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King Charles and Queen Camilla wave at adoring crowds as they make debut on Buckingham Palace balcony - best photos

The newly crowned King and Queen were joined by members of the royal family


The newly-crowned King and Queen made their balcony debut
Danielle Stacey
Online Royal CorrespondentLondon
Updated: On 6 May 2023
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There was a jubilant atmosphere as The King and Queen made their Buckingham Palace balcony debut following their joint coronation at Westminster Abbey on Saturday. 

Charles, 74, and Camilla, 75, were greeted by huge cheers and applause from the crowds of thousands - who had waited for hours down The Mall for the historic occasion.

The monarch and his wife were joined by working members of the royal family on the balcony - keeping in line with the late Queen Elizabeth II's wishes during her Platinum Jubilee celebrations last year.

The RAF’s Red Arrows display team trailed red, white and blue smoke as their Hawk jets flew over the crowds gathered on The Mall and outside the palace.

More than 60 aircraft from the Royal Navy, British Army and Royal Air Force had been due to take part in the flypast, but "unsuitable weather conditions" meant that plan had to be abandoned.

Instead, helicopters from the three services and the Red Arrows took part in the display which lasted for around two-and-a-half minutes.

Take a look at the best photos from the King and Queen's balcony moment…

The newly crowned King and Queen beam at one another on the balcony© Getty
The newly crowned King and Queen beam at one another on the balcony

The Prince and Princess of Wales along with their three children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis enjoyed the flypast from the balcony, along with the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh, with Lady Louise Windsor and the Earl of Wessex.

Take a look at the moment the royals watched the spectacular flypast...

WATCH: The newly-crowned King and Queen watch the flypast from palace balcony

Prince William wore the ceremonial dress uniform of the Welsh Guards with his Garter mantle, while Prince Edward wore morning dress with Garter Mantle.

RELATED: Why did royal ladies wear white for King Charles III’s coronation?

Working members of the royal family appeared on the balcony© Getty
Working members of the royal family appeared on the balcony

Princess Kate wore an Alexander McQueen dress in ivory silk crepe with threadwork embroidery featuring rose, thistle, daffodil and shamrock motifs, with the Royal Victorian Order Mantle. She also sported a Jess Collett x Alexander McQueen Headpiece with silver bullion, crystal and silver threadwork three-dimensional leaf embroidery. 

The Duchess of Edinburgh wore a Suzannah dress with a Jane Taylor headpiece and Royal  Victorian Order Mantle.

Sir Timothy Laurence, the Duchess of Edinburgh, Princess Charlotte, Princess Anne, the Princess of Wales and Prince Louis© Getty
Sir Timothy Laurence, the Duchess of Edinburgh, Princess Charlotte, Princess Anne, the Princess of Wales and Prince Louis

The children were certainly animated as they waved to the crowds and watched the flypast.

MUST-SEE: Princess Charlotte is doting older sister as she holds Prince Louis' hand

Princess Charlotte twinned with her mum Kate in an Alexander McQueen dress and cape in ivory silk crepe with ivory satin stitch embroidery featuring rose, thistle, daffodil and shamrock motifs, as well as a matching Jess Collett x Alexander McQueen headpiece. 

Meanwhile, Prince Louis wore an outfit made by Dege and Skinner which consisted of a Hainsworth Garter  Blue Doeskin Tunic with specially designed lace work embellishment to the collar, cuffs and fronts.

Prince George, who turns ten in July, had a starring role on the day as one of his grandfather's pages of honour.

King Charles waves to the crowds © Getty
King Charles waves to the crowds

Who attended the coronation?

More than 2,300 people were among the congregation at King Charles and Queen Camilla's joint coronation service at Westminster Abbey.

Guests included members of the royal family, foreign royals, heads of state, overseas government representatives, Government ministers, first ministers and former prime ministers.

The Prince of Wales, Princess Charlotte, Prince Louis and the Princess of Wales at the coronation ceremony© Getty
The Prince of Wales, Princess Charlotte, Prince Louis and the Princess of Wales at the coronation ceremony
The foreign royals arrive before the British royal family© Getty
The foreign royals arrive before the British royal family

It comes after the King hosted a lunch and a pre-coronation reception for world leaders, ministers and overseas guests at Buckingham Palace on Friday. 

What is happening across the coronation weekend?

On Sunday 7 May, a day of street parties and coronation Big Lunches is encouraged up and down the country ahead of a star-studded concert at Windsor Castle.

Downton Abbey actor Hugh Bonneville will host the show, which will feature Take That, Katy Perry and Lionel Richie.

Katy Perry and Edward Enninful arriveD at Westminster Abbey ahead of the Coronation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla© Getty
Katy Perry also attended the service

The event on the grounds of the castle will be watched by a crowd of 20,000 members of the public and invited guests and broadcast across BBC television and radio stations.

Monday will be a special bank holiday 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.

King Charles III and Queen Camilla stand after entering Westminster Abbey through the Great West Door© Getty
The King and Queen won't attend any Big Lunch or Big Help Out events

The King and Queen are to leave the Big Help Out volunteering and Big Lunch celebrations over the coronation weekend to the rest of the royal family, Buckingham Palace has said.

Charles and Camilla will attend the coronation concert at Windsor Castle on Sunday evening, but are not set to appear at any of the street parties earlier in the day.

They will also not be appearing publicly on the Monday – the day of the Big Help Out which is billed as a lasting volunteering legacy to mark the King's crowning.

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