Ceremonial celebrations for The Coronation
of King Charles III and Queen Camilla
Saturday 6th May 2023

More than 6,000 men and women of the United Kingdom's Armed Forces participated in the historic Coronation of Their Majesties King Charles III and Queen Camilla on Saturday 6th May 2023.

In the largest military ceremonial operation for 70 years sailors, soldiers and aviators from across the UK and the breadth of the Commonwealth took part in two magnificent processions accompanying Their Majesties to and from Westminster Abbey, where the Coronation Service took place.

From military bases in all corners of the country and on His Majesty's ships at sea, gun salutes sounded out to herald the moment when The King was crowned.

Across the previous days, Armed Forces personnel around the country were busy rehearsing for their role in a display of pageantry, professionalism and pride to honour their new Commander-in-Chief, The King.

Nearly 400 Armed Forces personnel from at least 35 Commonwealth countries were also on parade to mark the historic moment.

Coronation processions

Around 5,000 Armed Forces personnel accompanied their Sovereign from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Abbey and back in two separate processions.

The Diamond Jubilee State Coach leaving Buckingham Palace during The King's Procession

The first, The King's Procession, was the smaller in scale of the two and featured just under 200 members, centred around The Sovereign's Escort of The Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment.

Travelling down The Mall to Trafalgar Square, where they turned onto Whitehall before marching to Westminster Abbey, the Procession covered 1.42 miles. Flanking them were over 1,000 Forces route liners from all three services.

The Gold State Coach in the Coronation Procession

The Coronation Procession followed the same route back to Buckingham Palace from Westminster Abbey. Featuring nearly 4,000 personnel, this major military ceremonial operation was the largest of its kind for a generation.

The Coronation Procession represented the diversity and traditions of the UK and Commonwealth Armed Forces. A full-spectrum display of unique and historic uniforms whose designs are in some cases hundreds of years old, flags from across the Commonwealth and 20 different bands – all marching in exact rhythm – demonstrated the very best of the Armed Forces. They guided Their Majesties back to Buckingham Palace, before conducting a Royal Salute on the lawn of the palace garden.

Part of the Coronation Procession in The Mall

The Royal British Legion provided a Guard of Honour of 100 Standard Bearers to line the procession route in Parliament Square on the day of the Coronation. The charity’s participation was in line with its support at previous significant Royal events. The Standard Bearers represented the RBL and seven other associated Armed Forces charities; The Royal Naval Association, Royal Marines Association, Army Benevolent Fund, Air Forces Association, Royal Commonwealth and Ex Services League, Merchant Navy Association and SSAFA, the Armed Forces Charity.

Gun salutes

A six-gun salvo sounded from Horse Guards parade

In all corners of the Union, including at firing stations in Edinburgh, Cardiff and Belfast, gun salutes sounded at the moment of The King’s Coronation to celebrate the historic moment.
Featuring more than 400 personnel, across 13 locations and deployed Royal Navy ships, 21 rounds fired to mark the Coronation with the exception of The Tower of London and Horse Guards Parade, where a 62 round salute and a six-gun salvo were fired respectively.

Coronation flypast

The final crescendo following a spectacular military procession was a curtailed flypast through the skies of London due to inclement weather restrictions on the day.

Helicopters, used by the Armed Forces on operations around the world, soared over The Mall in formation and were watched by members of the Royal Family on the balcony of Buckingham Palace and were followed by The Royal Air Force Aerobatic Team – the Red Arrows.

Returning to Buckingham Palace