The Coronation of King Charles took place today, 6 May, kicking off a weekend of celebrations for millions of people across the UK and beyond.
It was a pared-back event compared to Queen Elizabeth's 1953 Coronation, but the ceremony was still rich with pomp and regalia, full of customs dating back more than 1,000 years. From the best royal fashion on the day to all the sweet blink-or-you'll-miss-it moments from the royal children, here are our highlights from the day.
- Queen Camilla’s floral coronation outfit features so many special details you might not have noticed
- The one Prince Louis and Princess Charlotte coronation photo you just HAVE to see
- Lady Louise's silk coronation dress features the dreamiest iris print
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The charming way Kate Middleton’s unique coronation headpiece paid utmost respect to King Charles
Princess Beatrice’s hot pink dress for King Charles’ coronation pays tribute to absent daughter - Princess Catherine and Princess Charlotte match in sparkling leaf tiaras and Alexander McQueen dresses
- All you need to know about the Coronation concert
- Carole Middleton dazzles in electric blue outfit
What time is King Charles's Coronation?
The official ceremony will begin at 11am on Saturday 6 May at Westminster Abbey. It is understood that the official crowning of the King and Queen will take place halfway through the ceremony, at around 12pm.
However, the day's events will kick off bright and early at 6am when public viewing areas will open along the main procession route. At 7:15am guests will start to arrive for security checks. Most television coverage will kick off from 7:30am.
Things will get interesting from 9:30am when the extended Royal Family start to arrive at Westminster Abbey, though it's not yet known just how much we'll see of them at this point. The King's Procession will start at 10:20a when the Diamond Jubilee State Coach will transport Charles and Camilla to Westminster Abbey.
Check out our complete guide to King Charles's Coronation timings which includes an hour-by-hour breakdown of what to expect.
How to watch King Charles's Coronation
In the UK, most major broadcasters will be covering the event, including BBC, Sky News and ITV. BBC coverage will start at 7:30am local time. To watch, either tune into BBC One, BBC Two or head to BBC iPlayer.
In the US, you can catch coverage on ABC, CNN and NBC from 5am EST. Some networks will start coverage earlier like CNN International which will kick off its feed from 1am EST.
Check out our full guide on how to watch King Charles's Coronation.
Will there be a Coronation medal for King Charles?
After months of speculating, it has been confirmed there will be a Coronation medal for King Charles. According to reports from BBC, 400,000 people will be given a medal in recognition of their contribution to the King's Coronation. The recipients include frontline workers like police, ambulance workers and military personnel.
Find out everything you need to know about King Charles's Coronation medal.
Princess Catherine stuns in royal blue dress at the Coronation reception
Eagle-eyed royal fans will notice the Princess of Wales has been sticking to a patriotic color scheme over the last few days. Yesterday we marveled over Kate Middleton's poppy red coat with a blue lining, which she paired with a crisp white dress. And she's back at it today, earlier stepping out in a white midi dress, before changing into a gorgeous royal blue wrap dress this evening. The exquisite gown is from Self Portrait and is still in stock at Net-A-Porter - if you have $510 to spare.
Read all about Princess Catherine's blue wrap dress here.
What is Princess Anne's role at the Coronation?
The Princess Royal has been given the prestigious role of the 'Gold-Stick-in-Waiting,' a position historically given to a person who the sovereign trusts fiercely as they are responsible for ensuring their personal safety.
Also known as a 'personal aide-de-camp' to His Majesty, Princess Anne will travel on horseback behind Charles and Camilla as they ride in the Gold State Coach back to Buckingham Palace after they are both crowned at Westminster Abbey. The Princess Royal will lead the large procession of 6,000 armed services personnel.
Find out more about Princess Anne's significant Coronation role.
Coronation Day is here! And the skies have opened...
Guests have started arriving at Westminster Abbey for today's proceedings. And just as predicted, it's started to rain. The King will be undeterred by the gloomy forecast, telling well-wishers yesterday that the rain forecast is a 'blessing' - though the thousands of people camped on the streets of London might feel different.
There's a precedent of rainy weather on Coronation Day. On Queen Elizabeth II's Coronation in 1953, it was cloudy with scattered showers while there was heavy rainfall at her father's crowning in May 1937.
“An area of rain is expected to move into southwest England early on Saturday, moving northeast through the day with some heavy bursts at times. This is likely to bring some rain to London from mid-morning," explains Met Office Chief Meteorologist Matthew Lehnert.
In just 30 minutes the King's Procession is set to start...
It will begin from Buckingham Palace at 10:20am BST, taking the King and Queen Consort to Westminster Abbey, where the service will start at 11am.
The guests are starting to arrive...
Ukrainian first lady Olena Zelenska and Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal arrive at Westminster Abbey
And Jill Biden's looking regal in an all-blue ensemble
Katy Perry pays homage to the late English designer Vivienne Westwood in a lilac outfit and necklace from the designer
Justin Trudeau, Prime Minister of Canada arrives with his wife Sophie Grégoire Trudeau - and can we just take a moment to appreciate her dusky pink dress?
The King and Queen arrive
Charles and Camilla have left Buckingham Palace in the Diamond Jubilee State Coach. The ornate carriage is being drawn by six Windsor Grey horses (who arguably have the most responsible role at the Coronation). The procession is currently heading down the mall.
The royals arrive!
It's all kicking off now. Princess Beatrice, Eugenie, Duchess Sophie, Princess Anne, Prince Harry, Duchess Sophie and Prince Edward have all arrived at Westminster Abbey. Pictures to follow.
Princess Anne smiles in her ceremonial robes
Lady Louise Windsor arrives in a high-neck blue and white floral midi dress
Zara Tindall wows in poweder blue coat dress and headpiece
Carole Middleton stuns in coat dress - and the family resemblance is strong
Carole Middleton's electric blue coronation outfit stands out from the crowd as she borrows a few style tips from her eldest daughter, Princess Catherine of Wales.
Princess Charlotte wears her first tiara!
Could the young royal be any more adorable?
Let's take a closer look at Kate Middleton's dress and tiara
There has been speculation swirling for weeks about what the Princess of Wales might wear today. As expected, she wore Alexander McQueen - opting for an exquisite ivory silk dress with embroidery featuring roses, thistle, daffodil and shamrock motifs - a nod to the four nations.
The silver floral applique at the hem of the maxi-length gown is made up of intricate beading, perfectly matched to her unique tiara. She opted to pair the stunning dress with white pointed-toe heeled pumps in a silky satin sheen. To finish off the look, Princess Catherine accessorized with glistening pearl-drop earrings, shown off by her elegant slicked-back hairstyle.
Is Prince Harry at the Coronation and where is he sitting?
The Duke of Sussex is at his father's coronation but as a non-working royal, he has no official role. He entered the Abbey with his cousin Princess Beatrice and her husband Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi. He wore a formal suit to the wedding with medals pinned to his suit jacket but is not wearing a ceremonial robe or military uniform. Again, this was expected and is standard for non-working royals.
Amid initial reports he could be seated as far as 'ten rows' behind the other royals, the Duke of Sussex is actually sitting in the third row, two rows behind Wiliam.
Who is Queen Camilla's lookalike sister, Annabel Elliot?
The Queen’s younger sister has a significant role at the Coronation as one of her “Queen’s Companions” today, and the siblings have a remarkable resemblance to one another. We break down everything you need to know about Queen Camilla's sister, Annabel Elliot.
And who is Lady Lansdowne, the other Lady in Attendance?
Alongside Queen Camilla’s sister Annabel Elliot, Lady Lansdowne is one of only two Ladies in Attendance for Her Majesty and King Charles’s Coronation.
Also known as Fiona Shelbourne, Lady Lansdowne is an interior designer like Annabel and is the wife of Charles Petty-Fitzmaurice, the 9th Marquess of Lansdowne, making her the Marchioness of Lansdowne. Last year Lady Lansdowne was announced as one of six “Queen’s Companions” to Her Majesty, instead of her having Ladies in Waiting like the late Queen Elizabeth. She and her husband are close friends of the Queen and King Charles and she’s even a godmother to one of Queen Camilla’s children, Laura Lopes.
At the Coronation, she and Annabel Elliot were both coordinating with Queen Camilla in floor-length white gowns. Their outfits even incorporated Queen Camilla’s signature style in the form of a tunic-style neckline. They walked behind the Queen as they entered the Abbey and then stood behind and to the side of her throughout the ceremony.
King Charles is crowned
The King has been formally crowned with the St Edward's Crown. According to reports from the BBC, this is the only time Charles will wear this crown in his life.
The original St Edward’s Crown is believed to date back to Edward the Confessor in the 11th century, though the one King Charles III was crowned with was remade in the 17th century for King Charles II. It’s not an exact replica but according to the Royal Collection Trust, it does also feature four crosses-pattée and four fleurs-de-lis, and two arches. St Edward’s Crown is apparently incredibly heavy with a solid gold frame and is set with amethysts, rubies, sapphires, garnets, topazes and tourmalines.
And so is Camilla - though she is not asked to take an oath
Camilla has now been crowned with the Queen Mary Crown. This crown has a long and fascinating history behind it. Inspired by Queen Alexandra’s crown in 1902, Queen Mary’s Crown was made for her 1911 coronation by Garrards and was commissioned by the Queen herself. Queen Mary was Queen Elizabeth’s grandmother and she wore her coronation crown in different ways over the years. Read about the history of Queen Camilla's crown.
The King and Queen leave their thrones and get ready for the procession
The focus of the service switches to music. Charles and Camilla will embark on a procession back to Buckingham Palace. The coronation procession will start at 1:30pm and will last for around 30 minutes. During this time they'll travel in the Gold State Coach, drawn by eight Windsor Grey horses. Find out more in our full guide to the Coronation timings.
Let's look at the Gold Stage Coach in more detail
While King Charles and Queen Camilla traveled to Westminster Abbey in the Diamond Jubilee State Coach their journey back is taking place in the Gold Stage Coach. This has taken center stage at every Coronation since 1831 for the coronation of King William IV and Queen Adelaide - the royal who Prince William and Princess Catherine’s home Adelaide Cottage got its name from.
The Gold Stage Coach was designed by William Chambers and was made by Samuel Butler. Although not made of solid gold, it does have a thin layer of gold leaf over the giltwood it’s constructed from. This sumptuous couch is lined with velvet and satin upholstery and has panels that depict panels of Roman gods and goddesses. On the roof, eagle-eyed fans might spot three cherubs that represent England, Scotland and Ireland.
The coach journey back to Buckingham Palace won’t be quick, as the coach only ever goes at a walking pace due to its weight and age. The Gold Stage Coach made an appearance in the Platinum Jubilee Pageant last year and for the coronation, it is being pulled by eight “Windsor Grey” horses.
FAQ: Who is Penny Mourdant?
The Conservative MP Penny Mordaunt carried the Jewelled Sword of Offering at today's Coronation ceremony, marking the first time the sword has been carried and presented by a woman. But why Mordaunt? As the Lord President of the Privy Council and leader of the House of Commons, this responsibility falls under her remit. Mordaunt also oversaw the Accession Council following the Queen's death in September 2022.
The sword, first made for George IV’s Coronation in 1821, was blessed by the Archbishop of Canterbury and presented to the King by Mordaunt, before the Dean of Westminster placed it on the altar. She explained that carrying the sword is "drawing on all of my military drill experience," due to the eight-pound weight of it.
Speaking to POLITICO about her outfit choice for the Coronation day, she said she wanted "to come up with something that is modern and will give a firm nod to the heritage." She said of the ceremony, "It’s going to be spectacular, it’s going to be beautiful, and the sort of thing that makes the whole nation very proud."
Mordaunt, 50, has been a Member of Parliament for Portsmouth North since 2010. She began her roles as Leader of the House of Commons and Lord President of the Council in September 2022 and previously served as a junior minister under Boris Johnson as well as serving in Theresa May's cabinet as Secretary of State for International Development and Secretary of State for Defence. Mordaunt also ran twice to be the leader of the Conservative Party, losing to both Liz Truss and Rishi Sunak.
What time is the flypast?
The flypast will take place at around 2:30pm BST today. At 2:15pm, the royals will start gathering on the balcony. The full flypast will include over 60 aircraft including the iconic Red Arrows and historic Battle of Britain Memorial Flight, put on a spectacular show over London. It will last six minutes in total.
The royals wave to crowds - but it's the royal children who steal the show
A picture to remember: Charles gets emotional as William kisses him during ceremony
Perhaps one of the sweetest pictures taken at today's Coronation was the one that captured the moment Prince William kissed His Majesty on the cheek. The moment came after the Prince of Wales, who is first in the royal line of succession, pledged his loyalty to his father as the monarch.
In the past, royals and Peers of the Realm alike would pay homage by kneeling before the Sovereign, swearing their own allegiance and kissing his hand. At King Charles and Queen Camilla’s Coronation, it was only Prince William who did this.
King Charles appeared to be very moved by his son’s pledge and kiss as he appeared to have tears welling up in his eyes during this sweet moment.
...and they're on the balcony!
The royals have taken to the balcony to enjoy the scaled-down flypast and to wave to the crowds who gathered along the Mall. More pictures to follow...
Prince Harry reportedly already on the way to the airport to return to the US
Prince Harry didn't join the rest of the royals on the Buckingham Palace balcony, though this was always going to be the case as he's a non-working royal. He was spotted entering a car outside Westminster Abbey after the service while the other senior working royals joined the procession towards the Palace in coaches.
Reports from the BBC suggest the Duke of Sussex is on his way to Heathrow Airport. It has not been confirmed whether or not he is heading back to California though The Mirror reported this morning that this was his plan. Today's his son Archie's birthday so the Duke may understandably be keen to return home to celebrate that with his family.
We can't stop thinking about Queen Letizia's bubblegum pink look
Queen Letizia of Spain stole the show in this gorgeous bubblegum pink peplum dress, with matching sling back heels and a statement clutch. We've found an almost identical look on the high street to get the regal look without breaking the bank.
What was Princess Anne's role on the day?
Princess Anne is taking on a hugely prestigious role at King Charles and Queen Camilla’s coronation as the rather unusual-sounding “Gold-Stick-In-Waiting”. This required her to ride on horseback as the newly-crowned King and Queen traveled back to Buckingham Palace via the Gold State Coach. It is for this reason that Princess Royal is one member of the Royal Family who isn’t wearing a dress to the coronation. The “Gold-Stick-In-Waiting” is a historic position traditionally awarded to someone highly trusted by the monarch.
The role dates back to the 15th century and the “Gold-Stick-In-Waiting” is responsible for the safety of the monarch and leads the royal procession of armed forces from Westminster Abbey back to Buckingham Palace. The role is now generally ceremonial and is often given to the Colonel of the Blues and Royals which Princess Anne is. She’s wearing her Blues and Royals uniform underneath the Order of the Thistle Mantle (cloak) which is green velvet and has a white taffeta lining. The Order of the Thistle is the highest greatest chivalric order in Scotland and was appointed a Knight of the Order in 2000.
Lady Louise stuns in £1,290 dress but we've found an affordable dupe for £55
Lady Louise's silk coronation dress showed off her style credentials, teamed with a matching powder blue headpiece. Her exact dress is from Suzannah London and cost $1,675 / £1,290, but we've found two budget dupes at a fraction of the price.
You can buy a similar version of Princess Catherine's tiara for under £23
Princess Catherine's unique coronation headpiece paid respect to King Charles in the sweetest way with this stunning leaf headband. She also had a cute mini-me moment with daughter Princess Charlotte as they wore coordinated silver tiaras and Alexander McQueen dresses. Here's where you can get a similar glittery hairband for an affordable price.
We've found the perfect dupe for Princess Beatrice's Coronation dress
Princess Beatrice's hot pink dress paid tribute to her daughter in the loveliest way. The puff-sleeve gown was paired with a statement gold headband and nude pointed heels for a truly standout look. The original dress is from Beulah London and costs almost £700, but we've found an identical dress on the high street for £120.
When is King Charles's Coronation concert?
While Coronation Day has drawn to a close, there is a packed weekend of celebrations ahead. One of the events we're most excited about, however, is the concert which takes place tomorrow at 8pm BST.
Tune into BBC One, BBC iPlayer, BBC Radio 2 or BBC Sounds to hear performances from Katy Perry, Take That, Lionel Richie, Tiwa Savage, Paloma Faith, Lang Lang, Nicole Scherzinger and Olly Murs.
For anyone who lives outside the UK, the Coronation Concert will be shown on the BBC News Channel and live on BBC World Service. US fans will also be able to watch the Coronation Concert via ABC’s Good Morning America which is set to provide live coverage of the concert, beginning at 3pm EST.
Find out everything you need to know about King Charles's coronation concert.
And finally, an honorable mention to some of our other favorite royal looks from the day
Some other standout looks came from Carole Middleton and Crown Princess Mary of Denmark, who both opted for beautiful blue hues and statement headwear. If you're heading to a formal occasion this summer and feel inspired by their looks, we've found some great alternatives.
Carole Middleton
Carole Middleton's electric blue outfit was a real eye-catcher. We especially love her statement textured headband that really ties the look together and compliments her complexion beautifully. To capture her coat dress style, these are some pieces we love.
Princess Mary of Denmark
Princess Mary of Denmark proves regal purple and turquoise accessories are a winning combination with this sophisticated look. We've found a perfect dupe for her wrap dress from Massimo Dutti that is a real wardrobe staple.
