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. Commonwealth troops join UK counterpartspublished at 13:16 British Summer Time 6 May 2023

    The procession

    Some of the troops involved now are from across the Commonwealth and the British Overseas Territories.

    That's in addition to the Sovereign’s Bodyguard and Royal Watermen.

  2. More on the royal escortpublished at 13:11 British Summer Time 6 May 2023

    This is an absolutely huge procession with 4,000 armed forces personnel involved.

    The graphic below shows some of those providing a royal escort.

    Alongside the coach walk nine grooms, six footmen and four Yeomen of the Guard as well as members of the Royal Watermen.

    Graphic showing the royal escortImage source, .
  3. How to watch livepublished at 13:10 British Summer Time 6 May 2023

    You can watch this spectacle live by clicking the Play button at the top of this page.

    Viewers in the UK can also tune into BBC One or BBC Two - or to a radio simulcast across BBC Radios 3, 4 and 5 Live, and BBC Sounds.

    If you’re outside the UK - watch on the BBC News channel, or listen on the BBC World Service.

  4. Gilded carriage part of larger paradepublished at 13:09 British Summer Time 6 May 2023

    This time, King Charles and Queen Camilla are being driven in the Gold State Coach.

    Only the monarch and their spouse are allowed to travel in this carriage, which is over 260 years old and has been used at every coronation since that of William IV in 1831.

    It’s heavy - four tonnes to be exact - and requires eight horses to pull it.

    Gold state coach graphicImage source, .
  5. Coronation Procession gets goingpublished at 13:07 British Summer Time 6 May 2023

    The command is now given for this huge procession to step off.

    Nearly 4,000 UK armed forces personnel are in formation - marching in step with each other.

    This is a major military ceremonial operation that’s been described as the largest of its kind for a generation.

    There have been six weeks of rehearsals to make sure all the marching bands are synchronised.

    procession
  6. So, what next?published at 13:04 British Summer Time 6 May 2023

    The newly-crowned king and queen are leaving Westminster Abbey and will shortly take part in a second parade - much larger than the first - and with other royals involved.

    The Coronation Procession is heading back to Buckingham Palace via the same 1.4-mile (2.3km) route that was used this morning.

    Early on, we’ll see the Royal British Legion provide a guard of honour in Parliament Square.

    We’ll bring you more on how the King and Queen themselves will be travelling in a moment.

    Procession route back to Buckingham PalaceImage source, .
  7. King leaves Westminster Abbeypublished at 13:03 British Summer Time 6 May 2023

    King leaves Westminster Abbey

    The bells of Westminster Abbey are rung as King Charles III leaves the building.

    The Coronation Procession will be under way shortly.

  8. What we've witnessed so far - and what's comingpublished at 13:00 British Summer Time 6 May 2023

    James FitzGerald
    Live reporter

    Charles and Camilla sit with crowns on their headsImage source, PA Media

    We're about to see the Coronation Procession take King Charles and Queen Camilla back to Buckingham Palace.

    It's already been a day of lavish royal pomp and ceremony.

    • The era of King Charles and Queen Camilla is officially here - after the royal couple were formally anointed, crowned and enthroned at Westminster Abbey
    • The news was celebrated by crowds who've gathered in London, and greeted with gun salutes around the UK
    • The King and queen will begin their journey back to Buckingham Palace in grand scale shortly - travelling in the Gold State Coach
    • We're also expecting an appearance by members of the Royal Family on the balcony of Buckingham Palace - and a military flypast
    • Meanwhile, protests have been happening - with crowds chanting "not my king" in nearby Trafalgar Square
  9. National Anthem sungpublished at 12:57 British Summer Time 6 May 2023

    "God save our gracious King," sings the congregation as Charles makes a reappearance - and begins his walk out of Westminster Abbey.

    He's now wearing a different crown:

    BBC graphic with information about the Imperial State CrownImage source, .
  10. Gold State Coach pulls up outside abbeypublished at 12:55 British Summer Time 6 May 2023

    Marie Jackson
    Reporting from Westminster Abbey

    The Gold State Coach has just pulled up outside Westminster Abbey, as the ceremony draws to a close.

    It’s so ornate, straight out of a fairytale. The gold shines bright against the rainy backdrop.

    It is in fact covered in gold leaf. The first king to use the coach in a coronation was William IV in 1831 and it has been used at every coronation since.

    The Gold State Coach is seen outside the Westminster AbbeyImage source, Reuters
  11. Emphasis of service switches to musicpublished at 12:47 British Summer Time 6 May 2023

    The emphasis has switched to the music now that the King and the queen have retired to St Edward's Chapel.

    The latest piece we're hearing is Te Deum Laudamus, sung by the choir. Its title translates as "God, we praise you".

  12. King and queen head into St Edward's Chapelpublished at 12:41 British Summer Time 6 May 2023

    The King and queen now descend from their thrones and enter St Edward's Chapel behind the high altar.

    They're getting ready for the Coronation Procession, which will take them back to Buckingham Palace.

  13. Prince William kisses the Kingpublished at 12:40 British Summer Time 6 May 2023

    Another striking snap for you. After King Charles was crowned, his son Prince William kissed him on the cheek.

    Prince William kisses the KingImage source, PA Media
  14. In Pictures: Queen Camilla is crownedpublished at 12:39 British Summer Time 6 May 2023

    Back in the abbey, the Archbishop of Canterbury has just led another prayer and a blessing.

    The congregation sings a hymn. While that happens, let's bring you some images of Camilla, the Queen Consort, being crowned with Queen Mary's Crown.

    Queen CamillaImage source, Getty Images
    Queen CamillaImage source, Getty Images
    Queen Mary's Crown and St Edward's CrownImage source, Getty Images
    Image caption,

    Queen Mary's Crown and St Edward's Crown side-by-side on the altar

  15. Anti-monarchy protesters boo as service broadcast in Trafalgar Squarepublished at 12:37 British Summer Time 6 May 2023

    Daniel Sandford
    Home affairs correspondent at Trafalgar Square

    Anti-monarchy protesters at Trafalgar Square

    There are a few hundred anti-monarchy protesters at Trafalgar Square. The Coronation service is being relayed to the crowds by loudspeakers.

    Every time the words King Charles are mentioned, the demonstrators chant: “Not my king”.

    In other parts of the service they are booing, shouting: “He’s just a normal man.”

    After the anointing when the words “God save the King” were pronounced, the anti-monarchists booed loudest of all, and started chanting “not my king” again.

  16. Choir sings Agnus Deipublished at 12:35 British Summer Time 6 May 2023

    The choir now sings Agnus Dei - an ethereal piece composed by Tarik O'Regan especially for today - and the King and queen take communion.

  17. Welby introduces Lord's Prayerpublished at 12:32 British Summer Time 6 May 2023

    Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby continues with his address.

    He then introduces the Lord's Prayer, asking the congregation to join him.

  18. King and queen to take communionpublished at 12:28 British Summer Time 6 May 2023

    King Charles III and Queen Camilla are no longer wearing their crowns.

    The final part of the service will see the King and queen taking Holy Communion - the principal act of worship of the Christian church.

    The choir is now singing Sanctus, composed by Roxanna Panufnik for this service.

  19. A close-up of the crownpublished at 12:25 British Summer Time 6 May 2023

    You can see St Edward's Crown here in intricate detail, after it was placed on the King's head.

    Made of solid 22-carat gold, the 360-year-old crown is over 30cm (1ft) tall and it’s heavy, weighing about 2.23kg (nearly 5lbs).

    king charles wearing a crownImage source, Getty Images
  20. Gun salutes at 13 locationspublished at 12:24 British Summer Time 6 May 2023

    A shot is fired at the Tower of London to mark the crowning of King Charles IIIImage source, Reuters

    As the music continues, let's bring you up to speed with how the crowning moment was greeted outside Westminster Abbey.

    A gun salute was fired by The King's Troop Royal Horse Artillery, stationed at Horse Guards Parade, and also a bit further down the River Thames at the Tower of London.

    In total, gun salutes sounded at 13 locations around the UK, including in Edinburgh, Cardiff and Belfast as well as on naval vessels.

    The traditional salvo involves 21 rounds, fired at 10-second intervals.

    A shot is fired by members of the 206 (Ulster) Battery Royal Artillery at Royal Hillsborough CastleImage source, Reuters
    Image caption,

    A shot is fired by members of the 206 (Ulster) Battery Royal Artillery at Royal Hillsborough Castle