Updates: Royals emerge for balcony wave following King Charles' coronation

Dignitaries and fans of the monarchy gathered in Ottawa on Saturday to mark the coronation of King Charles III with music and poetry, as the Commonwealth nation unveiled new coins and stamps in his honor.

With Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in London attending the coronation itself, back in Ottawa almost three hundred officials, military leaders and others took part in the hour-long ceremony in a hall across from Parliament that was capped off with a 21-gun salute.

Across the rest of Canada -- some enthusiasts held viewing parties, but for the most part interest appeared muted.

A lone street protestor in Ottawa held a sign calling for Canada to abolish the monarchy, echoing the views of two out of three Canadians surveyed in a recent Abacus Data poll.

At the ceremony, Algonquin storyteller Albert Dumont kicked off the proceedings by recalling how "the power of the British sword destroyed the tranquility of gentle Turtle Island," an Indigenous term for North America before colonization.

"A new dawn," he said, has brought with it a new king "who promises to strengthen the human bond between the monarchy and all peoples of the Commonwealth." (AFP)

Police arrested the leader of anti-monarchy group Republic and 51 others at King Charles's coronation on Saturday, saying their duty to prevent disruption outweighed the right to protest.

Hundreds of yellow-clad demonstrators gathered among the 10-deep crowds lining the procession route in central London to stand out from those clad in red, white and blue, and to hold up signs saying "Not My King".

Republic said its leader Graham Smith had been detained before the procession began and photos circulated on social media showing police officers seizing demonstrators' placards.

"We absolutely understand public concern following the arrests we made this morning," Commander Karen Findlay of the London Metropolitan police said in a statement.

"Over the past 24 hours there has been a significant police operation after we received information protesters were determined to disrupt the Coronation procession." (Reuters)

King Charles III was officially crowned as the monarch of the United Kingdom on Saturday in a grand ceremony steeped in centuries of tradition. This historic event marked the country's first coronation in 70 years. Read more

Following King Charles III's coronation as monarch of the United Kingdom on Saturday at Westminster Abbey in London, he has also assumed the role of Canada's official head of state. Read more

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy congratulated King Charles on his coronation on Saturday and offered him and the British people thanks for their support in the war against Russia.

He described King Charles and Queen Camilla, his wife, as "true friends of Ukraine" and said his reign marked "the beginning of a new era for the British monarchy".

"I wish King Charles III many years of a successful reign and to the people of the United Kingdom prosperity and our shared victories," Zelenskiy said in his nightly video address.

"I thank you for your support! Thank you to all the British people!"

First lady Jill Biden, who represented the United States at Saturday's coronation of Britain's King Charles III, said there was “such beauty in the pageantry of the ceremony” and it was “just amazing to see.”

“You can't imagine that moment where you actually see the crown being placed on the head of the king and then on the head on the queen,” she said during a telephone interview with The Associated Press after the ceremony in London. “It's really surreal to see and experience that moment.”

While King Charles III's coronation was organised with great pomp and show, many prominent figures missed the once-in-a-generation ceremony.

Notable among them were US President Joe Biden who did not travel to London. Instead US first lady Jill Biden led the American delegation, reported CNN.

The leaders of Russia, Belarus, Iran, Myanmar, Syria, Afghanistan and Venezuela were not in attendance because they were not invited, according to Reuters.

India's Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, took to Twitter to extend his wishes for King Charles' coronation. “Warmest congratulations to King Charles III and Queen Camilla on their coronation. We are sure that the India-UK relationship will be strengthened further in the coming years,” Modi wrote.

The coronation was the culmination of a seven-decade journey for the king from heir to monarch.

In front of world leaders, foreign royals, British aristocrats and stars, Charles declared: “I come not to be served but to serve.” Inside the medieval abbey, trumpets sounded and the congregation of more than 2,000 shouted “God save the king!” Outside, thousands of troops, hundreds of thousands of spectators and a smattering of protesters converged.

Charles III was crowned monarch of the United Kingdom and 14 Commonwealth realms on Saturday at Britain's first coronation for 70 years, during a ceremony steeped in a millennium of ritual and spectacle.

Charles, 74, became the oldest sovereign yet to be crowned at London's Westminster Abbey, after a lifetime as heir to his late mother Queen Elizabeth II.

“You can't imagine that moment where you actually see the crown being placed on the head of the king and then on the head on the queen,” she told AP. “It's really surreal to see and experience that moment.”

Tomorrow, nationwide street parties will take place as part of the Big Lunch initiative. King Charles and Queen Camilla will attend the BBC-produced Coronation Concert in the grounds of Windsor Castle. Meanwhile, Lighting Up the Nation will see locations across the UK illuminated. 

Prince Harry was not invited to join his family on the Buckingham Palace balcony, BBC reported, as the Duke of Sussex, attended the coronation service in Westminster Abbey earlier. The report claimed that Prince Harry was on his way to Heathrow Airport.

To the right of King Charles and Queen Camilla stood the Prince and Princess of Wales- Prince William and Kate Middleton and their children Prince Louis and Charlotte.

With them stood the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh and Lady Louise Windsor.

Prince Harry and Prince Andrew were not present because they are no longer working royals.

• King Charles and Queen Camilla appeared on the balcony of Buckingham Palace to wave to crowds.
• The royal couple were crowned in a ceremony at Westminster Abbey
• About 2,200 people, including the royal family members, leaders and heads of state, were present at the event
• Thousands of people lined the streets of London to catch a glimpse of the monarch. 

An "unruly horse" has crashed into the crowd of royal fans lining the procession route. A reporter for the Daily Express caught the moment the horse broke rank and "rammed" into royal fans along Whitehall.

Prince Harry did not make an appearance alongside the royal family on the Buckingham Palace balcony. He was spotted smiling as he entered a car outside Westminster Abbey after the coronation, BBC reported. 

The royals continue to wave from the balcony. Meanwhile, it's eyes peeled for a military flypast.

Attention has now turned to Buckingham Palace, and more specifically the balcony where the King and queen will soon appear.

A statement form UK's Ministry of Defence says: “Due to unsuitable weather conditions, the Coronation flypast will now be formed of helicopters and the Royal Air Force aerobatic team The Red Arrows”, BBC reported.

"The flypast will last for two minutes and 30 seconds."

British military personnel lined up in the gardens of Buckingham Palace as the National Anthem plays amid the presence of the King and queen at the West Terrace steps.

The celebrations are in full swing outside Buckingham Palace.

The throng of royal fans who braved the torrential rain are being rewarded with a wonderful show of music and marching as the Scots Guards stand by for King Charles and Queen Camilla’s arrival.

Ukraine's Defence Ministry released a video to congratulate Britain on King Charles' coronation and to thank the country for its support during the war with Russia. Read more

On The Mall, people shouted "God Save the King" and "hip hip hooray" as the carriage returned to Buckingham Palace.

Now the Gold State Carriage heads along The Mall again which leads to Buckingham Palace.