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. In pictures: The crowning momentpublished at 12:20 British Summer Time 6 May 2023

    The congregation sings a hymn - and we have more photos for you as they do so.

    Here's the moment King Charles III was formally crowned as monarch.

    Charles is crownedImage source, PA Media
    Charles is crownedImage source, PA Media
    Charles is crownedImage source, PA Media
  2. Into the era of King Charles and Queen Camillapublished at 12:17 British Summer Time 6 May 2023

    Sean Coughlan
    Royal correspondent inside Westminster Abbey

    While Charles was always destined to be King and to wear the crown, who would once have been so sure that we’d be here watching Camilla being crowned?

    It won’t be the Queen Consort any more.

    We’re in the era of King Charles and Queen Camilla.

  3. Camilla anointed and crownedpublished at 12:16 British Summer Time 6 May 2023
    Breaking

    Queen Consort Camilla is now anointed and crowned in a simpler ceremony - although she is not asked to take an oath.

    She’s crowned with Queen Mary's Crown.

    Queen Camilla is crowned with Queen Mary's CrownImage source, PA Media
  4. Popping corks as people on The Mall celebratepublished at 12:15 British Summer Time 6 May 2023

    Alys Davies
    Reporting from the Mall

    The crowd on The Mall broke out in a chant of “God save the King”, accompanied by clapping and whooping, as the King was crowned in Westminster Abbey.

    The ceremony is being broadcast over speakers along The Mall. The sound of corks being popped as people celebrate King Charles’ official crowning can also be heard.

  5. WATCH: King Charles III is crownedpublished at 12:13 British Summer Time 6 May 2023

    Media caption,

    Watch the moment King Charles III is crowned

    During this musical interlude, let's look back at the exact moment when King Charles III was crowned a short time ago.

  6. Public pledge of allegiancepublished at 12:12 British Summer Time 6 May 2023

    The archbishop invites people in the abbey - and those watching and listening at home - to pledge allegiance with the words: “I swear that I will pay true allegiance to Your Majesty, and to your heirs and successors according to law. So help me God."

  7. Prince William pays homagepublished at 12:11 British Summer Time 6 May 2023

    Prince William pledges his loyalty to his father.

    Traditionally, a succession of royals and peers would now pay homage by kneeling before the new king - swearing allegiance and kissing his right hand. But William is the only royal duke to do it this time.

  8. King Charles III takes thronepublished at 12:10 British Summer Time 6 May 2023

    This part of the ceremony sees the King take the throne.

    The archbishop kneels before the monarch before pledging his faith to Charles III.

  9. Enthronement nextpublished at 12:07 British Summer Time 6 May 2023

    The King - escorted by the Archbishops of Canterbury and York and Bishops Assistant - is now being enthroned.

  10. All the talk was about this momentpublished at 12:05 British Summer Time 6 May 2023

    Sean Coughlan
    Reporting inside Westminster Abbey

    The literal crowning moment of the ceremony is reached as the Archbishop of Canterbury lowers St Edward’s Crown onto the head of King Charles.

    All the talk about a coronation revolves around this moment, when that 17th-Century crown, a flurry of gold and jewels, is put upon the monarch’s head. It’s only used for this occasion, before returning to the Tower of London.

    It’s about 30cm high and close up it looks slightly bigger than you might expect, an unmissable display of wealth. It holds 444 separate jewels and gemstones, including sapphires, rubies, amethysts and topaz.

    There is a blast of sound to mark the moment, with the abbey bells being rung and gun salutes fired.

    What does King Charles think at this moment? The last person to have experienced this was his mother, 70 years ago.

  11. Crown was made for Charles IIpublished at 12:04 British Summer Time 6 May 2023

    The crown we just saw placed on King Charles's head is named after a much earlier version made for the Anglo-Saxon king and saint, Edward the Confessor. It was made for King Charles II, who wanted a crown similar to the one worn by Edward but even grander.

    St Edwards CrownImage source, .
  12. 'God save the King'published at 12:03 British Summer Time 6 May 2023

    Another “God save the King” from the archbishop, and from the congregation.

    The abbey bells ring, trumpets sound and gun salutes are fired across the UK.

  13. King Charles formally crownedpublished at 12:02 British Summer Time 6 May 2023
    Breaking

    King Charles being crownedImage source, PA

    The archbishop places St Edward's Crown on the King's head.

    It’s the only time Charles will wear it in his life.

  14. Historic moment on the waypublished at 12:01 British Summer Time 6 May 2023

    We're just moments away from the key part of the day - the crowning of King Charles III.

    The Archbishop of Canterbury has the St Edward's Crown in his hands.

  15. Orb presented to Kingpublished at 11:58 British Summer Time 6 May 2023

    We're now witnessing more presentations.

    The Orb, representing the sovereign's power, is handed over by the Archbishop of Armagh.

  16. Prince William presents garment to fatherpublished at 11:57 British Summer Time 6 May 2023

    More jewels and regalia are presented to the King

    The Robe Royal is presented by Baroness Merron, who is representing the Jewish community.

    Prince William gives him a garment known as the Stole Royal. It's the only new garment being used today.

  17. King given sword to 'do justice'published at 11:54 British Summer Time 6 May 2023

    The King is now presented with the Jewelled Sword.

    The Archbishop of Canterbury tells him to use it to "do justice, stop the growth of iniquity, protect the holy Church of God and all people of goodwill".

  18. Greek choir sings - a nod to Prince Philippublished at 11:52 British Summer Time 6 May 2023

    A Greek choir now sings - an homage to the King's father.

    While we hear from them, let's look more closely at the Coronation Chair, in which Charles is now sitting.

    Also known as St Edward's Chair or King Edward's Chair, it's believed to be the oldest piece of furniture in the UK still used for its original purpose. A total of 26 monarchs have been crowned in it.

    coronation chair graphicImage source, .
  19. King sits in Coronation Chairpublished at 11:50 British Summer Time 6 May 2023

    Now we’re onto the investiture - which is the crowning moment, and one of great symbolism.

    First, the King is given a shimmering golden coat to wear, called the Supertunica.

    He sits in the Coronation Chair, and regalia are presented to him.

    The King sitting in the Coronation chairImage source, PA
  20. What the anointing involvespublished at 11:48 British Summer Time 6 May 2023

    The archbishop is pouring special oil from the Ampulla - a gold flask - on to the Coronation Spoon before anointing the King in the form of a cross on his head, breast and hands.

    The Ampulla was made for Charles II's coronation, but its shape harks back to an earlier version and a legend that the Virgin Mary appeared to St Thomas a Becket in the 12th Century and gave him a golden eagle from which future kings of England would be anointed.

    The Coronation Spoon is much older, having survived Oliver Cromwell's destruction of the regalia after the English Civil War.

    Ampulla and spoonImage source, .