King Charles III is crowned as Armed Forces provide spectacular ceremonial role

King Charles III and Queen Camilla have been crowned in a spectacular Royal ceremony in which the Armed Forces played a major part.

The grand occasion, watched by millions of people around the world, has been the largest ceremonial operation for the Armed Forces since Queen Elizabeth's 1953 coronation, with more than 9,000 members of the UK Armed Forces deployed during the day and about 7,000 of these on ceremonial duties.

As the King was crowned the nation's monarch, he prayed to be a "blessing" to people of "every faith and conviction".

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Charles became the 40th reigning sovereign to be crowned at Westminster Abbey, the nation's coronation church since 1066, as Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby placed the St Edward's Crown on his head.

Every element of the military was represented during the day's proceedings.

As well as those personnel taking part in the processions, the ceremonial route was lined by 45 half companies from the Royal Navy, Royal Marines, British Army and Royal Air Force.

Ahead of the King setting off from Buckingham Palace, the Foot Guards of the Household Division lined The Mall, the Royal Navy lined Admiralty Arch, the Royal Marines lined Trafalgar Square and the Royal Air Force were stationed on Whitehall and Parliament Square.

A fanfare was played after the crown was placed on the King's head and the bells of Westminster Abbey rang for two minutes following the crowning, with gun salutes fired from nearby Horse Guards Parade, the Tower of London and saluting stations across the nation and from warships at sea.

Soldiers from the King's Troop Royal Horse Artillery were tasked with carrying out the unprecedented six-gun salvo for the coronation, with all six guns to be fired simultaneously, the moment the crown was placed on the monarch's head.

The gun salute was fired from Horse Guards Parade so that the gunfire would be audible within Westminster Abbey.

Volleys were also heard at Hillsborough, Cardiff and Edinburgh castles, Stonehenge and on HMS Lancaster, which had sailed to Sudan to help British citizens and others escape the fighting in Khartoum.

After the coronation of King Charles, Camilla was the focus of the ceremony and the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, performed the ancient ritual of anointing and crowning, then called on the Queen to be filled with "princely virtues".

Queen Camilla, who became patron of BFBS, the parent charity of Forces News in 2021, was then crowned beside the King.

Earlier, Charles and Camilla's Diamond Jubilee Coach arrived, following a procession from Buckingham Palace, in the midst of a Sovereign's Escort provided by the Household Cavalry's Blues and Royals and Life Guards with their shining breastplates and plumed helmets and led by the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment band.

The monarch and his wife's entrance through the west door was heralded by a fanfare from four State Trumpeters of the Household Cavalry and the abbey congregation stood as one.

Following the service, the King and Queen left Westminster Abbey in the Gold State Coach shortly after 1pm for a procession back to Buckingham Palace.

The coronation procession featured thousands of Armed Forces personnel – from across the United Kingdom, Commonwealth and British Overseas Territories.

Each of the military services was represented, with the final group of 1,000 Household Cavalry Troopers forming the Sovereign's Escort.

Eighteen representatives of the realms flanked the Gold State Coach, with the procession route travelling from Westminster Abbey back to Buckingham Palace via Parliament Square, Whitehall, Trafalgar Square, Admiralty Arch and The Mall.

The same 45 half companies from the Royal Navy, Royal Marines, British Army and Royal Air Force that lined the route for the King's Procession remained in position for the King and Queen's journey back to the palace. 

After arriving back at the palace, Their Majesties appeared on the West Terrace, where personnel gave a Royal Salute and the Massed Bands of His Majesty's Armed Forces played the National Anthem before giving three cheers.

It was then the turn of the public to flood The Mall, rushing through the rain to catch a glimpse of the Royal Family.

The military then performed a flypast, with the number of aircraft taking part reduced due to the inclement weather.

More than 60 aircraft from the Royal Navy, British Army and Royal Air Force had been due to take part, but it eventually featured the Red Arrows joined by Wildcat, Merlin, Apache and Chinook helicopters.