King and Queen join family on palace balcony for scaled-back flypast

UK

The King and Queen have appeared on the Buckingham Palace balcony for the first time since being crowned, joining fellow royals for a scaled-back flypast.

They stood alongside the Prince and Princess of Wales, and their three children, the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh, and the Princess Royal.

On the Buckingham Palace balcony, the Queen smiled as she appeared to speak to the King about the wet weather, raising her outstretched palm towards the sky.

There was no sign of Prince Andrew or Prince Harry, who attended the coronation service earlier.

King Charles III and Queen Camilla on the balcony of Buckingham Palace, London, following the coronation. Picture date: Saturday May 6, 2023.

Poor weather scuppered the original plans for the flypast.

More than 60 aircraft were to fly over Buckingham Palace, but only the Red Arrows and helicopters took part due to “unsuitable weather conditions”, the Ministry of Defence said.

The dreary weather has not deterred royal fans, however, with some having camped out for almost a week to catch a glimpse of the new monarch.

The royals’ appearance on the balcony is the final public event in a day marked by pomp, pageantry, and protest, with dozens of activists arrested and accusations of heavy-handed behaviour by the police.

King Charles III and Prince George (far left) on the balcony of Buckingham Palace, London, following the coronation. Picture date: Saturday May 6, 2023. PA Photo. See PA story ROYAL Coronation. Photo credit should read: Jordan Pettitt/PA Wire
A general view of flypast by aircraft from the Red Arrows over the Mall following the coronation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla in London. Picture date: Saturday May 6, 2023. PA Photo. See PA story ROYAL Coronation. Photo credit should read: Niall Carson/PA Wire

Who was on the balcony?

To the right of the King and Queen stood the Prince and Princess of Wales, and their children Prince Louis and Charlotte.

Read more:
Coronation day in pictures
Who are the pages of honour?

With them stood the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh and Lady Louise Windsor.

The eight pages of honour stood closest to the King and Queen, including second in line to the throne, Prince George, and Camilla’s grandchildren.

To the right of the King and Queen stood Prince and Princess Michael of Kent – the Prince is the late Queen’s cousin.

Stood behind Camilla were her ladies in attendance – her sister Annabel Elliot and longtime friend and current Queen’s companion Lady Lansdowne.

The King and Queen returned briefly for an encore, much to the delight of the crowds before they once again dipped back inside Buckingham Palace.

(left to right) 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 Wales on the balcony of Buckingham Palace, London, to view a flypast by aircraft from the Royal Navy, Army Air Corps and Royal Air Force - including the Red Arrows, following their coronation. Picture date: Saturday May 6, 2023.
Image:
(left to right) 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, and the Prince of Wales

What happens next?

Official photographs of the family will now be taken by their favourite photographer, Hugo Burnand, in the Throne Room and the Green Drawing Room.

Portraits of the couple and group shots of senior royals and those who played a part in the coronation service will be arranged before the King and Queen enjoy a cup of tea.

Then Charles and Camilla will retire for private time with their extended family, enjoying an informal lunch.

Head royal chef Mark Flanagan will be in charge of catering for the royal party.

Read more:
Meet the coronation protesters
Prince Louis can’t hide cheeky yawns
Which celebs attended the coronation?

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Charles is crowned King

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Queen Camilla is crowned

A historic coronation

It comes after the King and Queen were crowned by the Archbishop of Canterbury in a historic coronation at Westminster Abbey.

Archbishop Justin Welby placed the 360-year-old St Edward’s Crown on the monarch’s head before proclaiming: “God save the King!”

Minutes later, the Queen was crowned with Queen Mary’s Crown.

She had earlier been anointed in public in a break with tradition.

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