Coronation Live: Updates from the Coronation and associated events as they happen
and live on Freeview channel 276
Including live reporting from Ben Lowry in Westminster Abbey
News Letter Live Blog from the Coronation events
Key Events
- The King has been anointed with holy oil away from public view during his coronation.
The royal family spent a little under 10 minutes on the balcony before going back inside.
The King and Queen then re-emerged moments later to loud cheers from the crowds watching below.
Camilla then called for their pages to help them rearrange their trains.
They went back into the palace shortly before 2.40pm, with the King lingering for one final wave.
Members of the public were seen running to gather in front of Buckingham Palace to get a glimpse of the royal family on the balcony.
The rain was coming down heavily but the crowds appeared jubilant as the clamoured to get a coveted spot in front of the palace.
The King’s coronation was an “extraordinary” occasion, Dame Joanna Lumley has said.
Speaking on Sky News with her husband Stephen Barlow, the much-loved actress and TV presenter described what it was like to witness the coronation in Westminster Abbey.
“It was just an extraordinary feeling, first of all it was a bit like a cocktail party because you seem to know everybody who’s coming in,” she said.
“The music’s playing, it’s adorable, we’re looking around. Then gradually it begins closing in, and it’s a bit more formal, then suddenly it’s like we’ve stepped over the threshold into a mediaeval ceremony, something so extraordinary and uplifting, very religious, it was extraordinary.”
Mr Barlow, who is a conductor, added that the music played throughout the coronation was “stunning”.
“It’s stunning, 12 newly commissioned pieces, all of different types and some very formal, some very celebratory,” he said. “The effect was absolutely overwhelming.”
“The King had apparently said that he wanted something people could go out humming, and I think people will when they can get a hold of it again, I think they might have to hear it one more time,” said Dame Joanna.
The military flypast over Buckingham Palace to mark the coronation of the King and Queen has been scaled down because of the weather and will now be formed of helicopters and The Red Arrows, the Ministry of Defence said.
The King and Queen have appeared on the West Terrace of Buckingham Palace before personnel gave a royal salute.
The royal salute order was given by Lieutenant Colonel James Coleby, who commanded personnel in the garden.
Personnel then gave three cheers for the King before the Massed Bands of the armed forces, directed by Lieutenant Colonel Dave Barringer, played the National Anthem.
The Garrison Sergeant Major, Warrant Officer Vern Stokes, then gave personnel the order to remove headdress.
The Household procession has arrived at Buckingham Palace as the Massed Bands of the Foot Guards, formed of all five Regiments of the Household Division, marched into Canada Gate.
The Gold State Coach has passed through Centre Gate into the Palace Quadrangle, and the third and fourth divisions of the Sovereign’s Escort have peeled onto the south side of the forecourt.
Procession group bands have now stopped playing marches after entering the Buckingham Palace forecourt.
They began marching to a drumbeat as they made their way to the rear of the Palace and into position in the gardens.
After the Royal Marines Bands passed, the Guard of Honour and The Massed Standards and Colours, positioned by the Queen Victoria Memorial, were ordered to give a Royal Salute.