Royal fans across the UK gather around large screens to watch monarch’s historic coronation

Huge crowds draped themselves in reds, whites and blues as they gathered around big screens and street parties in London, Cardiff, Edinburgh and Belfast to commemorate the moment the monarch was crowned in an ancient ceremony stretching back a thousand years.

As the Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby placed St Edward’s Crown on Charles’ head, there was a deafening cry of ‘God Save the King’ in Hyde Park followed by applause and cheers as thousands of royal fans were overcome with emotion.

Cheers also broke out on the lawn of Rochester Castle in Kent, where a funfair, face painting stall and stilt walkers could be seen, as families enjoyed picnics under umbrellas.

In Birmingham’s Centenary Square, the drizzle failed to dampen anyone’s enthusiasm, with a local named Angel remarking: ‘It’s amazing to see; especially to have something here in the city as people want to watch and not everyone can get to London. I’ve come dressed up for it. I bought what I’m wearing from New Look – I’m a big Royalist.’

Meanwhile in Cardiff, a crowd of 500 fans gathered at the castle to watch the coronation on a huge TV screen before a 21-gun salute rang out from the walls. One mother, Rhiannon Rees, told MailOnline: ‘People’s spirits were high – it’s what the country needs after the last few years.’

But the wet weather started to take its toll on well-wishers, with flocks of people leaving before Queen Consort Camilla was crowned.

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

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.

In a change, the controversial ‘Homage of the People’ element of the service has been toned down after there was widespread criticism of the new element.

Among around 500 people who gathered in Birmingham’s Centenary Square to watch the ceremony on a big screen was a 69-year-old woman who was born in the late Queen’s coronation year.

Mrs Arthur added: ‘It’s a piece of history. We just thought to would be lovely for Alicia to remember and look back on the photos.’

Radha Patel, 36, had brought her two-year-old daughter Marissa and husband Krunal to watch on a giant screen in Manchester.

The dentist said: ‘It’s a momentous day.

‘We wanted to watch as it’s history in the making.

‘It’s very exciting ‘

Petra Hirte, 56, had travelled with friends from Berlin in Germany for a music festival in Manchester.

And they arrived in Piccadilly Gardens to watch the Coronation with hats and flags.

Petra said: ‘We don’t have anything like this in Germany so it’s fascinating.

‘It’s amazing for to watch all this. We are all royal fans.

‘This is a great weekend for us with the music festival and all this.

‘It was a surprise for us as when we booked it, the Queen was still alive.’

Fans soon started to get beers from a specially set up bar in the cordoned off area of the city centre.

Builder Mark Harris, 34, said: ‘I’ve come to toast the King and soak up the atmosphere of the day.

‘I won’t see this very often.

‘I’m pleased for Charles and think he’ll be good for the country but he’s got a tough act to follow.’

Things almost went pear-shaped at Sandringham House, after a 30 metre square mobile screen that was supposed to be switched on from 8.30am failed to start up.

A problem with the hydraulics meant it could not be raised into position in the parkland and there were hours of worry for fans.

The crowd of around 3,000 people cheered with relief as problem was finally fixed at 10.55am when the erected screen flickered into life showing King Charles walking into Westminster Abbey.

Back at The Mall, cries of God Save the King rang out from the thousands gathered there who, despite being soaked by a downpour, were as enthusiastic as ever. 

Those unable to see over the heads of spectators in prime front row positions held up smart phones above their head to try and capture the hold carriage containing King Charles and Queen Camilla.

The sheer spectacle of so many military band marching bands left many of those in the crowd awestruck.

‘It makes you proud to be British’ said Stephen Kennedy.

‘This is what this country does best and no one can match us’

American tourist Debbie Brady said’ We all envy this country having the royal family. It’s why so many people come.’ 

Canadian visitor Lorraine Wright was thrilled to see four Mounties in the celebratory procession to Buckingham Palace.

At Edinburgh Castle, a 21-round royal salute was fired one minute after midday on Saturday, as the King was crowned.

Members of 105 Regiment Royal Artillery fired the salute, with members of the 3rd Battalion, The Royal Regiment of Scotland (3 Scots) taking up position as castle guard musicians from Reserve Bands of The Royal Regiment of Scotland and adult instructors of the Army Cadet Force performed.

They played God Save The King after the gun salute was finished.

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.

The rain held off as a crowd of 500 gathered at Cardiff Castle to see the King crowned on a huge TV screen.

There was clapping and cheering and a 21 gun salute rang out from the castle walls as history was being made.

Children in wellies splashed in muddy puddles after heavy overnight rain threatened to ruin the Cardiff event.

Mum Rhiannon Rees, said: ‘It’s a pity because I think Wales is right behind Charles and Camilla.

‘There would have been thousands here but for the rain.

‘But people’s spirits were high – it’s what the country needs after the last few years.’

Meanwhile thousands of people gathered at events across Northern Ireland this morning to celebrate the coronation.

They included  a ‘Coronation Garden’ – designed by award-winning gardener Diarmuid Gavin.

There were also big screens erected in major cities and towns across the province, including at Belfast City Hall, Antrim Castle Gardens, Coleraine Town Hall and Jordanstown Loughshore Park, Market Square, Lisburn, People’s Park in Ballymena, Town Park in Larne and Marine Gardens in Carrickfergus.

A picnic and party with live music from a brass band was also held in the 100-acre grounds of Hillsborough Castle, Co Down, the King’s official residence in Northern Ireland, where there will also be a big screen.

A sea of umbrellas popped up as onlookers tried to gain a good vantage spot to see the return procession from The Mall.

Charles and Camilla both smiled as they left and then entered the Gold State Coach, drawn by horses to take them past 2million in the streets and 7,000 servicemen and women marching through the capital with them.

Princess Anne followed their carriage on horseback with senior royals following in other state carriages. A smiling Prince Harry left in a luxury car, as did a much more sombre Prince Andrew.

Many royal fans climbed on each others shoulders and stood on stalls to try and see over the umbrellas.

The royal couple arrived back at Buckingham Palace where they will wave to crowds from the balcony with working royals before a planned 60-aircraft RAF flypast, which has been scaled back to just just helicopters and the Red Arrows because of terrible weather.