Coronation – live: Prince Louis pictured at first royal engagement after missing out on Windsor Castle concert

Prince William made a poignant speech in honour of his father, King Charles III, at a glittering coronation concert held at Windsor Castle on Sunday 7 May.

The newly crowned King Charles and Queen Camilla joined around 20,000 members of the public at the concert in Windsor where, along with other family members, they enjoyed performances by Take That, Katy Perry and Lionel Richie.

Celebrity cameos from the likes of Tom Cruise, Hugh Jackman and Alan Titchmarsh paid tribute to the King’s dedicated environmentalism, along with his love of the arts, from dance and theatre to music and painting.

Today (Monday 8 May) marks a special bank holiday for those in the UK and has been set aside for volunteering in a tribute to the King’s lifetime of public service.

Buckingham Palace said the day “will encourage people to try volunteering for themselves and join the work being undertaken to support their local areas”.

The aim of The Big Help Out is to use volunteering to bring communities together and create a lasting volunteering legacy from the coronation weekend.

Coronation news – latest updates

• ‘A bizarre musical confection’: Our review of the coronation concert

• Princess Charlotte stuns in whimsical coronation concert dress

• ‘Pa, we are all so proud of you’: Prince William’s touching speech to father at coronation concert in full

• Coronation concert: Stars’ best fashion moments

Prince William’s touching speech to father at coronation concert in full: ‘Pa, we are all so proud of you’

10:50 , Peony Hirwani

The Prince of Wales paid a touching tribute to his father at the concert held to celebrate King Charles III’s coronation, saying: “Pa, we are all so proud of you.”

Taking to the stage in front of 20,000 people at Windsor Castle, Prince William praised the King’s dedication to the crown, as well as his environmental and charity work.

William said the King had “warned us of the risks to our planet’s health long before it was an everyday issue.”

He also highlighted the Prince’s Trust, established by his father, which he said “has supported over a million young people, many from disadvantaged backgrounds, to realise their ambitions.”

Read more:

Prince of Wales’s touching speech to father at coronation concert

Prince Louis gets stuck in on first royal engagement

12:55 , Emily Atkinson

Prince Louis has taken part in his first official royal engagement after missing out on yesterday’s coronation concert to celebrate the crowning of King Charles III.

The five-year-old joined his family to help renovate a Scout Hut, where he took the helm of a digger and pushed a wheelbarrow.

Princess Charlotte, eight, and Prince George, nine, also joined their parents, the Prince and Princess of Wales, as they worked alongside volunteers at the 3rd Upton Scouts Hut in Slough, a stone’s throw from their Windsor home.

The royals set to resetting a path, digging a new soakaway, sanding and revarnishing the front door. Planters were also established outside the front of the building to join a hand-painted mural to mark the Big Help Out’s work.

Watch: The best royal dance moves seen at the King’s music extravaganza

12:40 , Emily Atkinson

Coronation concert: Stars’ best fashion moments

12:23 , Emily Atkinson

Coronation concert attendees and performers donned their finest outfits at Windsor Castle as they celebrated the crowning of King Charles III on Sunday, 7 May.

Katy Perry wowed a crowd of 20,000 in an off-the-shoulder gold lame ball gown as she performed her 2013 hit “Roar,” while Andrea Bocelli paired his tuxedo with a metallic blue patterned jacket and a bow tie for his performance alongside Sir Bryn Terfel.

Sat next to her family, the Princess of Wales chose a vibrant red suit paired with a statement necklace.

Our video team has more:

Coronation concert: Stars’ best fashion moments

Princess Charlotte stuns in coronation concert dress

12:17 , Emily Atkinson

Princess Charlotte delighted fans once again on Sunday, donning a whimsical cream chiffon dress, with a scalloped collar and black bow as she attended yesterday’s coronation concert.

The eight-year-old’s dress was from Self-Portrait – a favourite of her mother’s, the Princess of Wales, who was wearing a royal blue gown.

As the evening drew in, Charlotte added a white pea coat as she enthusiastically waved a Union Jack flag and sang along to Perry as she performed her hit “Roar”.

‘A bizarre musical confection’: Our review of the coronation concert

11:59 , Roisin O'Connor

Royal music events are a peculiar beast. Last year’s Platinum Party at the Palace was an eclectic affair, with the lineup – George Ezra, Elton John, Rod Stewart – seemingly pulled at random out of a “royals-friendly” ballot. The coronation concert, which comes a day after King Charles III and Queen Camilla were crowned at Westminster Abbey, is very much the same.

Read our review of the coronation concert:

Dressed as a giant Quality Street, Katy Perry thrills at Windsor Castle – review

King Charles III’s coronation watched by peak TV audience of more than 20 million

10:10 , Peony Hirwani

The coronation of King Charles III was viewed by a peak television audience of 20 million in the UK – making it the most-watched broadcast of the year so far by a considerable distance.

The vast figure was not enough to trump that of Queen Elizabeth’s funeral, however, which totted up an average audience of around 26.5 million people across more than 50 TV channels.

Read more:

More than 20 million tune in for King Charles III’s crowning moment

The secret names and themes embroidered into Camilla’s coronation gown

09:30 , Peony Hirwani

Queen Camilla subtly carried her family with her on the day of her coronation – she had the names of her children and grandchildren sewn into her gown.

The royal, 75, wore a Bruce Oldfield couture gown, created in Battersea, London.

The dress had some expected additions: the cuffs of each sleeve bore the flower emblems of the four nations of the United Kingdom – a rose, a thistle, a daffodil and a shamrock. The symbols appeared on the official invite for the coronation event and have been heavily featured by the royal family in the past.

But there were other unexpected embellishments to the dress, such as the names of her close family, embroidered near the hem of the skirt.

Read more:

The secret names and themes embroidered into Camilla’s coronation gown

The story behind Camilla’s diamond necklace for the coronation

08:50 , Peony Hirwani

Queen Camilla wore a stunning piece of jewellery known as the Coronation Necklace to her and King Charles III’s crowning ceremony on Saturday (6 May).

Camilla arrived at Westminster Abbey alongside the King wearing the historic piece of jewellery that was worn during coronations in 1902, 1911, 1937 and 1953.

It was previously worn by Camilla’s late mother-in-law, Queen Elizabeth II, as well as by Queen Mary before her and Queen Alexandra.

According to the Royal Collection Trust, the diamonds in the coronation necklace come from Queen Victoria’s collection of jewellery.

It features the Lahore Diamond, which was previously on the Timur Ruby Necklace, and is usually worn with diamond earrings that also came from the Timur necklace.

Read more:

The story behind Camilla’s diamond necklace for the coronation

Watch: Rishi Sunak hosts Big Lunch at Downing Street to mark King Charles III’s coronation

08:10 , Peony Hirwani

Watch: Rishi Sunak hosts Big Lunch at Downing Street to mark King’s coronation 

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

07:30 , Peony Hirwani

King Charles III may have been waiting to be crowned monarch his entire life, but there were some unexpected stars at the coronation who stole the limelight.

Find out more.

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

‘Just ordinary’: Royal fans left surprised by Prince Harry’s Dior coronation suit

06:45 , Peony Hirwani

Prince Harry wore a bespoke suit designed by Dior to his father’s coronation on Saturday (6 May) and fans have been sharing their thoughts on the look.

Royal fans surprised by Prince Harry’s ‘wrinkled’ Dior coronation suit

6 blink-and-you’ll-miss-it moments at the coronation

06:05 , Peony Hirwani

The coronation ceremony of King Charles III and Queen Camilla came to an end on Saturday 6 May, after a display of grandeur and tradition at Westminster Abbey.

However, there were several moments of levity that many people could’ve missed if they’d simply blinked during the ceremony.

From an unexpected appearance from the “grim reaper” to the Duke of Sussex pulling an awkward face while taking his seat in the Abbey, we’ve rounded up six moments you might have missed.

6 blink-and-you’ll-miss-it moments at the coronation

Kate Middleton and Princess Charlotte dazzled in matching crystal ‘tiaras’ at coronation

05:25 , Peony Hirwani

Kate Middleton wowed in a crystal lead embroidery headpiece as she attended the coronation of her father-in-law, King Charles III on Saturday (6 May).

Princess Charlotte was also dressed in a mini-me version, with her similar crystal headpiece by the same milliner.

Ellie Muir reports.

Kate Middleton and Princess Charlotte dazzled in matching crystal ‘tiaras’

What’s the story behind King Charles’s ‘sausage fingers’?

04:45 , Peony Hirwani

Fans of the royal family have previously expressed concern for the king over photos in which his fingers appeared excessively red and swollen.

The images have prompted speculation from various members of the medical community, who have suggested the swelling could be caused due to a condition called oedema.

According to the National Health Service (NHS), oedema is characterised by swelling in the arms, hands, ankles, feet, and/or, legs. This swelling is usually caused by a fluid retention in these areas, as per the NHS’ website.

However, the King’s hands have been a topic of discussion since the day of his birth, as his late mother the Queen observed in a letter to her former music teacher.

Find out what she wrote below.

The story behind King Charles’s ‘sausage fingers’

William invokes late Queen’s love in touching tribute to ‘Pa’ King Charles

03:00 , Liam James

The late Queen Elizabeth would be “very proud” of King Charles on his coronation, his son William said on Sunday as he celebrated his father at a concert at Windsor Castle, and Britons held thousands of street parties in the king’s honour.

Amid pomp and pageantry, Charles and his wife Camilla were crowned at London’s Westminster Abbey on Saturday in Britain’s biggest ceremonial event in 70 years.

A Buckingham Palace spokesperson said Charles and Camilla 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.”

Charles and Camilla and other senior royals joined an audience of 20,000 members of the public and invited guests for the “Coronation Concert” at Windsor, the king’s palace to the west of London.

“As my grandmother said when she was crowned, coronations are a declaration of our hopes for the future. And I know she’s up there, fondly keeping an eye on us, and she’d be a very proud mother,” Charles’ heir, William, said at a speech at the evening concert, to huge cheers.

William paid tribute to his father’s service and others who serve, including teachers and hospital workers, many of whom have been striking in recent months.

“Pa, we are all so proud of you,” he said.

Police reveal they 64 arrests on coronation day after criticism

02:00 , Liam James

The Metropolitan Police said officers arrested 64 people during the King’s coronation day, with four suspects charged with offences including a religiously aggravated public order offence and possession of class A drugs.

The force updated the figure from its previous total of 52.

The wave of arrests led to criticism, with Sue Sim, a former chief constable of Northumbria Police, warning against a “totalitarian police state”, though ministers have defended the police response.

Mayor of London Sadiq Khan said he had demanded “clarity” from the force’s leaders on the arrests.

Republican campaigner Graham Smith, who was released on Saturday night after nearly 16 hours in police custody, said officers should “hang their heads in shame”.

Thousands line village streets to greet Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh

01:00 , Liam James

Thousands of people lined the streets of a Surrey village to greet the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh during its Coronation Big Lunch (Gwynn Wright writes).

Edward and Sophie delighted well-wishers in Cranleigh on Sunday, with some fans dressed in Union flag outfits or plastic crowns, eager to catch a moment of history as the couple passed through.

The duke and duchess first delighted children from the Scouts and Beavers who had been waiting outside the door of Cranleigh Village Hall.

Before their car arrived slightly behind schedule, excited children were looking at other cars shouting “hello?”, “where are they?” and “is that them, is that them?”.

On arrival, the couple were welcomed by His Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant of Surrey before greeting the crowds.

Thousands line village streets to greet Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh

King complained about ‘boring’ wait outside Westminster Abbey, claims lip reader

Monday 8 May 2023 00:00 , Liam James

The King grumbled “we can never be on time” and “there’s always something” following a hiccup at the start of his coronation, a lip reader has claimed.

Charles and Camilla arrived at Westminster Abbey early, while the Prince and Princess of Wales - accompanied by Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis, were late, missing their scheduled arrival time.

It meant the King and Queen were forced to wait outside, sat in their Diamond Jubilee State Coach, for some time for William and Kate to get there before Charles and Camilla could make their grand entrance.

A lip reader for Sky News said the King complained that it was a “negative”, allegedly remarking: “This is boring.”

“We can never be on time. Yes I’m ... This is a negative. There’s always something ... This is boring,” Sky News reported that the frustrated-looking monarch said.

James Nesbitt hails political ‘progress’ at coronation

Sunday 7 May 2023 23:00 , Liam James

James Nesbitt has said he thinks it is a sign of “progress” that every Northern Irish political party turned up for the King’s coronation.

The Northern Irish actor, 58, is taking part in the continued celebrations of the historic event by performing a poetry reading at the coronation concert earlier.

Speaking backstage ahead of the event, he told the PA news agency he had met Charles a few years ago at an event celebrating Northern Irish produce and that he was “very impressed” in the King, as he took “such an interest”.

Reflecting on the coronation, he said: “I’m just so delighted in the sense that every political party turned up yesterday for it and I think that’s progress.

“In a sense, although a lot of people might disagree with me... and we all have our own opinions about it but I feel that I’m representing an awful lot of people from where I come from, and I’m glad that he takes such an interest in the place.”

Hugh Bonneville says monarchy must redefine itself

Sunday 7 May 2023 22:00 , Liam James

Hugh Bonneville hailed the King’s coronation as an “extraordinary” event, but thinks the challenge for the future of the monarchy will be to allow the next generation to define what it means to them.

Reflecting on his thoughts surrounding the royal family ahead of the concert, he told the PA news agency: “I think each generation will need to make its own definition of what monarchy means.

“And I think that is the challenge for the future. In our ever-changing world, where does the monarchy stand? What does it mean?

“I mean, for my generation, and for my parents’ generation, it was the glue that bound our nations together, and that glue will need to shift and evolve in order to keep the strength that it’s had in the past.”

Bonneville said he thought the coronation service was “extraordinary” and admitted that he found the moment the King swapped his “robes of status and honour” for a simple white shirt for the private anointing as “particularly touching”.

Head of anti-monarchy protesters says arrests ‘direct attack on our democracy’

Sunday 7 May 2023 21:00 , Liam James

The head of an anti-monarchy group arrested ahead of a planned protest on Coronation Day has branded the detention of him and dozens of others a “direct attack on our democracy”.

Republic chief executive Graham Smith, who was released on Saturday night after nearly 16 hours in police custody, said officers should “hang their heads in shame”.

The Metropolitan Police confirmed that 52 people were arrested for affray, public order offences, breach of the peace and conspiracy to cause a public nuisance around the coronation.

Coronation hailed as celebration of British diversity

Sunday 7 May 2023 20:45 , Liam James

The coronation was hailed as a diverse, inclusive ceremony that represents a new era in British history by academics, celebrities and members of the public.

For many, the events have shown just how much Britain has changed in the years since the late Queen was crowned in 1953.

The coronation ceremony featured female clergy members for the first time and a Bible reading from the practising Hindu prime minister Rishi Sunak.

The coronation “symbolises moving on from where we were with the virus into that brave new future,” Rhys Mallows, 27, a guest from Cardiff, told the PA news agency.

“This coronation is very different from past ones and represents a more inclusive, more diverse future,” he added.

Dr Olusoga, professor of public history at the University of Manchester, was made an OBE in 2019, and recently provided commentary on the royal family’s relationship to the British Empire for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s Netflix documentary.

“Today we’ve been reminded of the deep religious history of the country,” he said, adding the ceremony had “echoes of the mediaeval age”.

“That sense of continuity, that sense of tradition, as a historian is absolutely fascinating.

“I think what you saw today was a strong representation and a huge effort to show the diversity of faith within Britain, one of the things that’s very different between the Britain of today and the Britain of 1953.”

Nicole Sherzinger ‘feels like Disney princess’ at Coronation Concert

Sunday 7 May 2023 20:25 , Liam James

Nicole Scherzinger has said she felt like a Disney princess when she was rehearsing her song for the Coronation Concert, which is taking place in the grounds of Windsor Castle.

The Pussycat Dolls frontwoman will perform ‘Reflection’, which was written and produced for Disney’s 1998 animated film Mulan.

Scherzinger told the PA news agency backstage ahead of the event that she felt “overjoyed” and “honoured” to take the stage.

“Now that I’m here, it just feels really surreal. Being on the ground and having Windsor Castle as your backdrop is the dream,” she added.

The singer said she found the coronation service on Saturday to be “remarkable”, as her home country of America does not have the same type of pageantry.

King and Queen arrive at Coronation Concert

Sunday 7 May 2023 20:24 , Liam James

King Charles III and Queen Camilla have arrived at the Coronation Concert, as celebrations for the king’s crowing continue.

The king and queen will be treated to performances by acts including Take That, Lionel Richie, Katy Perry, Paloma Faith, Andrea Bocelli, Sir Bryn Terfel, and Alexis Ffrench.

More than 20 million people tuned in to watch the coronation yesterday, while tens of thousands flocked to London to watch proceedings in-person.

You can follow the concert live with Indepedent Culture, here:

Royal fans flock to Windsor Castle for coronation concert - live updates

Sofia Richie shows off ‘chic’ coronation concert outfit ahead of father Lionel Richie’s performance

Sunday 7 May 2023 20:12 , Liam James

Sofia Richie has shared a preview of the outfit she’s chosen for King Charles and Queen Camilla’s coronationconcert, where she will watch her father Lionel Richie perform (Chelsea Ritschel writes).

On 7 May, a day after the King and Queen were crowned in a ceremony at Westminster Abbey, the coronation celebrations will continue with a star-studded concert at Windsor Castle. The concert, which will take place on the East Lawn of the castle’s grounds - the first time a large-scale event has been staged on the property - will feature performances by a number of musical guests including Katy Perry, Richie, Take That, and Andrea Bocelli.

For the occasion, Richie, who recently returned from her honeymoon after exchanging vows with husband Elliot Grainge in a lavish wedding in the South of France last month, has chosen a bright pink outfit.

Click here to read on:

Coronation Concert: Follow live with Independent Culture

Sunday 7 May 2023 19:58 , Liam James

Our culture team will be following the coronation concert beat by beat.

The line-up for this evening’s show includes Take That, Lionel Richie, Katy Perry, Andrea Bocelli, Sir Bryn Terfel, and Alexis Ffrench.

Follow the link below for live coverage:

Royal fans flock to Windsor Castle for coronation concert - live updates

Watch: Windsor Castle abuzz ahead of coronation concert

Sunday 7 May 2023 19:55 , Liam James

Crowds are entering Windsor Castle ahead of the King’s coronation concert which starts at 8pm.

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

Sunday 7 May 2023 19:50 , Liam James

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.

Isobel Lewis brings you the full itinerary, here:

Everything you need to know about King Charles’s coronation concert

Sunday 7 May 2023 19:40 , Liam James

Take That superfans Dawn Fenwick and Sian Gould are excited to see the group perform at Windsor Castle for the king’s coronation concert.

Ms Fenwick has been taking her daughter Ms Gould to Take That concerts since she was a child.

The pair travelled from High Wycombe.

Watch: Ukraine’s Zelensky congratulates King Charles on coronation

Sunday 7 May 2023 19:30 , Liam James

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky congratulated King Charles on his coronation and offered him and the British people thanks for their support in the war against Russia.

He described the king and Queen Camilla, his wife, as “true friends of Ukraine” and said his reign marked “the beginning of a new era for the British monarchy”.

Britain has been a key Western partner supplying military aid to Ukraine since Russia invaded in February last year.

Coronation concert: ‘It’s a big part of history'

Sunday 7 May 2023 19:18 , Liam James

Sarah Edwards travelled with her daughter Charlotte from Ipswich for the coronation concert at Windsor Castle.

The journey took them more than two hours.

The mother told the PA news agency: “We watched all the coronation on TV yesterday.

“It made us really excited to be here today. I think it’s a big part of history for my daughter to be a part of.

“I’m really excited to be part of such a big day.”

DJs light up London street for coronation

Sunday 7 May 2023 19:10 , Liam James

DJs performed at the Browning Street community street party in Walworth, London.

King Charles asked for Ibiza classics at coronation concert, says DJ

Sunday 7 May 2023 19:05 , Liam James

DJ Pete Tong has revealed the King specifically requested Ibiza classics songs as part of his coronation concert.

The BBC Radio 1 DJ, who has been tasked with delivering the King’s wish at the event being held on Sunday evening, said he hopes it will be a “brilliant” way to start the show in the grounds of Windsor Castle.

Speaking to the PA news agency backstage ahead of the event, Tong said: “He wanted Ibiza classics, that was very specific.

“And then they asked us to suggest a couple of songs so we suggested three or four, and he came back with one of them and that’s the one that’s starting the show, so they very much had an involvement in what they wanted us to perform.”

Asked why he felt this genre was among the playlist requests, he added: “I think they want to put across a big variety of UK talent and touch all different demographics and be relevant to different age groups.

“I mean, the shows we do we literally get kids up to pensioners. Relapse ravers, we call them - so maybe there’s a few relapsed ravers in the royal household, we don’t know.”

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

Sunday 7 May 2023 19:00 , Liam James

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”.

Sunday 7 May 2023 18:50 , Liam James

Sheila Holmes, 79, attended the Coronation Big Lunch in Burn, North Yorkshire, with her husband Gordon, 88, who served on the parish council for 43 years.

Mrs Holmes said: “It’s marvellous for such a small village to make such a supreme effort.

“I thought the service yesterday was beautiful. It’s what we do best, being British.”

Parish council chair Chris Phillipson said: “I’ve lived in the village all my life.

“We used to have sports days but as the village got older and children got older and moved away, they stopped, so it’s nice to resurrect some sort of community event.

“It’s really good to get people back together after Covid.”

Blackpool holds parade for King’s coronation

Sunday 7 May 2023 18:35 , Liam James

A celebration fit for a king is under way in Blackpool as its famous promenade hosts events for the coronation.

Thousands thronged the Lancashire resort, many wearing red, white and blue as yesterday’s drizzle was replaced with bright sunshine, bringing out the crowds.

The day of festivities began with a parade of 11 heritage trams full of flag-waving passengers travelling in convoy up the seafront before pausing at the Tower Festival Headland below Blackpool Tower.

In the afternoon, Blackpool took part in the nationwide Big Lunch - with families sat around in deck-chairs enjoying picnics and live entertainment.

Kate Shane, chair of the Blackpool Tourism Improvement District, said: “Our coronation event typifies what Blackpool does best - brilliant free entertainment for all the family to enjoy.

“It promises to be a wonderful opportunity to celebrate a moment of history.”

Princess Anne makes surprise trip to Swindon

Sunday 7 May 2023 18:30 , Liam James

Princess Anne greeted royal fans on a surprise walkabout in Swindon.

Residents of Belmont Crescent, near Old Town, welcomed the Princess Royal and husband Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence.

Anne spent just over an hour meeting locals, handing out gifts to children, and chatting in the sunshine.

Beatrice and Eugenie at Big Lunch ahead of coronation concert

Sunday 7 May 2023 18:24 , Liam James

Royal sisters Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie met well-wishers at a Coronation Big Lunch in Chalfont St Giles, north of London.

Hundreds of thousands of Britons marked the coronation with street celebrations, tea parties and lunches on Sunday as the festivities continued for a second day.

Organisers of Big Lunches hailed the community spirit at hundreds of events up and down the country.

Police got balance right in handling coronation protesters, minister insists

Sunday 7 May 2023 18:20 , Liam James

Police got the “balance right” between allowing protest and enjoyment of the King’s coronation, the culture secretary has said.

Lucy Frazer defended the Metropolitan Police after the force was heavily criticised by MPs and human rights groups over dozens of arrests.

The chief executive of anti-monarchy group Republic, who was among 52 people arrested on Saturday, was released after nearly 16 hours in police custody.

Click here to read on:

Police got balance right in handling coronation protesters, minister insists

Prince George rocks out to AC/DC, William reveals

Sunday 7 May 2023 18:05 , Liam James

The Prince of Wales has told royal fans his son Prince George is a big fan of rock bands AC/DC and Led Zeppelin during a surprise meet and greet.

William and Kate greeted Big Lunch attendees and coronation concert-goers in an unannounced walkabout for around 40 minutes on The Long Walk in Windsor on Sunday.

George, nine, played his first major ceremonial role at his grandfather’s coronation as a page of honour.

Caroline Mulvihill, from the Rock Choir in Windsor and Maidenhead, spoke to William during the meet and greet.

She told the PA news agency: “We were talking about the kind of music we do in Rock Choir and Will was telling us in their household they have a very diverse music taste and George is very much into AC/DC and Led Zeppelin. It was quite interesting to hear that.”

Sam Leckenby, another choir member who spoke to William, added: “They mentioned they were quite pleased yesterday’s ceremony wasn’t the original five hours long. They were just really lovely.”

Royal fans out in force ahead of Windsor coronation concert

Sunday 7 May 2023 18:02 , Liam James

Thousands of royal fans travelled to Windsor Castle today ahead of the coronation concert, with crowds also gathering outside Buckingham Palace

The Prince and Princess of Wales surprised the crowd at Windsor with a walkabout on the Long Walk.

Take a look at some of the characters who were there to greet them:

Jill Biden appears to inspect cheese and pickle sandwich at coronation lunch with Rishi Sunak

Sunday 7 May 2023 17:50 , Liam James

First Lady Jill Biden attended a Big Lunch hosted by British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, where she appeared to inspect a classic English sandwich (Meredith Clarke writes).

The United States first lady and her granddaughter, Finnegan Biden, joined the British prime minister and his wife, Akshata Murty, for a banquet at 10 Downing Street to celebrate the coronation of King Charles III.

However, a photo from the event captured Dr Biden looking puzzled over her cheese and pickle sandwich. The common British delicacy features cheese and pickled chutney.

Jill Biden inspects cheese and pickle sandwich at coronation lunch with Rishi Sunak

William and Kate sip cocktails with fans on Windsor walkabout

Sunday 7 May 2023 17:36 , Liam James

The Prince and Princess of Wales sipped homemade cocktails with royal fans as they soaked up the atmosphere in Windsor ahead of Sunday’s star-studded coronation concert, which starts at 8pm.

William and Kate surprised well-wishers when they went on a 40-minute walkabout in the town’s famous Long Walk, and also came across special coronation ale dedicated to the King.

The unannounced appearance came as Buckingham Palace said the King and Queen were “deeply touched” by the nation’s celebration of their coronation on Saturday.

‘Such an honour’ to be at UK’s premier street party

Sunday 7 May 2023 17:25 , Liam James

Rishi Sunak and his wife Akshata Murty this afternoon hosted a Big Lunch at Downing Street to celebrate King Charles III’s coronation.

Among those attending the lunch at Downing Street was Zoe Clark-Coates, who runs a charity with her husband, Andy, supporting people who have gone through baby loss.

She is also co-chairing a pregnancy loss review for the government.

She said: “ I was sitting next to the US ambassador, who was lovely, and very close to the First Lady.

“It’s such an honour to be amongst so many people doing such great work. It’s so moving.”

Met Police arrest of women’s safety volunteers on coronation day branded ‘absolute disgrace’

Sunday 7 May 2023 17:12 , Liam James

The Met Police has been fiercely criticised by Labour MPs for arresting women’s safety volunteers in central London during the early hours of coronation day (Maya Oppenheim writes).

Campaigners told The Independent that volunteers who work for Westminster Council’s night life safety team had been detained in custody for 15 hours.

The Metropolitan Police said that, at around 2am on Saturday, three people were stopped by officers and arrested in Soho on suspicion of conspiracy to commit public nuisance. Britain’s largest police force said rape alarms were some of the items they seized.

Click here to read on:

Met Police called a ‘disgrace’ for arresting volunteers on coronation day

‘I curtsied to the Archbishop of Canterbury’

Sunday 7 May 2023 17:00 , Liam James

A woman in a Union flag dress and headboppers at the Big Coronation Lunch in Canterbury curtsied when she met the Archbishop as he spoke to attendees.

Michelle Downer, 45, from Canterbury, said: “I did this really embarrassing thing. I curtsied to him!

“But isn’t it amazing to be at the cathedral and meeting Justin Welby?”

On the Big Lunch, she said: “I love seeing everyone come together. Why would you not want to be here?”

Regarding the coronation, she said: “I didn’t move from the TV.”

Ms Downer then explained how her husband had been decorating and she told him he needed to change before coming in to watch the ceremony – which he took very seriously, changing into a waistcoat and tails for the occasion.

Bongbong Marcos meets King Charles

Sunday 7 May 2023 16:46 , Liam James

Bongbong Marcos, president of the Philippines met King Charles on coronation day.

“Deeply honored to attend the royal reception with First Lady Liza Marcos at Buckingham Palace,” he wrote on Twitter.

In pictures: Thousands take part in Big Lunch and street parties as coronation celebrations continue

Sunday 7 May 2023 16:45 , Liam James

Thousands of people across the country have marked the coronation with street celebrations, tea parties and lunches, as the festivities to mark King Charles III’s continued for a second day.

Saturday’s ceremony – a mingling of solemn religious rites and royal pomp – saw Charles become the 40th monarch to be crowned in Westminster Abbey since 1066.

On Sunday, formality gave way to festivity as Britons joined together to share in a day of eating, drinking and music-making – with the coronation concert set to bring the weekend to a rousing conclusion.

Coronation celebrations continue as thousands take part in Big Lunch

London’s flag-mad estate hails new king

Sunday 7 May 2023 16:35 , Liam James

The Kirby estate in Bermondsey, London is known for decorating on national occasions.

You may have seen those old flatblocks strewn with England flags for the World Cup last year, or any number of earlier international tournaments.

Today, though, they wear the Union Jack as residents gather to celebrate the coronation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla.

Celebrities and singers walk red carpet ahead of King Charles's coronation concert

Sunday 7 May 2023 16:28 , Liam James

Independent TV brings you coverage live from Windsor Castle, where guests and performers are arriving ahead of the 8PM coronation concert:

Royal fans left surprised by Prince Harry’s Dior coronation suit

Sunday 7 May 2023 16:06 , Tara Cobham

Prince Harry wore a bespoke suit designed by Dior to his father’s coronation on Saturday (6 May) and royal fans have been sharing their thoughts on the look.

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

Royal fans were surprised by Harry’s decision to wear Dior, not least because it was a French brand – royals are typically dressed by British designers for large events – but because the suit simply looked “ordinary”.

Ellie Muir reports.

‘Just ordinary’: Royal fans left surprised by Prince Harry’s Dior coronation suit

King ‘very pleased’ with coronation and rain ‘didn’t dampen spirits’ - Dean of Canterbury

Sunday 7 May 2023 16:02 , Tara Cobham

The King was “very pleased” with his coronation day and the rain “didn’t damp the spirits”, the Dean of Canterbury has said.

The dean said: “The King’s very pleased with the day and even the rain didn’t damp the spirits.

“It was very clear everyone was out to enjoy themselves.”

On the Archbishop’s relationship with the King, he said: “Of course, there’s a privacy about that relationship that’s so important, that’s held special and sacred.”

Coronation celebrations continue with military parade in Glasgow

Sunday 7 May 2023 15:59 , Tara Cobham

Cheers rang through the centre of Glasgow as hundreds of military personnel gathered for a special parade to mark the King’s coronation, which was set to be one of the main celebrations north of the border.

The city’s Lord Lieutenant, Jacqueline McLaren, made a speech in George Square to launch the event, which also included inspection of a guard of honour and three cheers for the King and Queen, followed by the national anthem.

As well as military servicemen and women, veterans and cadets as young as 10 gathered for the march to Glasgow Cathedral.

In her speech, the Lord Lieutenant, who attended the coronation at Westminster Abbey on behalf of Glasgow on Saturday, congratulated Charles and Camilla. She said: “On behalf of the city on this day, which marks the first full day of our new King’s reign, I wish the royal couple longevity, happiness and wisdom.”

Meanwhile, more than 200 Coronation Big Lunch celebrations have been registered across the weekend.

Some 1,500 people attended the Church Green in the Royal Deeside village, on the doorstep of the Balmoral estate.

Watch Rishi Sunak host coronation lunch at Downing Street

Sunday 7 May 2023 15:55 , Tara Cobham

Rishi Sunak and his wife Akshata Murty this afternoon hosted a Big Lunch at Downing Street to celebrate King Charles III’s coronation (7 May).

Community heroes, Ukrainian families and youth groups attended the special event, with US first lady Jill Biden even dropping by for a cup of tea.

The street was transformed into a symbol of patriotism, plastered in union jacks while British produce was served up to guests.

It’s thought more than 67,000 of the celebratory lunches have been planned across the UK this weekend.

Watch here:

Rishi Sunak and wife host Big Lunch at Downing Street in honour of coronation

Prince and Princess of Wales share behind-the-scenes footage from coronation

Sunday 7 May 2023 15:43 , Tara Cobham

The Prince and Princess of Wales have shared behind-the-scenes footage from the coronation of King Charles III.

Following King Charles and Queen Camilla’s coronation on 6 May, Prince William and Princess Kate took to social media to thank those who made the historic event possible. “What. A. Day,” the royal couple captioned the post. “Thank you to everyone who made it happen.”

The video showed sweet moments of the Waleses and their three children – Prince George, nine, Princess Charlotte, eight, and Prince Louis, four – from their time at the coronation. The clip began with their only daughter dressed in her white Alexander McQueen dress and cape sporting a wide smile, before the family hopped into cars to take them to Westminster Abbey.

Watch the video here:

Prince and Princess of Wales share behind-the-scenes footage from coronation: ‘What. A. Day.’

Prince William handed royal-themed ale by concert-goer

Sunday 7 May 2023 15:34 , Emily Atkinson

The Prince and Princess of Wales were showered with affection by concert-goers as they embarked on a spur-of-the-moment walkabout along The Long Walk in Windsor on Sunday.

With many raising a toast to the new King across the country — as Britons assemble for street parties and lunches – one royal fan felt Prince William should join in, handing him a royal-themed ale.

William was pictured holding a can of what appears to be ‘Return of the King’ ale – a beer created to celebrate the coronation from Windsor & Eton Brewery.

The ale, made using organic barley from the local Royal Farm and organic English hops, is emblazoned with a bust of King Charles, and described by its creators as a fitting tribute to his “lifetime of service to the country and his passionate support of the environment.”

Prince William and Princess Kate joke with children as they greet royal fans at Windsor Castle

Sunday 7 May 2023 15:17 , Emily Atkinson

The Prince and Princess of Wales surprised royal fans waiting at Windsor Castle for an impromptu walkabout ahead of the coronation concert this evening (7 May).

Kate and William arrived at the Long Walk this afternoon sipping gin and beer, as fans, who have waited out for hours, ran over to greet them.

One little girl got so overwhelmed that she burst into tears upon meeting the royals, while William could be heard telling another group to “enjoy the concert”.

More on this from our video team here:

Prince and Princess of Wales joke with children during Windsor Castle walkabout

Big Lunch highlights

Sunday 7 May 2023 15:06 , Emily Atkinson

Street parties are in full swing across the country, as the festivities to mark the crowning of King Charles III continue.

In a jolly addition to yesterday’s proceedings, Britons are joining together to share in a day of eating, drinking and, later, music – with the coronation concert set to strike up later this evening.

Here are some of the highlights from Britain’s bunting-lined streets:

In a jolly addition to yesterday’s proceedings, Britons are joining together to share in a day of eating, drinking and, later, music – with the coronation concert set to strike up later this evening.

Jill Biden spotted at Downing Street coronation lunch

Sunday 7 May 2023 14:17 , Tara Cobham

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

Sunday 7 May 2023 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

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

Sunday 7 May 2023 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.”

Rishi Sunak arrives at lunch in Downing Street to celebrate coronation

Sunday 7 May 2023 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

Sunday 7 May 2023 13:50 , Tara Cobham