King’s coronation ultimate guide: How to watch, timings, and the rest of the weekend
The King has been crowned, but celebrations will take place all weekend – including a concert and nationwide lunches.
Here’s an ultimate guide to the coronation weekend.
The ceremony
The coronation ceremony of the King – and his wife, Queen Camilla – is taking place at Westminster Abbey.
Royals, celebrities and foreign dignitaries arrived for the momentous event.
There were big hats, fabulous outfits, lots of crowds and lots of rain.
Here’s what you might have missed:
The procession route
The King and Queen Consort took a 1.3-mile route to the ceremony.
They travelled down The Mall via Admiralty Arch, took the south side of Trafalgar Square, went along Whitehall and Parliament Street, took the east and south sides of Parliament Square to Broad Sanctuary, before arriving at the abbey.
The Queen took a much longer route after her coronation, travelling five miles through Whitehall, Trafalgar Square, Pall Mall, Hyde Park Corner, Marble Arch, Oxford Circus, and finally down the Mall to end at Buckingham Palace.
The new King and Queen used the Diamond Jubilee State Coach on their way to the ceremony. For the way back, the 260-year-old Gold State Coach was chosen.
More details of the coronation procession route here.
Spectators got wet
Crowds wearing rain ponchos in the grandstand opposite Buckingham Palace
Viewing spots along the procession route were in high demand – particularly as the royals took a shorter journey than the late Queen in 1953.
Outside Westminster Abbey and Buckingham Palace as well as along The Mall, the Horse Guards Parade and Parliament Square were all prime spots, with royal fans pitched up and getting soaking wet.
Will there be a flypast?
More than 60 aircraft are expected to soar over London – but bad weather may mean it won’t go ahead.
If it does go ahead, you can expect to see it over Buckingham Palace at 2.30pm.
If you’re not planning on being in the capital for the coronation, there are still places you can catch the display.
Here’s everything you need to know about where to see the flypast – if it happens.
And the balcony moment?
Well, the mystery remains over which members of the Royal Family will appear on the balcony.
The King and Queen would usually be expected on the famous balustrade, accompanied by other family members, to end the day.
Speculation has been rife as to why the Palace has not yet announced who will be up there.
Some claim it could be a ploy to eschew newspaper headlines indicating Prince Harry has been “banned” from the balcony.
While an official announcement has not been made, it has been confirmed that neither Prince Harry nor Prince Andrew will have any formal role in the ceremony in the Abbey, which can only offer a significant hint.
But royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliams told Sky News that there is often “no rush” for the palace to make such announcements, and believes they still will.
“Announcements are fed to keep a sense of drama… and it succeeds.
“This is a solemn day but also theatre; 200 countries are represented, and the world will be tuning in.”
You can read more about that here.
How to watch all the coronation events on TV
In a milestone for TV broadcasting, Sky customers can watch the King and Queen crowned in the clarity of Ultra HD, for free on Sky News channel 501 and on Sky Showcase channel 106 (7am-3pm).
The Ultra HD broadcast will be available to those watching on Sky Glass or Sky Q via the red button. Non-Sky customers can watch UHD coverage on the Sky News YouTube channel with a compatible TV.
Coverage will also be available to watch for free on Freeview channel 233, Virgin channel 603, BT channel 313, Saorview channel 23.
Ad breaks will be removed between 9am-3pm on the Saturday Sky News to ensure uninterrupted coverage of the main event on 6 May.
You can also watch multiple live streams on the Sky News website, app and on our YouTube channel.
Joanna Lumley will join Sky News presenters for coverage.
The Absolutely Fabulous actress, who provided commentary for Sky News for the Queen’s Jubilee last year, will attend the service at Westminster Abbey in May as a guest of Charles and Camilla.
Dame Joanna, 76, will then be joining the broadcaster’s coronation line-up, which includes royal events commentator Alastair Bruce and presenters Kay Burley and Anna Botting.
Every aspect of the big day will be televised, from royal fans gathering in the streets to the ceremony and processions.
Where can I watch it on a big screen?
The government has provided funding for big screens at more than 60 locations across the UK.
Parks, town squares and libraries will all be transformed into coronation viewing venues.
You can find every big screen showing the coronation in this list.
When is the bank holiday?
The Monday after the coronation – 8 May 2023 – will be a bank holiday for all of the UK.
The day has been set aside for volunteering and is being billed as “The Big Help Out”, with people encouraged to pitch in with projects in their local communities.
Will the pubs be open later?
Pubs will be allowed to stay open until 1am for the weekend.
People will be able to enjoy an “extra pint or two” between Friday 5 May and Sunday 7 May, Home Secretary Suella Braverman said.
Extending closing time for two hours beyond the normal 11pm was backed by 77% of the public who took part in a month-long consultation.
Who was at the coronation – was Harry there?
Prince Harry was at the coronation, while Meghan stayed in California with their children.
Westminster Abbey’s 2,200 seats were filled with members of the Royal Family, the prime minister, representatives from the Houses of Parliament, heads of state, other royals from around the world and people with links to the royal couple or the charities they support.
Pic: AP
Ant and Dec, Lionel Richie, Stereophonics singer Kelly Jones, Vogue’s UK editor Edward Enninful and the magician Dynamo were among the famous faces at Westminster Abbey.
They were on the guest list because of their connection with the Prince’s Trust.
More than 850 community and charity representatives were also invited, including the “boy in the tent”, who raised more than £750,000 for North Devon Hospice by camping in his garden for three years.
Invitees received an invitation that was handwritten by calligraphers from London Scribes Calligraphers, using traditional italic dip pens and bespoke mixed inks.
Veterans and NHS workers were front row in 3,800 seats in a specially built grandstand in front of Buckingham Palace.
Will Queen Camilla’s ex-husband be there?
Andrew Parker Bowles arriving at Westminster Abbey
Yes. Andrew Parker Bowles was there to watch the crowning of the new King and Queen.
He was also present at their wedding in 2005.
Here’s more about Andrew and the Parker Bowles family.
What’s in the ceremony?
Westminster Abbey floorplan, showing the Coronation Theatre
Like every coronation in the last 900 years, the ceremony for the King takes place Westminster Abbey, where the Queen’s funeral was held in September and where the Prince and Princess of Wales married in 2011.
The service is conducted by the Archbishop of Canterbury, a position currently held by Justin Welby. The Archbishop of Canterbury has presided over almost every coronation since the Norman Conquest in 1066.
The Earl Marshal – the Duke of Norfolk – is in overall charge of the coronation.
He is Oxford-educated father-of-five Edward Fitzalan-Howard, 67, and was responsible for organising Elizabeth II’s funeral, as well as the Accession and State Openings of Parliament.
He was banned from driving for six months in September for using his mobile phone behind the wheel despite claiming he needed his licence to arrange the upcoming coronation.
This is the order of service here.
Why will Camilla also be crowned?
According to the Royal Family’s website: “A Queen Consort is crowned with the King, in a similar, but simpler ceremony.”
The last Queen Consort to be crowned was the Queen Mother alongside King George VI in 1937.
Find out more about why Camilla will also be crowned here.
What happens during a coronation?
There are six basic phases to the coronation: the recognition, the oath, the anointing, the investiture (which includes the crowning), the enthronement and the homage.
During the ceremony, the King will swear to uphold the law and the Church of England, be anointed with holy oil, receive the Royal Orb and sceptres and be crowned with the solid gold St Edward’s Crown. Read more about the crowning ceremony here.
Buckingham Palace has announced the dukes, bishops, peers and retired generals who are set to take on ceremonial duties during the coronation.
More than 50 people, including representatives from orders of chivalry, the military and wider public life, have been chosen to take part in the historic event, and were selected because of their “significant service”, the Palace said.
Among them are TV presenter Floella Benjamin, former MI5 chief Baroness Elizabeth Manningham-Buller and Lincolnshire farmer Francis Dymoke.
Mr Dymoke, as he is the owner of the Scrivelsby country estate, will be the King’s champion and carry the Royal Standard.
The order of procession into Westminster Abbey has also been revealed, with faith leaders and representatives going first followed by governors-general, prime ministers and flag bearers from each of the 15 realms where the King is head of state.
Ahead of Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and his wife Akshata Murty, the UK’s flag bearer will be Cadet Warrant Officer Elliott Tyson-Lee.
The King and Queen Consort’s procession will follow, led by the Marquess of Anglesey, the Duke of Westminster, the Earl of Caledon and the Earl of Dundee, who will carry the Standards of the Quarterings of the Royal Arms and the Standard of the Principality of Wales.
Queen Elizabeth pictured after her coronation in Westminster Abbey in 1953
What else will happen over the coronation weekend?
Sunday 7 May
- Coronation Concert at Windsor Castle
- Lighting up the Nation – locations across the UK will be lit up using projections, lasers, drone displays and illuminations.
- Coronation Big Lunches – people will be invited to get together with their neighbourhood or community for a shared lunch, cup of tea or street party.
Monday 8 May
- The Big Help Out – will encourage people to try volunteering in their local area.
Tell me more about the concert
The coronation concert will see music stars descend on Windsor Castle, with Take That, Katy Perry and Lionel Richie on the line-up.
It will also feature “the coronation choir”, a diverse group of community choirs and amateur singers from across the UK, including refugee choirs, NHS choirs, LGBTQ+ singing groups and deaf signing choirs.
The audience will be made up of 10,000 people drawn from a ticket ballot, along with volunteers from charities affiliated to the King and Queen.
More information about the concert here.
How can I host a coronation street party?
There’s no better excuse to close off the street and string out the bunting than a major royal celebration, and the coronation is no exception.
If they’re small and just for residents, street parties don’t need a licence.
Coronation celebrations can be found and added to the official interactive map.
How will it be different to the Queen’s coronation in 1953?
While the 1953 coronation was three hours long and had 8,000 guests in attendance, the ceremony for the King is expected to be shorter and smaller in scope.
The Queen’s coronation was the first to be televised and was credited with bringing TV into the mainstream.
More than 20 million people watched the service on television, many crowded around neighbours’ screens, outnumbering the radio audience for the first time.
To stay up-to-date with the coronation – including details like timings of the day, news, features and analysis – bookmark our special coronation page for all the latest: skynews.com/coronation.
A man has been found guilty of assaulting two female police officers at Manchester Airport last year.
Mohammed Fahir Amaaz punched PC Lydia Ward in the face, knocking her down and breaking her nose.
The 20-year-old was also convicted of assaulting PC Ellie Cook and the earlier assault of a member of the public at an airport Starbucks.
Prosecutors said Amaaz threw 10 punches. Pic: CPS
The jury was unable to decide whether Amaaz and his brother, Muhammad Amaad, 26, also assaulted a male officer.
The incident happened at a car park pay area on 23 July 2024 after the brothers went to collect their mother from a flight.
Police were called after Amaaz went into Starbucks and headbutted Abdulkareem Ismaeil – who he claimed racially abused his mother on the plane.
The brothers resisted when officers tried to detain them and told the court they didn’t know they were being approached by police.
Prosecutors said Amaaz threw 10 punches, two elbow strikes and a kick, while Amaad aimed six blows at firearms officer PC Zachary Marsden.
Mohammed Fahir Amaaz. Pic: Greater Manchester Police
Amaaz told the trial he feared the “lunatic” male officer would “batter him to death” and Amaad said he believed he was under attack.
Footage of a kick and stamp by PC Marsden on Amaaz was widely shared on social media in the days after the incident.
The brothers – from Rochdale – denied all the charges and said they acted in self defence.
Their lawyers said police had used “unlawful force”, grabbing Amaaz from behind without identifying themselves.
But jurors at Liverpool Crown Court disagreed and found Amaaz guilty of actual bodily harm to PC Ward, as well assaulting PC Cook and Mr Ismaeil.
Read more from Sky News:
Thousands turn out to see Ozzy Osbourne’s hearse in Birmingham
Double Olympic champion dies in mountaineering accident
Amaaz (left) and Amaad (right) with their lawyer at a previous hearing. Pic: PA
Prosecutor Paul Greaney KC said the intention is to retry both defendants on the charge they assaulted PC Marsden.
The chief constable of Greater Manchester Police, Sir Stephen Watson, said he was pleased that Amaaz’s “appalling conduct” had been exposed.
Sir Stephen said 44 of his officers are assaulted every week.
“Our officers are decent people who routinely place themselves in harm’s way to protect the public. They deserve our respect and support,” he said.
UK
Ozzy Osbourne is given final tour of Birmingham – with thousands of fans flooding streets to pay their respects
Ozzy Osbourne has taken his final tour of Birmingham – with his family experiencing the love of thousands of fans who turned out to see the heavy metal star come home.
“We love you, Ozzy!” came the shouts from the crowd as his cortege stopped at Black Sabbath Bridge in the city, a site that has become a shrine to the performer since his death at 76 last week.
His family and loved ones, including his wife Sharon Osbourne and their children Jack, Kelly and Aimee, spent several minutes taking in all the flowers, messages and other tributes left in an outpouring of love from fans.
Jack, Sharon and Kelly Osbourne laid flowers. Pic: PA
Sharon was in tears as she took it all in. Supported by her children, she gave a peace sign to the crowd before returning to the procession vehicles.
Each family member carried a pink rose, wrapped in black paper, tied with a purple ribbon – the traditional Black Sabbath colours. The flowers bearing his name in the hearse were also purple.
Before reaching the city centre, the cortege had travelled past Ozzy’s childhood home in Aston. Just a few weeks ago, he was on stage at Villa Park performing his final gig alongside many of the musicians his music had inspired, from Metallica to Guns N’ Roses to Yungblud.
Heavy metal, reality TV and biting bats: Ozzy Osbourne obituary
Tributes to Ozzy can be seen all over Birmingham. Pic: Reuters
On a hugely emotional day, his presence could be felt throughout the city, with the star’s music playing in pubs and posters paying tribute: “Birmingham will always love you.”
For fans, this was a chance to say not just goodbye, but also thank you to a star who never forgot where he came from. His remarkable achievements from humble beginnings and continued love for his hometown, even when he lived thousands of miles away in Los Angeles, meant that for many, the loss feels incredibly personal.
The Black Sabbath Bridge has become a shrine in recent days. Pic: Reuters
‘The Prince of Laughter – not Darkness’
Graham Wright, a roadie who worked with Black Sabbath in the 1970s and beyond, up to the Back To The Beginning reunion gig at Villa Park, told Sky News he would remember Ozzy not by his traditional nickname, the Prince of Darkness – but as the Prince of Laughter instead.
“It was a shock he left us so soon after [the show],” he said. “The show was tough for him but he was determined to say goodbye to his fans, that was the main thing. It was important for all four of [Black Sabbath] to get back together and do a farewell.
“The tears will be flowing today to see the Ozz man – the Prince of Laughter, not Darkness. He really was. We’ll all miss him.”
Pic: Reuters
‘My mum used to say he was a lovely boy’
Chris Mason, general manager of The Brasshouse pub, which is next to Black Sabbath Bridge, said music by the band and Ozzy’s solo material had been played pretty much “on loop” since his death.
“I’m a metal fan and Ozzy being the godfather of the scene – if not for Ozzy and Black Sabbath, we wouldn’t have heavy metal,” he said. “This is what Birmingham is about, bringing people together, and Ozzy and Black Sabbath did that.
“He was Mr Birmingham and his family have brought him back.”
Mohabbat Ali, who used to live on the same street as Ozzy’s childhood home, said the property had become one of the focal points for tributes in the city.
Describing what it was like living near him, he said: “He played guitars, very loud at night sometimes, but my mum used to say he was a lovely boy.”
From an era of preening rock gods, Ozzy was the real deal
The sea of black was always a given – but this wasn’t about respecting funeral traditions. Ozzy himself had previously said he wanted his send-off, when it came, to be a celebration and not a “mope-fest”.
This was his final tour in the city that meant so much to him.
For fans, he meant so much to them.
For his family, the emotion was raw.
Sharon, his soulmate, has spent her life and career organising his shows, and it was clear how hard this day was for her.
After they left, fans flooded the streets to lay flowers.
Not since David Bowie has an artist’s death prompted such an outpouring of emotion. From an era of preening rock gods, Ozzy was the real deal – one of the most notorious figures in rock, but a man who remained as Brummie as can be.
‘A true legend who never forgot his roots’
Birmingham’s lord mayor, Councillor Zafar Iqbal, also attended the procession and spoke of the city’s pride in Ozzy.
“What a great honour for us to have him here one last time,” he said. “The love for Ozzy – well, you can feel it in the air.”
The star put both Aston and Birmingham on the map, he said, and always took the time to get to know people.
Mr Iqbal said Ozzy sent him a letter after reading on the mayor’s website biography how he had struggled with dyslexia at school – something the star identified with.
“I’ve got the letter in a frame and it’s in my office… he was just a natural human being, down to earth. You wouldn’t have known he was a rock star – but he was a true legend, who never forgot his roots.”
UK
Second-largest population increase in England and Wales in over 75 years – mainly fuelled by migration
The population of England and Wales has grown by more than 700,000 in the year to June 2024 – the second-largest increase in over 75 years.
The change was largely fuelled by international migration, with natural change – the difference between births and deaths – accounting for only a small proportion.
According to the Office for National Statistics, there were an estimated 61.8 million people in England and Wales in mid-2024, up from 61.1 million the year before.
It is the second-largest numerical jump since at least 1949, when comparable data began.
And it is behind only the rise of 821,210 that took place in the preceding 12 months from mid-2022 to mid-2023.
Nigel Henretty of the ONS said the population of the two countries has increased each year since mid-1982, but said the rate of population increases has been higher in recent years.
“Net international migration continues to be the main driver of this growth, continuing the long-term trend seen since the turn of the century,” he said.
Net international migration – the difference between people moving to the country and leaving – accounted for 690,147 of the estimated population increase of 706,881 people, or 98% of the total.
There were slightly more births than deaths in the most recent year, which added 29,982 to the population.
There was also a net decrease in internal migration – the number of people moving from England and Wales to elsewhere in the UK.
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