa League] is massive for this club. At home they can beat anyone and then pick up a few points away."

There have been joyous scenes inside Selhurst Park. Here's a taste of some of them.

Image source, PA Media

Image source, Action Images/Reuters

Image source, Tom Dulat/Getty Images

Image source, Action Images/Reuters

Fireworks are set off and Glad All Over blasts from the PA system as the players leave the stage.

The players are high-fiving some of the fans as they leave the pitch while more red and blue confetti rains down on the Selhurst Park pitch.

Image source, Reuters

"I couldn't be more pleased to manage a club like Crystal Palace with fans like you guys," manager Oliver Glasner tells the crowd.

"We had tough moments but you were always behind us."

Glasner, who previously won the Europa League with Eintracht Frankfurt, says the European journey is one to look forward to next season.

He then announces Daniel Munoz as the Crystal Palace player of the season.

Goalkeeper Dean Henderson is the first player to be called up to speak to the fans.

"It's phenomenal," the goalkeeper says, adding that the supporters "deserve it".

"Look at the turnout; they have been our 12th man all season."

Confetti rains through the skies as the FA Cup is lifted by the Palace players.

Chants of "Eagles!" follow as the stadium announcer encourages fans to take their seats where possible.

Image source, Reuters

Kris Bramwell
BBC News

Eagles faithfuls from all the world have been getting in touch in big numbers. Here are just some of the messages we've been getting in so far:

"I'm watching from New Zealand, and it's after 1am, pouring with rain in Auckland. Dad took me to my first game in 1981, the day after my 10th birthday. We lost 1-0 at home to Shrewsbury Town. So proud of what we've achieved this season!" Simon.

"What a day, what a season, what a time to be a Palace fan! I never imagined that first time I walked into Selhurst Park and was smitten that 45 years later I’d be cheering, groaning, and sweating out an FA Cup title with my grandson, a Palace fan since birth." Chris.

Image source, Getty Images

"I'm currently watching your Palace live stream from bed in Zambia recovering (hopefully) from malaria. Palace's victory has made the experience so much more bearable! Come on Palace!" Mike.

"Watching today’s events with pride from Colombia with pride and sad not able to make it. Born in Croydon in 1963, so like many faithful, have waited a long time for this. Shout out to the Colombian players and rest of the team. Wearing my T shirt with pride in the office. Eagles!" Bob Wright.

Matt Graveling
Reporting from Selhurst Park

Image source, Getty Images

Soon the sea of red and blue fans on the pitch and in the stands will welcome the Crystal Palace players, manager and non-playing staff on to the stage that has been set up.

There will be speeches from the players and manager and this will be followed by the club's end-of-season awards.

Afterwards, the fans will be able to stay on the pitch, soak it all up, take photos and create memories that will last a lifetime.

People in south London have been revelling in the FA Cup pride that Crystal Palace have brought them.

While Faithless blasts out across the stadium, let's give you some more images of supporters enjoying the trophy parade.

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

It was a late night for many Palace fans after that momentous win over Manchester City.

After the club secured its first major trophy, one fan told BBC London: “I've supported Palace for 46 years and I don't know if I ever thought I'd see this. Genuinely the best day of my sporting life."

"Unbelievable," another added. "I was here 35 years ago for the Cup Final [defeat by Manchester United]. After winning it now - unbelievable - a really emotional day.”

Outside the stadium, fans following the match on TV and radio went wild as victory was confirmed.

"That was epic. I love this team, I love this town," one supporter from Croydon said.

"We cried. But hey, I'm 65. If I cry, I cry.”

Fans kitted out in the blue and red of Crystal Palace are continuing to file on to the Selhurst Park pitch. The two stands behind the goals and the Main Stand are also pretty packed.

The FA Cup itself is perched on the stage alone, surrounded by chairs that have been laid out, waiting for the players and staff.

Stay with us as we build up to the FA Cup being held aloft in south London.

Londoners James and Charlie Morgan have been in touch to share why today is particularly special for them.

James says: "My brother and I have been fans since we were born, spending years with our parents in the Holmesdale End growing up.

"Today means everything to us, especially as they're not with us anymore.

"No better feeling than standing on hallowed ground."

Kris Bramwell
BBC News

More Palace fans have been in touch on this happy day for the Eagles.

"Hello from Lincolnshire. Moved up here 30 years ago, but Palace fans forever. Emotional and so proud of our boys in red and blue. Glad all over!" say Kim and Graham Wright.

"Four childhood friends and fans of the club! Our old school where we met is a mile away from the ground and we’re buzzing to be back celebrating Palace’s big win!" Laura, Chris, Rebecca and Taneesha tell us.

"Always followed Palace. Went to 1999 and 2016 finals and the replay. This final I gave my team a break and didn’t go to Wembley. Best and worst choice I ever made!" AJ adds.

The parade is over and the party on the pitch will be starting soon, but as you can see below, thousands of fans gathered to get a glimpse of their FA Cup winning team, and the trophy itself.

Neil Johnston
BBC Sport

Image source, Reuters

Let go by Arsenal. Released by Fulham and Reading. Trials at Bristol City and Sunderland that came to nothing. Told by Millwall 'thanks, but no thanks'.

All that before the age of 18.

It would have been easy for Eberechi Eze to give up on his dream of becoming a professional footballer - after all, the youngster from a council estate in Greenwich, south-east London, had experienced nothing but pain, frustration and crushing rejection.

Then Queens Park Rangers offered him a chance - and the rest is history.

Eze scored the winning goal as Crystal Palace beat Manchester City 1-0 in the FA Cup final at Wembley, giving the Eagles their first major trophy.

From growing up playing football with jumpers for goalposts in a cage with friends to representing England at Euro 2024, Eze's story is one of resilience, determination, faith and self-belief.

It is a journey full of rejections and tribulations that is all too familiar to so many youngsters who have spent time in academies up and down the country.

"I remember the deflation," Eze says about the knockbacks he received as he tried to find his way in the game. "But the love of football never left."

After all those rejections at a young age, he is reaping the rewards of refusing to give up.

Despite his elevation to the England team, scoring against Latvia in March, Eze has not forgotten where it all started.

So what's next?

We're seeing fans gathering on the pitch of Selhurst Park now, the rain not putting a dampener on the mood.

They're going to be the lucky ones who see the players lift the FA Cup shortly. There will be food, drink and music, too.

It's a ticketed event, but of course it sold out early.

The parade is now over, but it brought a sea of red and blue to south London.

Palace players partied on top of the bus as they showed off the FA Cup to fans.

Image source, Crystal Pix/MB Media/Getty Images

Image source, PA Media

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Image source, PA Media