Coronation - live: William and Kate make unexpected visit to concert queue

The Prince and Princess of Wales have made a surprise appearance to greet the coronation concert-goers on The Long Walk in Windsor.

“Excited” royal fans started arriving at Windsor Castle hours before the star-studded concert starts at 8pm on Sunday, draped with Union flags and wearing Union flag dresses.

King Charles III and Queen Camilla will be joining around 20,000 members of the public at the concert in Windsor where, along with other family members, they will see performances by Take That, Katy Perry and Lionel Richie.

Buckingham Palace has now issued the King and Queen’s first statement since the couple was crowned, saying they were “deeply touched” by the nation’s celebration of their historic coronation.

An average of 18.8 million people in the UK watched the lavish ceremony at Westminster Abbey across 11 channels and services, with audience figures peaking at 20.4 million when the King was crowned just after midday, according to overnight ratings released by the research organisation Barb.

Ahead of the show on Sunday evening, thousands of street parties are expected to be held with people encouraged to come together across the country for the Coronation Big Lunch.

The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh will attend a big lunch in Cranleigh, the Princess Royal and Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence will attend a community street party in Swindon, and Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie will attend a big lunch in Windsor.

Coronation news – latest updates

• Prince and Princess of Wales surprise coronation concert-goers to greet them in Windsor

• Watch live as Prince William and Princess Kate do a walkabout in Windsor

• Coronation celebrations continue with royals at lunches and glittering concert

• Everything you need to know about coronation concert

• Duke of Sussex returns to California on British Airways flight

• Peak TV audience of over 20 million watched coronation

• Dozens of arrests ‘set dangerous precedent'

• How Penny Mordaunt became the surprise star of the coronation

Prince and Princess of Wales surprise coronation concert-goers to greet them in Windsor

13:56 , Tara Cobham

The Prince and Princess of Wales have made a surprise appearance to greet coronation concert-goers on The Long Walk in Windsor on Sunday.

Prince William and Princess Kate are chatting to well-wishers who have lined the streets after King Charles III's coronation.

The Prince and Princess of Wales surprised fans in Windsor with a walkabout as the King and Queen thanked well-wishers for their support.

William and Kate made the unannounced appearance ahead of Sunday’s star-studded coronation concert at Windsor Castle and were seen shaking hands and chatting to revellers.

Scores of people crowded around the couple, with William crouching down to chat to a boy and girl wearing golden crowns.

The prince and princess looked relaxed, with William telling one group of well-wishers: “Enjoy the concert tonight.”

Coronation celebrations continue with royals at lunches and glittering concert

08:29 , Tara Cobham

The coronation celebrations will continue on Sunday with big lunches attended by royals and a star-studded concert at Windsor Castle.

The King and Queen will join around 20,000 members of the public at the coronation concert where, along with other family members, they will see performances by Take That, Katy Perry and Lionel Richie.

Singers Perry and Richie were among the stars at Saturday’s coronation ceremony in Westminster Abbey.

The show in Windsor, hosted by Paddington and Downton Abbey actor Hugh Bonneville, will see Hollywood star Tom Cruise, Dynasty actress Dame Joan Collins, adventurer Bear Grylls and singer Sir Tom Jones appear via video message.

The series of pre-recorded sketches will reveal little-known facts about the monarch and will also include moments from beloved literary figure Winnie the Pooh – seemingly echoing the famous moment Paddington Bear drank tea with the Queen during her Platinum Jubilee celebrations.

There will also be performances by Paloma Faith, Olly Murs, veteran rock guitarist Steve Winwood, and Nicole Scherzinger of The Pussycat Dolls.

Classical acts including Andrea Bocelli, Welsh bass-baritone Sir Bryn Terfel and Chinese pianist Lang Lang will perform too.

The Royal Ballet, the Royal Opera, the Royal Shakespeare Company, the Royal College of Music and the Royal College of Art will come together for the first time to create a one-off performance featuring Sex Education and Doctor Who star Ncuti Gatwa and Olivier Award nominee Mei Mac.

Ahead of the show on Sunday evening, thousands of street parties are expected to be held with people encouraged to come together across the country for the Coronation Big Lunch.

The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh will attend a big lunch in Cranleigh, the Princess Royal and Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence will attend a community street party in Swindon, and Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie will attend a big lunch in Windsor.

Jill Biden spotted at Downing Street coronation lunch

14:17 , Tara Cobham

Watch live as Prince William and Princess Kate do a walkabout in Windsor

14:09 , Tara Cobham

Watch live as the Prince and Princess of Wales meet royal fans in Windsor on a walkabout on Sunday, 7 May.

Prince William and Princess Kate are chatting to well-wishers who have lined the streets after King Charles III's coronation.

Read more and watch here:

Watch live: William and Kate meet royal fans on walkabout in Windsor after coronation

Rishi Sunak arrives at lunch in Downing Street to celebrate coronation

13:53 , Tara Cobham

Rishi Sunak has arrived at a lunch in Downing Street to celebrate the King’s coronation.

Alongside his wife Akshata Murty and daughters Anoushka and Krishna, he walked out of the famous Number 10 door saying: “Hello, how are you?”

He then began mingling with the invited guests.

His two daughters and his wife Akshata Murty are also hosting the event.

Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh attending Coronation Big Lunch in Cranleigh, Surrey

13:50 , Tara Cobham

Prince of Wales to give speech at coronation concert

13:49 , Tara Cobham

The Prince of Wales will take to the stage and give a speech at the coronation concert, Kensington Palace has said.

The Palace also tweeted footage of William walking up to a microphone during behind-the-scenes preparations.

A voice can be heard saying: “OK, Prince of Wales. It’s time for your rehearsal” before William strides out towards the microphone.

Guests arrive at Downing Street for coronation lunch with Prime Minister

13:27 , Tara Cobham

Guests have begun arriving in Downing Street for a lunch with the Prime Minister and his wife to mark the King’s coronation.

There was a hum of excited chatter as those invited – including volunteers, Ukrainian refugees and youth group members – sipped fruit drinks and took photos in front of the famous Number 10 door as they awaited the arrival of Rishi Sunak.

The street was bedecked in Union flag bunting and music was being played by the RAF Northolt brass quintet.

Mr Sunak and Akshata Murty are hosting the event as part of the Big Lunch celebrations taking place across the country over the coronation weekend.

King and Queen “deeply touched” by nation’s celebration of coronation

13:20 , Tara Cobham

The King and Queen were “deeply touched” by the nation’s celebration of their historic coronation, Buckingham Palace has said.

A Palace spokesman said: “Their Majesties were deeply touched by the events of yesterday and profoundly grateful both to all those who helped to make it such a glorious occasion – and to the very many who turned out to show their support in such numbers in London and further afield.”

In pictures: Coronation celebrations on day after ceremony

13:17 , Tara Cobham

Anti-monarchy group head labels arrests ‘direct attack on our democracy’

12:59 , Tara Cobham

The head of an anti-monarchy group arrested ahead of a planned protest on coronation day has labelled the detention of him and others as a "direct attack on our democracy".

Graham Smith, chief executive of Republic, was released by the Metropolitan Police at around 11pm on Saturday after being detained in the morning before the King's procession to Westminster Abbey.

In a statement, he said: "Yesterday, as we prepared for a peaceful and lawful protest, a number of Republic's team were arrested and detained for the rest of the day.

"These arrests are a direct attack on our democracy and the fundamental rights of every person in the country. Each and every police officer involved on the ground should hang their heads in shame. They showed no judgement, no common sense and no basic decency. This was a heavy handed action which had the appearance of a pre-determined arrest that would have occurred regardless of the evidence or our actions.

"The right to protest peacefully in the UK no longer exists. Instead we have a freedom to protest that is contingent on political decisions made by ministers and senior police officers.

"The right to dissent and protest is one of the most profound and important rights in a democracy. Many people will disagree with what we were protesting about, but that right to protest must be protected. Anyone may find themselves wanting to protest against a government policy, a grave injustice or in solidarity with victims of a visiting world leader. Such protests must always be freely conducted as a matter of right, not on the basis of permission from the state."

What time do the pubs close today?

12:54 , Tara Cobham

Keen to raise a late-night toast to celebrate the coronation, or just because you’re enjoying the bank holiday weekend? Depending on what part of the UK you are in, you may well be in luck.

Pubs in England and Wales will be able to continue serving customers for two hours beyond their usual closing time, with the extended licensing hours applying from 11pm on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

There won’t be extended licensing hours on the bank holiday Monday (8 May) but you can expect events and activities happening across England and Wales to celebrate the weekend.

Ellie Muir reports.

What time do the pubs close today?

Is there a bank holiday tomorrow for the coronation?

12:51 , Tara Cobham

Is there a bank holiday tomorrow for King Charles’ coronation?

Queen’s coronation bouquet laid in Westminster Abbey

12:38 , Tara Cobham

The Queen’s coronation bouquet has been laid at the Grave of the Unknown Warrior, Buckingham Palace has said.

The flowers were placed on the grave at Westminster Abbey at Camilla’s request following Saturday’s coronation service at the church.

A tweet from the King and Queen’s official twitter account – @RoyalFamily – shows a delicate bouquet of yellow, white and pink flowers sitting on the tomb.

It is a simple-tied bunch of English spring flowers including auriculas and lily of the valley – both of which featured in the Queen’s wedding bouquet in 2005 – along with hellebores, which the King wore in his buttonhole during the couple’s wedding 18 years ago and are a particular favourite of his.

Weather set to warm up for Coronation Big Lunches

12:31 , Tara Cobham

Sunday looks set to be the hottest day of the year so far as coronation celebrations continue with Big Lunches across the country.

Highs of 23C are forecast for the East Midlands and down to London, beating the previous high for this year of 21.2C on April 17.

Some showers are predicted across eastern England and Scotland, but the vast majority of the country can expect sunny spells throughout the day, the Met Office said.

The warmest temperatures are expected in the late afternoon, when many Britons will be out enjoying their Coronation Big Lunches.

It will be welcome news for many royal fans who spent Saturday standing in the heavy rain in central London to catch a glimpse of the coronation procession.

However, many said even the wet weather could not dampen their spirits.

Natalie Mahone, 32, camped overnight on The Mall with her mother and said she would be out to see the coronation “come rain or shine”.

“Come rain or shine we have come to see the coronation and King Charles,” she said. “Everyone I’ve spoken to has said ‘If it rains we’ll get wet, we’ll dry out’ – the weather is not going to put a lot of people off.”

Royal fans arrive in Windsor hours before coronation concert starts

12:26 , Tara Cobham

Royal fans have started arriving in Windsor hours before the coronation concert at 8pm.

People draped with Union flags and dressed in Union flag dresses have been flooding off trains at the station.

Garry and Donna Howarth travelled down from Bolton after winning tickets to the event.

Mr Howarth, dressed in a Union flag blazer, said: “We are here just for the concert. We have come down for the weekend.

“We are about 10 hours early but we will have a look around and see what we can.”

Mrs Howarth said: “I’m so excited to be here.”

The pair are keen to see opera singers perform at the concert and decided to avoid the coronation on Saturday because of the rain.

The adorable prince who reinvented the royal wave... how Louis stole the show again

12:23 , Tara Cobham

Prince Louis may only be five years old, but he’s already perfected the art of an iconic balcony moment.

The young prince, who hit the headlines last year when he kept the crowd entertained at his great-grandmother’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations, once again stole the show with an adorable double handed wave when he appeared on the Palace balcony after his grandfather’s crowning moment.

Eleanor Noyce and Emily Atkinson report.

The adorable prince who reinvented the royal wave

Coronation celebrations in pictures

12:13 , Tara Cobham

Across the country, coronation celebrations continue, with many taking part in Big Lunches.

Penny Mordaunt speaks out after viral moment at King’s coronation

12:05 , Tara Cobham

Penny Mordaunt has addressed her starring moment at the coronation of King Charles III.

The politician, 50, who is the Leader of the House of Commons and Lord President of the Privy Council, was, for many people, the surprise star of King Charles III’s coronation with her fierce teal outfit and robust sword-bearing skills.

Mordaunt has now addressed her viral moment at the coronation on Twitter, writing: “Honoured to be part of the coronation with thousands of others who played their part.

“I’m very aware that our armed forces, police officers and others have been marching or standing for hours as part of the ceremony or to keep us all safe. In comparison, my job was rather easier.

“Huge and heartfelt thanks to all who made this so remarkable. I’m so proud of you all and the King and Queen today.”

Ellie Muir reports.

Penny Mordaunt speaks out after viral coronation moment

Buckingham Palace Mall littered with soggy tents and union jacks in coronation aftermath

11:56 , Tara Cobham

Buckingham Palace Mall could be seen littered with rubbish including tents and flags in the aftermath of King Charles III’s coronation.

Some royalists had been out there for as long as a week, and had left their soggy belongings behind after a day of bad weather.

ITV’s Chris Ship, who filmed the clip, described the scene as ‘an abandoned campsite after a wet weekend at Glastonbury’.

Today’s coronation celebrations (7 May), will take place at Windsor Castle, with the coronation concert happening this evening.

Watch here:

Buckingham Palace Mall littered with soggy tents and union jacks in coronation aftermath

Royal fans spot Queen Camilla had names discreetly embroidered on coronation dress

11:42 , Tara Cobham

Queen Camilla had the names of her children and grandchildren discreetly embroidered onto the bottom of her coronation dress, alongside a tribute to her rescue dogs.

The 75-year-old wore an elegant Bruce Oldfield couture gown to the coronation ceremony on Saturday.

Eagle-eyed royal fans spotted the dress appeared to feature the names of her two children, Tom and Laura, along with those of her grandchildren, Gus, Freddy, Louis, Eliza and Lola. They also noticed two puppies embroidered onto the grown, thought to represent Charles and Camilla's Jack Russell Terrier rescue dogs, Beth and Bluebell.

Peak TV audience of over 20 million watched coronation

11:28 , Tara Cobham

The King’s coronation service at Westminster Abbey was watched by more than 18 million viewers in the UK, provisional figures have shown.

The lavish ceremony on Saturday which saw Charles and Camilla crowned was broadcast simultaneously on a range of channels between about 11am and 1pm, including BBC One and Two, ITV and Sky News.

An average of 18.8 million people watched across 11 channels and services, with audience figures peaking at 20.4 million when the King was crowned just after midday, according to overnight ratings released by the research organisation Barb.

The bad weather in much of the UK could have boosted the viewing figures for the coronation by forcing people to stay indoors.

Although the figure is not quite as high as the ratings for the funeral service of the late Queen last September which was seen by 26.5 million people across more than 50 TV channels.

Follow The Independent’s live coverage of the coronation concert here

11:12 , Tara Cobham

A day after King Charles III’s coronation, much of the UK is turning its attention to Windsor Castle, where an extravagent concert is being held in the new monarch’s honour.

The line-up of performers for the event includes Take That, Lionel Richie, and Katy Perry.

Festivities begin at 8pm. Those not in attendance who wish to do so will be able to watch the concert live on the BBC.

The concert will be staged on the East Lawn of the castle’s grounds, marking the first time an event like this has taken place on the property.

As well as the acts mentioned above, the night also sees acts such as Italian opera singer Andrea Bocelli, Welsh bass-baritone Sir Bryn Terfel, and classical-soul composer Alexis Ffrench perform.

Follow The Independent’s live coverage of the coronation concert here.

Coronation concert – live: Katy Perry and Take That prepare to perform as Zoe Ball drops out at last minute

Lionel Richie reveals inside joke with King Charles III about getting plastic surgery

11:09 , Tara Cobham

Lionel Richie has revealed he has a joke with King Charles III about getting a ‘Hollywood’-style makeover to remain youthful.

The pair are 73 and 74-years-old respectively, and became friends after Richie did some work with the Prince’s Trust.

“We have a little joke between us”, the singer began.

“He says, ‘How do you look the way I look and I look the way I look?’, I said, ‘You come to Hollywood and I can help you’.”

Richie is performing at tonight’s coronation concert (7 May).

Watch here:

Lionel Richie reveals inside joke with King Charles III about getting plastic surgery

How Penny Mordaunt became the surprise star of the coronation

10:47 , Tara Cobham

Penny Mordaunt, Leader of the House of Commons and Lord President of the Privy Council, was the surprise star of King Charles III’s coronation with her fierce outfit and stoney-faced sword-bearing.

Mordaunt on Saturday 6 May became the first woman to carry the sword of state – a symbol of the new king’s authority – during the procession at Westminster Abbey.

Her part in the ceremony included carrying the heavy sword for a full 51 minutes, which weighs eight pounds (3.6kg), before exchanging it for the jewelled sword of offering and presenting that to Charles. Mordaunt kept a serious face and did not break a sweat while she was watched by thousands of people.

As part of an ancient custom, Mordaunt then “bought back” the glittering sword – part of the new King’s regalia or collection of objects which symbolise his responsibilities as monarch – from the Archbishop of Canterbury in exchange for 100 newly-minted 50p pieces bearing an effigy of Charles.

Her appearance at the crowning ceremony impressed royal fans on Twitter, with one person wondering: “Who had ‘Penny Mordaunt overshadowing everything’ on their bingo card?”

Read more here:

How Penny Mordaunt became the surprise star of King Charles’ coronation

Everything you need to know about coronation concert

10:42 , Tara Cobham

King Charles III’s coronation is well and truly upon us, with a Bank Holiday weekend full of celebrations in full swing.

The official coronation took place yesterday, on Saturday 6 May, with a coronation concert taking place this evening (Sunday 7 May).

Staged at Windsor Castle and broadcast across the BBC, the concert will feature performances from Take That, Katy Perry and Lionel Richie.

Last summer, a royal concert was staged at Buckingham Palace for the late Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, titled the Party at the Palace concert. Rod Stewart, Diana Ross and Queen were among those to perform.

Here’s everything you need to know:

Coronation Concert: Everything you need to know about King Charles’s musical celebration

Zoe Ball ‘absolutely gutted’ as sickness forces her to pull out of coronation concert

10:34 , Tara Cobham

Zoe Ball has said she is “absolutely gutted” as she has been forced to pull out of King Charles III's coronation concert due to sickness.

The BBC Radio 2 presenter announced on social media on Sunday morning that she is “heading back to bed” instead of covering the concert at Windsor Castle on Sunday evening.

The 52-year-old tweeted: “Absolutely gutted… the sickness bug has got me. Was meant to be heading to Windsor Castle for the coronation concert on BBC Radio 2 later.”

She added Dermot O'Leary and Scott Mills would be covering for her as she recovers from her illness.

Culture Secretary denies police went too far in policing the coronation

10:27 , Tara Cobham

The Culture Secretary has denied that police went too far in policing the coronation, saying they got the “balance right” and she has “huge confidence” in them.

Lucy Frazer also said police should take into account the context of events in determining their response.

She told Sky News: “What they have to do is balance the right to protest, which is important in a democracy. At the same time there’s the right of all those other people to enjoy what was a fabulous day. I think, overall, they managed to get that balance right.”

Asked whether she trusted the police to use new laws to prevent disruptive protests, she said: “Yes, I do trust them to use those new powers. I have huge confidence in the police.

“I think it’s absolutely right that they have the powers that they need in order to ensure that people can go to go on their day-to-day lives at the same time as respecting people’s rights to protest.”

She added: “I think it is really important that they take into account the context of the event because this was an event that would have raised questions about national security. This was an event on the world stage.”

Prince Harry shuns British brands to wear Dior to coronation

10:10 , Shweta Sharma

The Duke of Sussex eschewed British fashion brands to wear a suit by French label Dior to his father’s coronation, fuelling speculation he may be about to sign an endorsement deal with the company.

Prince Harry was photographed in a suit with a waistcoat for the ceremony, at which he sat in the third row.

Harry, who left swiftly after the coronation to catch a flight from Heathrow, wore his dark morning suit and tie with his Afghanistan and Jubilee medals pinned to his suit jacket.

He also wore a Royal Victorian Order star and neck decoration.

Luxury fashion house Dior tweeted that it had dressed the duke in a custom design by celebrity favourite British-born Kim Jones, saying to do so was an “honour”.

The brand has often been a go-to choice for Harry’s wife, Meghan, who wore a Dior outfit to the Queen’s platinum jubilee celebrations last summer.

Council ‘deeply concerned’ by reports women’s safety volunteers arrested at coronation

09:48 , Tara Cobham

A council has said it is “deeply concerned” by reports that volunteers who work on women’s safety were arrested in the early hours of coronation day.

The Metropolitan Police said that at around 2am on Saturday three people were stopped by officers and arrested in the Soho area of central London on suspicion of conspiracy to commit public nuisance.

Among items seized were a number of rape alarms, the force said. Those arrested were reportedly volunteers with Westminster Council’s nightlife safety team.

The Met said it “received intelligence that indicated groups and individuals seeking to disrupt today’s coronation proceedings were planning to use rape alarms to disrupt the procession”.

The three people – a 37-year-old woman, a 59-year-old woman and a 47-year-old man – were taken to a south London police station, where they were questioned.

The 47-year-old man was also further arrested on suspicion of handling stolen goods, police said.

All three have since been released on bail pending further inquiries.

Avid bakers across the country create bespoke cakes for coronation

09:29 , Tara Cobham

Avid bakers and cake business owners across the country have put their skills to the test creating bespoke cakes to celebrate the King’s coronation.

On Saturday, Charles was crowned King and while the UK witnessed its first coronation in more than 70 years, skilled bakers were hard at work to create intricately designed bakes.

From crown-shaped cakes to bakes imprinted with the King’s insignia, the sweet treats have garnered interest on social media for their complex designs.

Lee McAuliffe, from Shave in Blackburn – who has been baking for 10 years, said his coronation cake took 15 hours to make.

The two-tiered cake is compromised of a chocolate fudge crown with chocolate fudge buttercream and a gluten-free lemon sponge with lemon curd buttercream for the lower tier.

The 46-year-old used his “trademark” look whilst incorporating Union flag bunting to accompany the crown-shaped cake.

“I knew I wanted a crown to be the main part of the design and obviously, Union flag bunting had to make an appearance,” he said.

Catherine Davies, who turns 52 on Sunday, owns her own cake business but is also a teaching assistant in Tunbridge Wells, and created a triple-layered vanilla cake with lemon and elderflower buttercream ahead of the coronation.

The cake, which took around two hours to make, was part of a raffle with the winner feeling “delighted” after receiving the “beautiful” sweet treat.

“The drip cake is one of my most popular cakes. The lady who won it wanted a nod to the coronation on it,” said Ms Davies, from Crowborough in East Sussex. “I thought the insignia on the top was elegant and looked good in gold, matching the drip down the sides.”

The business owner, who has been baking professionally for five years, celebrated the coronation with her son, who is home from university dining on scones with cream and jam.

King Charles to attend a music concert as celebrations continue

09:10 , Shweta Sharma

King Charles will attend a music concert featuring the likes of singers Lionel Richie, Katy Perry and Andrea Bocelli at Windsor Castle on Sunday after street parties are held across Britain as part of celebrations to mark his coronation.

Amid scenes of pomp and pageantry, King Charles and his wife Queen Camilla were crowned at London’s Westminster Abbey on Saturday in Britain’s biggest ceremonial event for 70 years, embracing ancient tradition and elements of modernity.

The royals have not been seen since an appearance on the balcony of Buckingham Palace following the coronation, but senior members will be out in force on Sunday.

The king’s younger brother Prince Edward, his sister Princess Anne and Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie, the daughter of Charles’ other brother Prince Andrew, will attend ‘Big Lunch’ events, joining some of the estimated 50,000 thousand street parties being held around the country.

Prime minister Rishi Sunak will also be among those hosting a coronation lunch with the guests including Ukrainian families and youth groups.

Duke of Sussex returns to California on British Airways flight

08:55 , Tara Cobham

The Duke of Sussex has returned to California after catching a British Airways flight within hours of his father’s coronation.

Harry arrived at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) at around 7.30pm local time (3.30am UK) to reunite with his son on his birthday.

Prince Archie turned four on Saturday and spent the day with his mother, the Duchess of Sussex, at their US home.

British Airways flight attendants confirmed Harry had been on the flight but said they were not permitted to discuss the details of his trip.

The duke’s appearance at the coronation marked his first public appearance alongside the royals since he lambasted his family in his controversial memoir Spare.

He was seated in the third row for the crowning of Charles and the duke’s stepmother the Queen in Westminster Abbey, and was placed two rows behind his brother the Prince of Wales.

His abrupt return to the US meant he did not appear on the Buckingham Palace balcony for the finale of the day, with the Palace confirming earlier that he had no formal role at the event.

Princess Anne obstructs Prince Harry’s view of coronation with feather-adorned military uniform

08:10 , Shweta Sharma

Prince Harry’s view of the historic coronation ceremony for his father King Charles III was blocked by his aunt Princess Anne’s red-feathered hat.

On Saturday 6 May, the Duke of Sussex arrived at Westminster Abbey solo for the coronation of King Charles and Queen Camilla. Once inside the abbey, Harry, who wore a morning suit for the occasion, sat in the third row alongside members of his family, including cousins Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie and their husbands.

The Princess Royal, 72, meanwhile, played a special role in the coronation procession following the ceremony, which meant that she wore her military uniform to the historic ceremony, during which she was seated in the second row, directly in front of her nephew Harry.

Princess Anne obstructs Prince Harry’s view of coronation with feather-adorned hat

Rishi Sunak to host coronation lunch for Ukrainian refugees and volunteers

07:10 , Shweta Sharma

The British prime minister and his wife will welcome volunteers, Ukrainian refugees in the UK, and youth groups to Downing Street for a lunch to mark the coronation.

Rishi Sunak and Akshata Murty will host the event on Sunday as part of the Big Lunch celebrations taking place across the country over the coronation weekend.

They will dine on food sourced from across the UK, including beef from Gloucestershire, Scottish Loch Duart salmon, Northern Irish soda bread, and ice cream from Wales, according to No 10.

Crockery will be donated by Emma Bridgewater, a pottery with strong royal connections, including a limited edition King Charles III teapot.

Recipients of the Points of Light Award, given to ordinary people doing extraordinary things for their community, have been invited.

They include a couple who founded a charity supporting people who have gone through baby loss, Zoe and Andy Clark-Coates, breast cancer campaigner Laura Ashurst, and Navjot Sawhney, who designed a hand-cranked washing machine used by thousands of people with no access to electric ones.

Ukrainians who have come to the UK under the Homes for Ukraine scheme after Russia invaded their country, as well as their UK sponsors, will also attend.

Mr Sunak said: “Come rain or shine, thousands of friends and neighbours are coming together this weekend to put up the bunting, pour the tea and cut the cake at street parties and community events across the UK.

“I am proud to welcome Ukrainians forced to flee their homes and some incredible community heroes to Downing Street for our very own coronation lunch to celebrate this historic moment.

“In England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland - and across our Overseas Territories and the wider Commonwealth - people are marking this momentous occasion in the spirit of unity and hope for the future”.

Leader of anti-monarchy protest released

06:10 , Shweta Sharma

The chief executive of an anti-monarchy group who was among 52 people arrested on the day of the King’s coronation has been released after nearly 16 hours in police custody.

Graham Smith was released by the Met Police around 11pm on Saturday, while the majority of his Republic colleagues continued to be held.

Posting to Twitter, Mr Smith said there was “no longer a right to peaceful protest in the UK”.

“I have been told many times the monarch is there to defend our freedoms. Now our freedoms are under attack in his name.”

The Metropolitan Police has been heavily criticised over the detentions, with some campaign groups likening the “incredibly alarming” arrests to “something you would expect to see in Moscow, not London”.

Celebrations continue in Scotland with parade to Glasgow Cathedral

05:10 , Shweta Sharma

Following the coronation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla, one of the main events north of the border on Sunday is a ceremony and parade in Glasgow.

Scores of community celebrations are also being held across the country.

In Glasgow, the city’s Lord Lieutenant Jacqueline McLaren will officially mark the coronation with a ceremony in George Square followed by a parade to Glasgow Cathedral.

The ceremony includes inspection of a guard of honour, speeches and three cheers for the King and Queen, followed by the national anthem.

The Lord Lieutenant will then take the salute as a parade of military servicemen and women, cadets and veterans marches past the City Chambers.

The parade will then head through the city to the cathedral for a thanksgiving service at 11am.

The cathedral was one of the locations in Scotland where the coronation was broadcast to the public.

Scores of people attended the historic building to witness the event, while in Edinburgh the public watched on a big screen in West Princes Street Gardens.

Across Scotland, more than 200 Coronation Big Lunch celebrations have been registered across the weekend of the coronation.

People across the UK ‘excited’ for the coronation Big Lunch

04:10 , Shweta Sharma

Thousands of people across the country will celebrate the Coronation Big Lunch on Sunday to celebrate the crowning of the King, causing a buzz of excitement for organisers.

A palace spokeswoman said big lunches will take place from Saturday to Monday “in a nationwide act of celebration and friendship”.

Alongside the thousands of street parties expected to be held at the weekend, people are encouraged to come together across the country for the Coronation Big Lunch.

Members of the public and organisers from a number of charities have expressed their enthusiasm ahead of the event.

Lucinda Spelman-Ives, from Wilstock, who raised over £1m to fund a community hub, hopes the Big Lunch will “unify and bring everyone together being part of history, making amazing memories, laughing and meeting lots of people who have never met before”.

Royal fans praise Pippa Middleton’s ‘stunning’ coronation look: ‘Stealing the show again’

03:10 , Holly Bancroft

The Princess of Wales wasn’t the only member of her family to earn praise during the King and Queen’s coronation, as royal fans were also excited to see Kate’s siblings and parents in attendance.

On Saturday 6 May, Kate Middleton’s sister Pippa Middleton, 39, arrived at Westminster Abbey ahead of the crowning of King Charles III and Queen Camilla alongside their brother James Middleton, 36, and their parents Michael and Carole Middleton.

For the occasion, Pippa, the younger sister of the Princess of Wales, wore a pale yellow suit dress with a matching fascinator, while her brother James wore a morning suit consisting of a black blazer, grey trousers, and a yellow waistcoat in the same shade as his sister’s dress.

Read more here:

Royal fans praise Pippa Middleton’s ‘stunning’ coronation look

US First Lady Jill Biden says coronation ‘amazing'

03:00 , Jane Dalton

First Lady Jill Biden, who attended the lavish ceremony along with granddaughter Finnegan Biden, spoke of her delight:

US First Lady Jill Biden says King Charles’ coronation ‘was just amazing’

Behind the scenes of the coronation with William and Kate

02:31 , Holly Bancroft

William and Kate share behind the scenes video of King Charles coronation

Feeling is believing: Inside the abbey

02:00 , Jane Dalton

Reporter Danica Kirka was at the actual ceremony:

Feeling is believing: Inside the abbey for king's coronation

Stella McCartney to appear at coronation concert

01:15 , Jane Dalton

Stella McCartney will deliver a spoken word performance with a conservation theme at the Coronation Concert to celebrate the crowning of the King and Queen.

The speech by the fashion designer, who has championed a vegan lifestyle and sustainable design throughout her career, will reflect her and the King’s “shared passion for environmental sustainability”, the BBC has said.

McCartney, who is the daughter of former Beatle Sir Paul McCartney and his late wife photographer Linda, was made a CBE earlier this year for her services to fashion and sustainability.

Her performance will be part of a broader nature-themed section of the concert, which is being held in the grounds of Windsor Castle on Sunday.

Classical-soul composer Alexis Ffrench and London-based singer-songwriter Zak Abel will also be part of the segment as they perform a rendition of a 1980s hit alongside a house orchestra, band and choir.

A visual display will accompany the performance, with images spanning across the large screen at the top of the stage as well as being projected onto the facade of the castle.

The performance will also be interspersed with footage of drone displays taking place above the Eden Project in Cornwall, an eco visitor attraction, and the Wales Millennium Centre in Cardiff.

The section is due to end with a ‘Did You Know?’ video, which will reveal “little-known information” about Charles’ relationship with the natural world, the BBC has said.

The broadcaster added that the stage has also been designed and built almost entirely of rental stock to make it as sustainable as possible, with the majority of the lighting being LED to improve energy saving.

Take That, Katy Perry and Lionel Richie are also among the star-studded line-up as well as Italian opera singer Andrea Bocelli and Welsh bass-baritone Sir Bryn Terfel.

The concert, produced by BBC Studios Productions, will be broadcast live on BBC One, BBC iPlayer, BBC Radio 2 and BBC Sounds from 8pm on Sunday.

Liverpool fans boo national anthem

Sunday 7 May 2023 00:40 , Jane Dalton

Liverpool fans have booed the national anthem on the day of the coronation:

Why do Liverpool fans boo the national anthem?

Nothing is weirder than the Coronation Concert line up – Brian May, Kermit the Frog and Atomic Kitten…

Sunday 7 May 2023 00:35 , Holly Bancroft

As Katy Perry and Take That prepare to perform during Charles’s coronation weekend, Katie Rosseinsky salutes the chaotic and confusing tradition of incredibly divergent celebrities coming together to sing for royalty.

Brian May on the roof of Buckingham Palace, guitar aloft. Tom Jones and Blue duetting to “You Can Leave Your Hat On”. A guest appearance from Kermit the Frog. A finale that saw Paul McCartney, Ozzy Osbourne and… Atomic Kitten, all together on stage. This was the miscellany of acts that, on 3 June, 2002, were gathered at Queen Elizabeth II’s official London residence for Party at the Palace. The televised extravaganza marked 50 years since her accession to the throne – and provided the blueprint for royal pop concerts going forward.

The formula? Throw in some golden oldies (McCartney doing a Beatles medley and Shirley Bassey blasting out a Bond theme) alongside some solid, family-friendly pop fixtures and the odd wildcard. Since then, these showcases have only become more head-spinningly eclectic. In The Independent’s four-star review of 2022’s Platinum Party at the Palace (where Rod Stewart covered “Sweet Caroline” and Diversity danced their way through the history of British music), Mark Beaumont hailed the event as “one of the most bizarre and unrelenting barrages of random entertainment ever staged”. During King Charles’ coronation weekend, one of the biggest events will be a concert featuring the likes of Katy Perry, Lionel Richie and Take That, plus the Royal Shakespeare Company and incoming Doctor Who, Ncuti Gatwa, performing excerpts from the Bard.

Read the full story here:

‘The Queen wore earplugs’: Royal pop concerts have always been weird

How the world celebrated King Charles’s coronation

Sunday 7 May 2023 00:13 , Holly Bancroft

The world tuned in to watch the crowning of His Majesty King Charles III during his coronation on 6 May 2023. But how has each nation and culture celebrated the occasion in their own way?

As part of the global celebrations, countries and world leaders from across the Commonwealth and beyond have given their support in shows of symbolism and pageantry. As thousands line the streets of London and across the United Kingdom, we explore from North America to Gibraltar just how the world has greeted the new king.

Watch here:

How the world celebrated King Charles’s coronation

Anti monarchy protesters start to be released from police custody

Saturday 6 May 2023 23:55 , Holly Bancroft

Members of the anti-monarchy group who were arrested on Saturday have started to be released from police custody.

Shortly before 11pm on Saturday, Republic released a short statement that the first of its members who were arrested just before the coronation had been released.

The group posted to Twitter: “Update: first member of the team out (nearly 16 hours in). Phone confiscated.”

In a follow-up post, Republic said its chief executive Graham Smith had also just been released, adding that his phone had also been confiscated.

The Met Police have been heavily criticised over the arrests, with some campaign groups likening them to “something you would expect to see in Moscow, not London”.

Mr Smith confirmed his release from police custody, adding that Republic’s other members were still being held.

He posted to Twitter: “I’m now out of the police station. Still waiting for my colleagues.

“Make no mistake. There is no longer a right to peaceful protest in the UK.

“I have been told many times the monarch is there to defend our freedoms. Now our freedoms are under attack in his name.”

Diverse coronation reflected King’s bid to modernise monarchy

Saturday 6 May 2023 23:40 , Jane Dalton

The coronation was the most diverse in the 1,000-year history of the ceremony, with a guest list that embodied the King’s determination to modernise the monarchy and reflect a multi-cultural Britain:

How diverse coronation reflected King’s bid to modernise monarchy

Council ‘deeply concerned’ by reports of volunteers arrested on coronation day

Saturday 6 May 2023 23:32 , Holly Bancroft

A council has said it is “deeply concerned” by reports that volunteers who work on women’s safety were arrested in the early hours of coronation day.

The Metropolitan Police said that at around 2am on Saturday three people were stopped by officers and arrested in the Soho area of central London on suspicion of conspiracy to commit public nuisance.

Among items seized were a number of rape alarms, the force said. Those arrested were reportedly volunteers with Westminster Council’s night life safety team.

The Met said it “received intelligence that indicated groups and individuals seeking to disrupt today’s coronation proceedings were planning to use rape alarms to disrupt the procession”.

Read the full story here:

Council ‘deeply concerned’ by reports of volunteers arrested on coronation day

Princess Anne receives praise as King Charles’ personal bodyguard at coronation: ‘Totally boss’

Saturday 6 May 2023 23:21 , Holly Bancroft

Princess Anne has been praised for the special role she played at her brother’s coronation.

King Charles III and Queen Camilla were crowned during a coronation service at Westminster Abbey in London on Saturday 6 May. As part of the ceremony, the King gave his younger sister an important role during the historic day in recognition of her service.

The Princess Royal, 72, served as the Gold Stick during the Coronation Procession from Westminster Abbey to Buckingham Palace. As King Charles and Queen Camilla made their way to the Palace in the Gold State Coach after the ceremony, Princess Anne led 6,000 armed services personnel through the streets of London.

Read more here:

Princess Anne receives praise as King Charles’ personal bodyguard at coronation

From the Grim Reaper to Prince Louis: The breakout stars

Saturday 6 May 2023 23:00 , Jane Dalton

Some unexpected stars at the coronation stole the limelight:

From the Grim Reaper to Prince Louis: The breakout stars of the coronation

Expat remembers 1953 coronation

Saturday 6 May 2023 22:40 , Holly Bancroft

A British expat who participated in preparations for the late Queen’s coronation in 1953 says worldwide interest in royal events shows that “human beings love ceremony”.

Michael Vincent had been one of the “test groups” and had marched in a practice procession almost exactly 70 years ago - when he was 18 years old.

Mr Vincent, now 88, watched replays of the King’s coronation on Saturday morning from Ye Olde King’s Head pub in Santa Monica, California, alongside fellow expats and US anglophiles.

Recalling the build-up to the previous coronation, he said: “My aunt came down to see me march past.

“I was playing the tenor drum because I couldn’t carry a tune so I had the easy job, just twirling the sticks.

“You just did what you were told in those days. It was historic but we didn’t really think of it that way.”

Asked his opinions on the coronation events going on back in the UK, he added: “Human beings love ceremony”.

“Everywhere you go, whether you go to Cairo and look at the Pyramids, there is always ceremonies,” he said.

“The weakness of human beings is that they’re always showing off, that’s why they go dancing on Saturday night.”

Prince and Princess's ‘precious’ sibling moment

Saturday 6 May 2023 22:10 , Jane Dalton

Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis stole the show, writes Meredith Clark:

Prince Louis and Princess Charlotte’s ‘precious’ sibling moment praised by fans

Police say they ‘understand public concern’ around arrests

Saturday 6 May 2023 21:29 , Holly Bancroft

Police have said they “understand public concern” after officers made 52 arrests throughout the King’s coronation day - including alleged affray, public nuisance and breach-of-the-peace offences.

The Metropolitan Police came under heavy criticism on Saturday after what campaign groups described as “incredibly alarming” detentions during republican protests.

Protesters from the anti-monarchy group, including its chief executive Graham Smith, were apprehended during the day - as well as demonstrators from Just Stop Oil and Animal Rising.

The Met said it received information that protesters were “determined to disrupt” the coronation - including defacing public monuments with paint, breaching barriers and disrupting official movements.

But campaigners said the protests were “peaceful”, describing the arrests as “a dangerous precedent for us as a democratic nation”.

The force confirmed reports from Just Stop Oil that 13 demonstrators were detained on the Mall and six public nuisance arrests on St Martin’s Lane following protests from Republic.

Three people were also apprehended in Soho, three at Wellington Arch and five on Whitehall on conspiracy to cause public nuisance, with another in Whitehall arrested for religiously aggravated behaviour likely to cause harassment.

The Met said a further 14 people were detained in east London on suspicion of conspiracy to cause a public nuisance.

All suspects remain in custody, the force said.

Over 100 King Charles Spaniels join dog parade

Saturday 6 May 2023 21:10 , Jane Dalton

Over 100 dogs that share the King’s name participated in a pup parade after the coronation:

Over 100 King Charles Spaniels join dog parade on Coronation Day

King Charles to attend a music concert as celebrations continue

04:07 , Shweta Sharma

King Charles will attend a music concert featuring the likes of singers Lionel Richie, Katy Perry and Andrea Bocelli at Windsor Castle on Sunday after street parties are held across Britain as part of celebrations to mark his coronation.

Amid scenes of pomp and pageantry, King Charles and his wife Queen Camilla were crowned at London’s Westminster Abbey on Saturday in Britain’s biggest ceremonial event for 70 years, embracing ancient tradition and elements of modernity.

The royals have not been seen since an appearance on the balcony of Buckingham Palace following the coronation, but senior members will be out in force on Sunday.

The king’s younger brother Prince Edward, his sister Princess Anne and Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie, the daughter of Charles’ other brother Prince Andrew, will attend ‘Big Lunch’ events, joining some of the estimated 50,000 thousand street parties being held around the country.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak will also be among those hosting a coronation lunch with the guests including Ukrainian families and youth groups.

Watch: Royal fans sing Katy Perry songs on packed Tube

Saturday 6 May 2023 20:35 , Jane Dalton

Commentary battle for BBC, ITV and Sky

Saturday 6 May 2023 20:22 , Jane Dalton

Television critic Nick Hilton compares how the broadcasters did:

How the battle of coronation commentary played out for BBC, ITV and Sky

The day that belonged to Charles and Camilla

Saturday 6 May 2023 20:00 , Jane Dalton

Britain crowned its first new monarch of the 21st century on Saturday as King Charles III swore an oath of duty – “not to be served, but to serve” – seven months after the death of his mother. Report by Alastair Jamieson:

Britain enters new era as King Charles and Queen Camilla are crowned

New King and Queen: official photos

Saturday 6 May 2023 19:45 , Jane Dalton

Images released by Buckingham Palace show the King and Queen watch the flypast from the balcony of Buckingham Palace:

Braverman thanks police

Saturday 6 May 2023 19:29 , Jane Dalton

Home Secretary Suella Braverman thanked the police for their “hard work” amid criticism of the arrest of protesters.

She said: “I’d like to thank the police for all their hard work at today’s celebration to ensure it was safe and passed without incident.

“It was a magnificent procession and ceremony enjoyed by tens of thousands of people in London. It was a great tribute to our country and monarchy.”

Watch: Six blink-and-you’ll-miss-it moments

Saturday 6 May 2023 19:15 , Jane Dalton

Police ‘understand concern’ over arrests

Saturday 6 May 2023 19:00 , Jane Dalton

Police have said they “understand public concern” after officers made 52 arrests.

Commander Karen Findlay, who led the policing operation, said: “Protest is lawful and it can be disruptive.

“We have a duty to intervene when protest becomes criminal and may cause serious disruption.”

Commander Findlay added: “This depends on the context.

“The coronation is a once-in-a-generation event and that is a key consideration in our assessment.

“A protest involving large numbers has gone ahead today with police knowledge and no intervention.”

Human Rights Watch labelled the arrests “incredibly alarming”, adding: “This is something you would expect to see in Moscow, not London.”

Outside London, hundreds of people joined a march through Cardiff city centre in protest against the monarchy as the King was crowned.

Demonstrators shouted “Down with the Crown, not my King” and “God save the poor”.

Nick Wall, member of campaign group Republic and chairman of the Labour For Republic organisation, addressed crowds at a Not My King rally in Cardiff, where he called the arrests of protesters in London “disgraceful”.

On Wednesday, the Met said it would have an “extremely low threshold” for protests during the celebrations, and that demonstrators could expect “swift action”.

Dozens of arrests ‘alarming'

Saturday 6 May 2023 18:49 , Jane Dalton

The Metropolitan Police came in for heavy criticism after officers made 52 arrests on coronation day, including for alleged affray, public nuisance and breach-of-the-peace offences.

Campaign groups described detentions during republican protests as “incredibly alarming”.

Protesters from the anti-monarchy group, including its chief executive Graham Smith, were apprehended during the day - as well as demonstrators from Just Stop Oil and Animal Rising.

The Met said it received information that protesters were “determined to disrupt” the coronation, including defacing public monuments with paint, breaching barriers and disrupting official movements.

But campaigners said the protests were peaceful, describing the arrests as “a dangerous precedent for us as a democratic nation”.

The force confirmed reports from Just Stop Oil that 13 demonstrators were detained on the Mall and six public nuisance arrests on St Martin’s Lane following protests from Republic.

Footage from the Mall showed the Just Stop Oil protesters being handcuffed and taken away by a heavy police presence.

Animal Rising said a number of supporters were apprehended while at a training session “miles away from the coronation“.

Spokesman Nathan McGovern described the arrests as “nothing short of a totalitarian crackdown on free speech and all forms of dissent”.

Spooked horse crashes into barrier behind King's carriage

Saturday 6 May 2023 18:25 , Jane Dalton

Sand patches mystery solved

Saturday 6 May 2023 18:01 , Jane Dalton

Westminster Council cleared up the mystery surrounding patches of sand that lined the procession route.

A spokesman said they were covering drain and inspection covers to help the horses.

The council said it does this for other road surfaces too, such as inclines or sharp turns.

Theories abounded about the mysterious yellow sand patches - including that it could have been an effort to smooth out potholes for the King’s carriage.

Anti-monarchists protest in Scotland

Saturday 6 May 2023 17:30 , Jane Dalton

Hundreds of people gathered on Calton Hill in Edinburgh for an anti-monarchy rally organised by Our Republic.

Some waved Saltire flags, while others wore them as cloaks, and held signs with slogans such as “Not our King” and “down with the crown”.

Speakers included Scottish Greens co-leader Lorna Slater, who is a Scottish Government minister.

She said: “When it comes to the monarchy, Scotland says no.

“Let’s do better, let’s build a better, brighter democratic future in an independent Scottish republic.”

Onlooker recalls Queen’s funeral

Saturday 6 May 2023 17:15 , Jane Dalton

Linda Old went to see Buckingham Palace after watching the coronation in Hyde Park.

She told the PA news agency that the ceremony brought back memories of other royal events, most recently the Queen’s funeral when she camped overnight to see the late Queen lying in state.

Ms Old, from Islington, north London, said: “It has been very well organised. I was emotional watching it.

“I’ve come with my family. Just being here with everybody is special. We all stood up for ‘God Save the King’. It’s special, there’s a lot of memories.”

Royal fans from as far as Australia among crowds

Saturday 6 May 2023 16:58 , Jane Dalton

Huge crowds flocked to London and braved the rain to celebrate the coronation - with some royal fans travelling from as far as Australia:

Royal fans from as far as Australia among huge crowds to celebrate King’s coronation