Summary

  • The King and Queen waved at crowds and watched a flypast at Buckingham Palace's balcony following a day of Coronation celebrations

  • They were joined by senior royals, including the Prince and Princess of Wales and their children - but Prince Harry was notably missing

  • The BBC understands Harry, who attended the coronation at Westminster Abbey, was not invited to appear on the balcony

  • Earlier, the King and Queen were crowned in a ceremony full of pageantry and symbolism

  • About 2,200 people, including the Royal Family, celebrities, faith leaders and heads of state, were there to witness the event

  • Thousands of people lined the streets of London to catch a glimpse of the King and Queen as they went past

  • Elsewhere, leading members of Republic, the anti-monarchy group, were among people arrested near Trafalgar Square

  1. Big screen viewings around the countrypublished at 14:57 British Summer Time 6 May 2023

    People around the UK have been to watch at big screens.

    Let's have a look at some of them:

    Public coronation screening
    Image caption,

    The whole of Oldham town centre was taken over for the viewing there

    Big screen in Edinburgh
    Image caption,

    Around 100 people braved the drizzle in the shadow of Edinburgh Castle

    Shrewsbury Castle
    Image caption,

    Another castle, and more rain. Fans gather in Shrewsbury

    Inside Ripon cathedral
    Image caption,

    But the rain didn't dampen spirits in Ripon, North Yorkshire - where the cathedral opened its doors to keep people dry

  2. 'The most memorable, magical day'published at 14:54 British Summer Time 6 May 2023

    Flypast over central London and The MallImage source, Reuters

    Let's bring you some reaction from those who made it to the railings at the front of Buckingham Palace for that balcony moment.

    Michelle Roycroft, from London, was one of the first to get there.

    "I'm absolutely blown away," she told the PA Media news agency.

    Michelle has been waiting since 07:00 this morning and said standing in the rain was fine.

    Speaking about the balcony moment and the flypast, she said: "Absolutely made my day.

    "The most memorable, magical day."

  3. In Pictures: Royals wave from palace balconypublished at 14:45 British Summer Time 6 May 2023

    We've just got these pictures from that balcony moment:

    Britain's King Charles and Queen Camilla wave on the Buckingham Palace balcony following their coronation ceremonyImage source, Reuters
    King and Queen wave on balconyImage source, PA Media
    Senior royals gather on the balconyImage source, PA Media
    Image caption,

    Left to right: The Duke of Edinburgh, Lady Louise Windsor, the Duchess of Edinburgh, Princess Charlotte, the Princess of Wales, Prince Louis, the Prince of Wales - and (third right) Prince George

    The Duke of Edinburgh, the Earl of Wessex, Lady Louise Windsor, Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence, the Duchess of Edinburgh, the Princess Royal, Princess Charlotte, the Princess of Wales, Prince Louis, the Prince of WalesImage source, PA Media
    The King waves as he heads in again after waving from the balconyImage source, PA Media
  4. King and Queen reappear for balcony encorepublished at 14:42 British Summer Time 6 May 2023

    King and Queen

    And moments after going inside, the King and Queen returned to the palace balcony for a second time.

    King Charles and Queen Camilla smiled to the huge crowds gathered below, who met the royal waves with a roar of cheers.

  5. Where was Prince Harry?published at 14:37 British Summer Time 6 May 2023

    Marita Moloney
    Live reporter

    Prince HarryImage source, Reuters

    One thing some people were wondering is whether Prince Harry would make an appearance alongside the Royal Family on the Buckingham Palace balcony.

    As we mentioned earlier, he was spotted smiling as he entered a car outside Westminster Abbey after the Coronation service - while the other senior royals made their way in carriages in the procession towards the Palace.

    Harry was not on the Palace balcony for the royal waves, and we don't know as yet the reason for this.

    There have been some reports that he chose not to stick around for the full day's events. CNN reports, external that Harry did not receive an invitation to join the family for the balcony moment.

    The Duke of Sussex's wife Meghan, and their two children, did not come to the UK for the occasion. The Coronation falls on the same day as his son Prince Archie’s fourth birthday.

  6. Flypast goes down a treat with crowdspublished at 14:35 British Summer Time 6 May 2023

    Aoife Walsh
    Outside Buckingham Palace

    Flypast

    There go the Red Arrows.

    The spectacle went down a treat with the crowds, marking the end of a historic day of celebrations.

  7. Excitement at Palace as royals emergepublished at 14:33 British Summer Time 6 May 2023

    Aoife Walsh
    Outside Buckingham Palace

    Crowds outside Buckingham Palace

    Excitement permeated the crowd the moment King Charles and Queen Camilla stepped out onto the Buckingham Palace balcony.

    The King gave a spirited wave as he looked across the throng of people screaming with delight.

    People gathered here are furiously waving their union jacks towards the balcony.

    The cheering crowd is almost completely drowned out by the sound of aircraft whizzing over the Palace.

    Crowds are also still making their way up from The Mall, with plenty of space left to fill outside the Palace.

  8. Eyes on the skies for military fly-pastpublished at 14:30 British Summer Time 6 May 2023

    The royals continue to wave from the balcony.

    Meanwhile, it's eyes peeled for a military flypast.

    As we reported a short time ago, it's been scaled back due to the weather.

  9. Senior royals join balcony appearancepublished at 14:30 British Summer Time 6 May 2023

    King Charles waves as Queen Camilla, Prince William, Catherine, Princess of Wales, and their children Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis, Prince Edward, Duke of Edinburgh and Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh stand on the Buckingham Palace balconyImage source, Reuters

    The King and Queen have also been joined by the Prince and Princess of Wales and their children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, Prince Louis. Princess Anne and Prince Edward were also there.

    Some of Camilla's grandchildren are also present on the balcony. But there is no sign of Prince Harry.

  10. King and Queen emerge for balcony wavepublished at 14:26 British Summer Time 6 May 2023
    Breaking

    Britain's King Charles and Queen Camilla, Prince George, Annabel Elliot, sister of Queen Camilla, and Fiona Mary Petty-Fitzmaurice, Marchioness of LansdowneImage source, Reuters

    Here they are!

    In what’s sure to be one of the key images of the day, the newly-crowned King and Queen emerge on the balcony and wave to the vast crowds who’ve gathered along The Mall to witness the spectacle.

  11. Huge crowds gather to catch glimpse of Kingpublished at 14:21 British Summer Time 6 May 2023

    Aoife Walsh
    Outside Buckingham Palace

    And here comes the crowd! The grounds around Buckingham Palace are awash with union jack brollies and flags waving high.

    Their spirit appears undimmed by the bad weather, with many running to catch a spot close to the front as we wait for the King and queen to appear on the Buckingham Palace balcony.

    A flypast has been scaled down because of the wet weather.

    Crowds on The Mall
    Crowds on The Mall
  12. People race for good viewing spotpublished at 14:20 British Summer Time 6 May 2023

    The race is on for a good viewing spot of the balcony - check out these people running towards Buckingham Palace from Trafalgar Square a few moments ago.

    People run towards the Buckingham Palace balcony from Trafalgar Square following the coronation ceremony of Britain's King Charles and Queen CamillaImage source, Reuters
  13. In Pictures: Previous balcony momentspublished at 14:20 British Summer Time 6 May 2023

    King Charles III will soon greet onlookers from the balcony at Buckingham palace, which has played a part in many memorable royal occasions.

    Queen Elizabeth II, Prince Charles, Princess Anne, the Duke of Edinburgh, the Queen Mother, and Princess Margaret on the balcony of Buckingham Palace to view the fly past of the Royal Air Force after the Coronation.Image source, PA Media
    Image caption,

    This is not King Charles's first coronation. The young Prince Charles is pictured here to right of Queen Elizabeth II in 1953

    (Left to right) Queen Elizabeth (Queen Mother), Princess Elizabeth (Queen Elizabeth II), Princess Margaret and King George VI, after his coronation in 1937, on the balcony of Buckingham Palace, London.Image source, PA Media
    Image caption,

    Queen Elizabeth II’s father King George VI took to the balcony with his family after his own coronation in May 1937

    (Left to right) The then Duchess of Cornwall, the then Prince of Wales, Queen Elizabeth II, Prince Louis, the then Duchess of Cambridge, Princess Charlotte, Prince George and the then Duke of Cambridge on the balcony of Buckingham Palace in London to view the Platinum Jubilee flypastImage source, PA Media
    Image caption,

    Queen Elizabeth II’s final balcony appearance came in June last year during celebrations of the Platinum Jubilee. Here she is with her family enjoying the Royal Air Force flypast

  14. All eyes on the Palace balconypublished at 14:14 British Summer Time 6 May 2023

    Buckingham Palace balcony

    Attention has now turned to Buckingham Palace, and more specifically the balcony where the King and queen will soon appear.

    They'll wave to the huge crowds gathered to catch a glimpse of the monarch and watch a flypast, which as we've reported, has been scaled down due to the wet weather.

  15. Anti-monarchy protest in Cardiffpublished at 14:12 British Summer Time 6 May 2023

    Nicholas Bourne
    Reporting from Cardiff

    Bethan Sayed

    About 300 people, some carrying placards saying "Not Our King", have been taking part in a protest in Cardiff.

    Bethan Sayed, a former Plaid Cymru politician, who attended the event, said the "cost of the Coronation has been astronomical in a cost of living crisis".

    "We're here on the day of the Coronation raising awareness that we're a new campaign for a Welsh republic," she said.

    "It’s important for the younger generation to understand what a democracy is. Today is part of our education.

    "I think it’s absolutely shocking what’s happened in London."

    Nick Wall, one of the protest organisers, said: "The people here today are representing about 25% of the population who want an elected head of state.

    "The more people that hear about us, and how undemocratic the monarchy is, the more will join."

    Nick Wall
  16. In Pictures: Scotland celebrates Coronationpublished at 14:08 British Summer Time 6 May 2023

    Street parties are taking place across Scotland to mark the Coronation of King Charles III at Westminster Abbey.

    There have also been gun salutes at Edinburgh and Stirling castles as millions of people across the UK and around the world celebrated this historic occasion.

    All the pageantry was shown on big screens at Edinburgh's Princes Street Gardens and Glasgow Cathedral.

    You can find out more about the celebrations in Scotland by clicking here.

    These early birds braved the early morning rain to secure a prime spot in Edinburgh's Princes Street Gardens.
    Image caption,

    These early birds braved the early morning rain to secure a prime spot in Edinburgh's Princes Street Gardens

    It wasn't long before the crowds formed to watch the Coronation on the big screen with Edinburgh Castle looming somewhat ominously in the background.
    Image caption,

    It wasn't long before the crowds formed to watch the Coronation on the big screen with Edinburgh Castle looming somewhat ominously in the background

    People in Glasgow Cathedral
    Image caption,

    Glasgow Cathedral offered a more sheltered viewing of the Coronation

    Jessie Dewar, 99 , from Knightswood in Glasgow and Jessie Ellingham, 94 joined the Coronation celebrations at Erskine Home, part of the Erskine veterans charity.
    Image caption,

    Jessie Dewar, 99 , from Knightswood in Glasgow and Jessie Ellingham, 94 joined the Coronation celebrations at Erskine Home, part of the Erskine veterans charity

    These pupils from King Charles's old school Gordonstoun marked the day by bravely taking a dook in the Moray Firth.Image source, Gordonstoun
    Image caption,

    These pupils from King Charles's old school Gordonstoun marked the day by bravely taking a dook in the Moray Firth

  17. Bells ringing but guests gone at Westminster Abbeypublished at 14:08 British Summer Time 6 May 2023

    Sam Hancock
    Reporting from Westminster Abbey

    The bells are still ringing out across Westminster (so loud that it's hard to hear yourself think) but guests have stopped filing out of the abbey now.

    For all intents and purposes, it looks like this part of Coronation weekend has come to an end.

    Joanna LumleyImage source, Getty Images
    Image caption,

    Joanna Lumley

    It's been a busy day on the QEII media platform and as I write this, TV actress Joanna Lumley has just turned up behind me and is being interviewed by one of the many members of the media also here.

    Safe to say, the day is far from over in terms of the news. Thanks for following along. We'll leave you now in the very capable hands of our colleagues back in New Broadcasting House, and those out and about on The Mall.

  18. WATCH: Royal children wave on way back to palacepublished at 14:05 British Summer Time 6 May 2023

    We're expecting an appearance from the Royal Family on the Buckingham Palace balcony shortly.

    In the meantime, here's some footage of the Prince and Princess of Wales and their children on their way back to palace as part of the procession a short time ago.

    Media caption,

    Royal children wave as procession returns to Palace

  19. Flypast scaled down due to weather - MoDpublished at 14:02 British Summer Time 6 May 2023
    Breaking

    We've just received some breaking news from the Ministry of Defence in the last few moments.

    It relates to the flypast which is still expected to take place in 30 minutes or so.

    A statement says: "Due to unsuitable weather conditions, the Coronation flypast will now be formed of helicopters and the Royal Air Force aerobatic team The Red Arrows.

    "The flypast will last for two minutes and 30 seconds."

  20. Emma Thompson thanks police outside abbeypublished at 14:00 British Summer Time 6 May 2023

    Marie Jackson
    Reporting from Westminster Abbey

    Actor Dame Emma Thompson walks out of Westminster Abbey, gazing up at the sky against the light drizzle.

    She makes a point of thanking all the police officers she passes for a job well done, and gives them a light pat on the arm. One looks slightly red-faced after his brief encounter with Hollywood royalty.

    Emma Thompson walks outside Westminster Abbey following King Charles' coronation ceremony.Image source, Reuters