Royal fans from all over the North East - and the world - congregated in Newcastle's Times Square to watch King Charles' coronation.
The new King was crowned, anointed and vowed to protect the realm during his reign - and the ceremony was warmly welcomed by monarchists in Newcastle. Though nearby demonstrators at Monument shouted "not my King", in Times Square people embraced a "once-in-a-generation occasion".
And following the event, street parties in neighbourhoods around the city saw communities come together to mark the occasion and share in a moment of national history. While in London, thousands lined the Mall and dignitaries donned their finery, in Newcastle many wore paper crowns and toasted the Royal Family.
Read more: King's Coronation celebrations begin at Gosforth care home
Charles became the 40th reigning sovereign to be crowned at Westminster Abbey in a ceremony which featured appearances from a diverse range of faith leaders. The ceremony, televised around the world, also featured a sermon from the Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby, while in a touching moment, the Prince of Wales pledged himself to his father the King, kissing him on the cheek and touching St Edward’s Crown.
The well-wishers in Newcastle city centre included North Shields family the Woods. Brian, Mary and daughter Laurina were among the first to arrive at Times Square, wearing Union Jack bucket hats they'd bought at a local grocers. The moment was especially poignant for Brian and Mary for different reasons.
Brian remembered watching Queen Elizabeth II's coronation on a "tiny little screen, the only one in our street" back in 1953, while Mary had a personal connection to King Charles. When the monarch was Prince of Wales and on a tour of her native Dominica, she even asked him for a dance at an official function, though she said he was shepherded away by minders.
Laurina told ChronicleLive: "We wanted to be here watching it on the big screen, rather than seeing it on television. It means we can watch it together with the community. Dad watched the last one one a tiny little black and white television!
"I think it's nice to have a Royal Family, it makes us different from other countries - makes us a bit special."
Mary added: "I'm from Dominica in the West Indies and when [King Charles] came on a visit, they did a special function for him and I asked him if he wanted to dance. Swiftly his people moved him on! That must have been 1972 or 1973."
Jacqueline Lee cut a striking figure in Times Square, wearing a dress in the colours of the Union Jack. She had come to Newcastle from Birmingham to watch the ceremony with her daughter - and said: "I'm really patriotic! This is a new era. He's prepared for this all of his life! It's what he's been brought up to do and I think he will make a cracking job of it.
"I really like him, he's shown as a prince that he will make a good king and follow his mother's example."
Ex-servicemen Gordon Hewitt and Mick Limer - from Newcastle and Cramlington - were also toasting King Charles as he was officially crowned. Proudly displaying medals speaking to time spent in the army in places like Afghanistan, Mick said: "We are Royalists and we are here celebrating our monarch. It's a good chance for the ex-forces community to get together and do that."
Washington man Abdelezim Taher - who moved here from Egypt - arrived with his family and two massive red, white and blue flags. He said being part of events like the coronation felt deeply important, especially as he and his wife - who is Hungarian - want to ensure their daughter who is born and raised here feels in touch with all aspects of her heritage.
Abdelezim told ChronicleLive: "We came here today because we like to feel like we belong to the culture here. We are raising our daughter here and we want her to know all about British history and culture. Before I came here, all of the time in Egypt I was studying history - things like Richard the Lionheart - we are really proud of the Royal Family."
Meanwhile in the outer west of the city in Lemington, Apy Massamba - who runs a party planning business - had helped to deck out his street with bunting, bouncy castles and a sound system to celebrate the coronation. Apy said: "It is good for all of us in this area to come together. We collected money to pay for things and because I have all the equipment from my business we have put this party together.
"It means a lot to me, the first time in my life I can experience a coronation. Some people never see it, I feel lucky to be here at this time and to experience it."
In Fenham, the FAR community centre in Acanthus Avenue also welcomed a range of street performers and musicians to a special coronation party. Organiser Martin Gowland - project manager at FAR - said it had been an amazing event with people from across the community involved.
Little Layla-Mae Baptiste said she had loved the performance artists - especially learning how to walk on cups. More street parties were set to take place across the Bank Holiday weekend, with communities in Newcastle and the North East more widely excited to celebrate the ceremonial beginning of King Charles' reign.
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