CELEBRATIONS SET TO INCLUDE THE BIGGEST MILITARY CEREMONIAL OPERATION IN 70 YEARS
REPORT: EMILY NASH
The then Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall (top) watch the RAF flypast during Trooping the Colour last June
W ith less than a fortnight to go, exciting new details about the coronation continue to emerge – including the fact that more than 6,000 members of the UK’s armed forces will take part, making it the biggest military ceremonial operation for 70 years.
The King and Queen Consort will be escorted to and from Westminster Abbey on 6 May by personnel from the army, the navy and the RAF, before more than 60 aircraft from all three services perform a six-minute flypast over The Mall.
In one of the most anticipated moments of the day, Their Majesties will watch from the balcony of Buckingham Palace, along with other senior royals, as the display concludes with an outing for the spectacular Red Arrows.
The aerial procession will include aircraft recently involved in overseas operations, including those delivering support to Ukraine, policing Nato airspace and assisting with disaster relief.
The historic Spitfires of the RAF Battle of Britain Memorial Flight will take part, along with 16 helicopters, the RAF’s new Envoy IV CC1 aircraft and P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft, F-35B Lightning II jets and transport aircraft from the RAF’s Air Mobility Force.
MOUNTED ESCORT
Around 200 members of the armed forces, centred on the Sovereign’s Escort of the Household Cavalry Regiment, will take part in the King’s Procession to the abbey, accompanying the King and Queen Consort in the Diamond Jubilee State Coach, drawn by six Windsor Grey horses.
The longer Coronation Procession, during which Their Majesties will travel back to the palace in the Gold State Coach, will feature nearly 4,000 personnel from across the UK and Commonwealth armed forces.
Meanwhile, gun salutes will ring out across the UK, including at firing stations in Edinburgh, Cardiff and Belfast, at the moment the monarch is crowned. More than 400 personnel across 13 locations and deployed Royal Navy ships will conduct the 21-gun salute, with an extended 62-round salute taking place at the Tower of London and a six-gun salute at Horse Guards Parade.
Nearly 400 armed forces personnel from at least 35 Commonwealth countries will also be on parade to mark the historic moment.
Those taking part will be watched by around 3,800 mil
