The coronation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla

By Lauren Said-Moorhouse, Rob Picheta, Peter Wilkinson, Ivana Kottasová, Sophie Tanno, Adrienne Vogt and Tori B. Powell, CNN

Updated 5:42 p.m. ET, May 6, 2023
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9:39 a.m. ET, May 6, 2023

Here's who is joining King Charles III on the Buckingham Palace balcony – and who isn't

Britain's King Charles III and Queen Camilla wave to the crowds from the balcony of Buckingham Palace after their coronation ceremony.
Britain's King Charles III and Queen Camilla wave to the crowds from the balcony of Buckingham Palace after their coronation ceremony. Petr David Josek/AP

King Charles and Camilla have emerged on the Buckingham Palace balcony to greet the crowds lining the Mall.

The King and Queen have been joined on the balcony by other working royals including Charles' siblings, Prince Edward and his wife Sophie and Princess Anne.

William and Catherine, the Prince and Princess of Wales, were also present, along with their children – George, Charlotte and Louis.

Prince Harry was not there, however – he appears to have parted from the family after the ceremony. Prince Andrew is also not present on the balcony.

9:36 a.m. ET, May 6, 2023

Prince Harry is absent from the Buckingham Palace balcony

From CNN's Max Foster and David Wilkinson

Britain's Prince Harry stands outside Westminster Abbey following Britain's King Charles' coronation ceremony.
Britain's Prince Harry stands outside Westminster Abbey following Britain's King Charles' coronation ceremony. Dylan Martinez/Reuters

Prince Harry has not appeared with members of the royal family to greet the public from the balcony of Buckingham Palace.

CNN understands that Prince Harry did not receive an invitation to join the family for this moment.

9:31 a.m. ET, May 6, 2023

Charles and Camilla step out on Buckingham Palace balcony

King Charles III and Queen Camilla on the balcony of Buckingham Palace.
King Charles III and Queen Camilla on the balcony of Buckingham Palace. Owen Humphreys/PA/AP

King Charles III and Camilla have stepped out onto the Buckingham Palace balcony, in one of the most eagerly anticipated moments of the day.

A throng of flag-waving royalists cheered as they emerged from inside the Palace, ready to watch a slimmed-down flypast by the Royal Air Force.

The first-recorded royal balcony appearance was in 1851, when Queen Victoria greeted supporters during celebrations to mark the opening of the Great Exhibition.

Since then it has become a flagship part of royal events, with pictures usually appearing on front pages the next day.

9:16 a.m. ET, May 6, 2023

Crowds are filling the Mall

From CNN's Stephanie Halasz and Caolán Magee

People on The Mall listen to the service in the rain on loudspeakers.
People on The Mall listen to the service in the rain on loudspeakers. Kevin Coombs/Reuters

As the Gold State Coach headed back to Buckingham Palace, the atmosphere along the Mall was electric. Thousands lined the route to catch a glimpse of the new King — and the rain was not ruining anyone's fun.

Amongst the chatting and chanting were Emma Bond, 42, and Hannah Chambers, also 42, huddled under an umbrella, eagerly awaiting the customary Buckingham Palace balcony appearance:

"The weather doesn't dampen our spirits at all because we love coming to these things. We don't care about the weather — we love the British spirit."

They arrived this morning from outside London, and have previously joined the crowds for other royal events, including Princess Diana's funeral and a few royal weddings.

"My favourite royal is Kate, she is so classy and everything you expect from British royalty — and the kids, we love prince George," they told CNN.

Witnessing history and waiting in hope are sisters-in-law Jane Monk and Cindy Sharville, from North London: "The atmosphere is very positive and the weather is very British. All you can do is wear your hat, you bring your brolly and have a glass of wine."

"The Queen was such a tough act to follow — but Charles will do a great job," they added.

Once the royal couple was back inside Buckingham Palace, the public was permitted to stream forward toward the royal residence ahead of the flypast and balcony moment.

9:10 a.m. ET, May 6, 2023

Flypast over Buckingham Palace scaled down due to bad weather

A flypast over Buckingham Palace to celebrate King Charles III's coronation has been slimmed down due to poor weather in London, according to Britain's PA Media.

It will now be formed only of helicopters and the Red Arrows display team, the Ministry of Defence said.

The event will now last two and a half minutes, down from six.

It was initially intended to include modern F-35s and Typhoons, and the Battle of Britain memorial flight – a display group that usually includes Spitfires, Hurricane fighters and Lancaster bombers.

8:53 a.m. ET, May 6, 2023

Royal salute and three cheers for the King after procession

King Charles and Queen Camilla received a Royal Salute and three cheers from military personnel as they returned to Buckingham Palace.

The national anthem then again rang out in the Buckingham Palace garden.

It follows a lengthy and vast procession from the Abbey that featured 4,000 people and 19 military bands.

8:44 a.m. ET, May 6, 2023

Camilla has a divisive history. What do we know about Britain's new Queen?

From CNN's Max Foster and Lauren Said-Moorhouse

Britain's Queen Camilla leaves Westminster Abbey.
Britain's Queen Camilla leaves Westminster Abbey. Toby Melville/Pool/AP

Camilla was crowned as Britain’s new Queen at Westminster Abbey, taking on a new and more prominent role alongside King Charles III.

She was ever-present at Charles’ side as he publicly grieved his mother, the late Queen Elizabeth II, and stepped into his new role. She is the love of his life, as well as a decades-long counselor and confidante.

Since she and Charles married in 2005, Camilla has worked hard as a senior royal, supporting her husband and championing charities helping women and children. But some in Britain find it hard to forget, or forgive, the couple’s long-running extra-marital affair and the pain it caused Charles’ first wife, Diana, Princess of Wales.

Still, with her common touch and ability to dissipate the tension in a room, Camilla quickly became an asset to the royal family and the British government after she married Charles in 2005.

She defined her own royal role, championing causes close to her heart, such as children’s literacy, supporting victims of domestic violence and raising awareness around osteoporosis, a condition that affected her mother and grandmother.

As well as these responsibilities, Camilla has also become a “professional grandmother,” as one of her aides told CNN in 2013.

So, what can we expect from Britain’s new Queen? You can find out here.

8:36 a.m. ET, May 6, 2023

For some Britons, the best place to watch the coronation is the pub

From CNN's Livvy Doherty

The atmosphere was festive and full of joy as punters in the Phoenix pub in Chelsea watched King Charles' coronation on TV Saturday.

The room was abuzz with excitement as drinkers watched the new monarch's big moment.

Li-Lian Ahlskog Hou/CNN
Li-Lian Ahlskog Hou/CNN

As St. Edward's Crown was placed on the sovereign's head, there were a few cheers of "God Save the King."

A framed photo of King Charles III sits on a bookshelf at The Phoenix in Chelsea.
A framed photo of King Charles III sits on a bookshelf at The Phoenix in Chelsea. Li-Lian Ahlskog Hou/CNN

No one at the Chelsea establishment joined in on one controversial new element of the ritual -- the homage of the people -- by pledging allegiance to the King.

Li-Lian Ahlskog Hou/CNN
Li-Lian Ahlskog Hou/CNN

8:27 a.m. ET, May 6, 2023

US first lady says it's an "honor" to represent the United States on this "historic" day

From CNN's Sharon Braithwaite in London

US first lady Jill Biden arrives at Westminster Abbey prior to the coronation ceremony.
US first lady Jill Biden arrives at Westminster Abbey prior to the coronation ceremony. Jacob King/PA/AP

U.S. first lady Jill Biden tweeted that it was an "honor" for her to represent the United States at the King's coronation on Saturday.

The United States and the United Kingdom have a special relationship," she said in a post.

"It’s an honor to represent the United States on this historic day at Westminster Abbey," she added.