Buckingham Palace releases first official portrait of King Charles

Buckingham Palace releases first official portrait of King Charles resplendent in his royal regalia to mark historic Coronation

• Buckingham Palace released first official photograph of our newly-crowned King

Buckingham Palace has released the first official photograph of King Charles III taken on the day of his Coronation. 

The image, by Hugo Burnand, showed the monarch seated in his full regalia – wearing the Imperial State Crown, holding the Orb and Sceptre with Cross, and dressed in his regal purple tunic and Robe of Estate.

The King and Queen set the seal on their historic coronation day with a double Buckingham Palace balcony appearance to acknowledge the nation.

Charles and Camilla in lavish robes and wearing their crowns returned with a wave the cheers of the crowds, who filled The Mall after braving downpours to see a colourful ceremonial military procession not seen for 70 years.

The Prince and Princess of Wales and their children Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis joined the monarch, as did the pages of honour and other royals – and then wellwishers were treated to an encore with just the King and Queen.

The image was released on the same day the Prince of Wales and his family were pictured in the Big Help Out, during a visit to the 3rd Upton Scouts Hut in Slough, Berkshire.

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The image was released on the same day the Prince of Wales and his family were pictured in the Big Help Out, during a visit to the 3rd Upton Scouts Hut in Slough, Berkshire

The family spent a little under 10 minutes on the balcony before going back inside, but the King and Queen re-emerged moments later to loud cheers.

Camilla then called for their pages to help them rearrange their trains.

They went back into the palace shortly before 2.40pm, with the King lingering for one final wave.

The Duke of Sussex and the Duke of York were not part of the balcony appearance, having not taken any formal role at the coronation.

A few minutes past midday, 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 St Edward’s Crown on his head.

The historic moment, watched around the globe, was a fulfilment of the King’s destiny, but followed the death of his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, last September after a 70-year reign.

The coronation was a spiritual and deeply personal event for the King, a ‘committed Anglican Christian’, who was anointed, seen kneeling at the abbey’s high altar and receiving homage from his son and heir the Prince of Wales.

William’s interaction with his father where he touched St Edward’s Crown then kissed his father on the right cheek appeared a poignant moment for the King.

Louis and William were helping create a new path and new beds for a Slough scout hut 

Charlotte and George watched on as their little brother and their father went digging, with George appearing to bite his nails

It was hungry work for the young prince, who clearly loves toasted marshmallows. They were gone in a flash

Less than a minute later he was chomping on a s’more. William declared: ‘You’ve made his day’

As William knelt before Charles, who held his son’s hand between his palms, the future monarch said: ‘I, William, Prince of Wales, pledge my loyalty to you and faith and truth I will bear unto you, as your liege man of life and limb. So help me God.’

The King’s estranged son Harry was among the congregation, sitting two rows behind his brother with the Duke of York’s family, and he was seen intently watching the crowning.

And when a few minutes later the congregation was invited pay homage to the new monarch, Harry was seen, along with the other royals around him, speaking the words: ‘God save King Charles. Long live King Charles. May the King live forever.’

Charles delivered a King’s Prayer, the first time a monarch has spoken words to God aloud during a coronation, and he prayed to be a ‘blessing’ to people of ‘every faith and conviction’.

Before the crowning the archbishop delivered a sermon to the 2,300 guests, a gathering of world leaders, celebrities, UK politicians, foreign royalty, everyday heroes and the royal family.

Mr Welby began by telling the congregation: ‘We are here to crown a King, and we crown a King to serve.

‘What is given today is for the gain of all. For Jesus Christ announced a kingdom in which the poor and oppressed are freed from chains of injustice. The blind see. The bruised and broken-hearted are healed.’

Speaking to Charles and Camilla, Mr Welby said: ‘The weight of the task given you today, Your Majesties, is only bearable by the spirit of God, who gives us the strength to give our lives to others.

‘With the anointing of the Holy Spirit, the King is given freely what no ruler can ever attain through will, or politics, or war, or tyranny: the Holy Spirit draws us to love in action.’

Louis enjoyed his s’more so much his little legs went wobbly in a moment of ecstasy, bumping into his sister

George also got to gave a go, helping his dad with the controls – and it looked like William was enjoying it most

Princess Charlotte expertly fires an arrow towards the target

In the stillness of the abbey, Mr Welby held St Edward’s Crown high above Charles and, after placing it on his head at 12.02pm, said ‘God save the King’ – words loudly repeated by the congregation.

The archbishop had adjusted the position of the crown for several seconds before it sat comfortably, and even crouched down to briefly check it was positioned properly on the King’s head.

A fanfare was played and the abbey’s bells rang for two minutes after 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.

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

The Queen was crowned with Queen Mary’s Crown, with Camilla having been anointed in public in a break with tradition.

During the crowning the Queen was seen adjusting her hair out of her face.

Earlier, Charles and Camilla’s Diamond Jubilee Coach arrived at the abbey, 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.

A large ceremonial procession was lined up before the King and Queen with representatives of all elements of the nation’s ceremonial and spiritual life.

There were recipients of Orders of Chivalry and Gallantry, Heralds from the College of Arms in their colourful tunics, senior clergy associated with the monarchy and the glittering coronation regalia carried by leading figures.

St Edward’s Crown was carried by General Sir Gordon Messenger, Lord High Steward of England.

With their lavish and unwieldy robes, the King and Queen walked single file along the nave of the abbey with Camilla ahead of Charles as the hymn I Was Glad As They Said Unto Me was sung.

The coronation service began with a new element when the King was greeted by 14-year-old Samuel Strachan, the longest-serving chorister of the choir of the Chapel Royal, St James’s Palace.

The chorister, who attends the City of London School, welcomed the monarch in the name of the ‘King of Kings’ – a reference to Jesus Christ – and Charles replied: ‘In his name, and after his example, I come not to be served, but to serve.’

Before the King took the Oath – making a succession of promises, including to maintain in the UK the Protestant Reformed Religion established by law – the archbishop delivered a preface to Charles’s declaration – another first.

He told the congregation the Church of England, which is headed by the King, will seek to foster an environment where ‘people of all faiths and beliefs may live freely’ – echoing the words of the late Queen and Charles.

The Wales pose with scouts at the event today

Princess Charlotte, Prince George, Prince Louis and Catherine all toasted marshmallows while wearing scarfs from the 3rd Upton Scout Group

Charles was anointed with holy oil away from public view, shielded by the Anointing Screen.

The Dean of Westminster will have poured oil from the ampulla – an eagle-shaped vessel – into the coronation spoon – the oldest object in the coronation regalia.

Using his fingers, the archbishop will then have anointed the King on his hands, breast, and head.

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

Thousands of royal fans had braved the rain to line the procession route through central London.

As anticipation mounted on Saturday morning, a group of republicans were arrested around 7.30am more than four hours before the coronation service began.

Footage on Twitter showed Graham Smith, chief executive of the anti-monarchy group Republic, being apprehended by police in St Martin’s Lane, Westminster.

Protest group Just Stop Oil also said approximately 13 demonstrators were arrested on The Mall, as well as five at Downing Street.

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