King Charles and Queen Camilla, crowned in a lavish, historic ceremony on Saturday, were “deeply touched” by the day’s events, Buckingham Palace said.
The royal couple were “profoundly grateful” to all who helped to make it “such a glorious occasion” and the “very many” who turned out to show their support, the palace said.
A day earlier at Westminster Abbey, more than 2,000 guests including world leaders, fellow kings and queens, celebrities and community champions packed the pews to witness the crowning of a king.
Outside, thousands lined the Mall despite the rain to cheer the king as his horse-drawn carriage passed from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Abbey.
Later, the couple, still in their crowns, appeared on the palace balcony to wave to the rain-soaked public, keen to be part of a moment in Britain’s history. Millions around the world watched the Coronation, the first in 70 years. In the UK alone, at least 18 million viewers tuned in, provisional figures suggest.
Celebrations are continuing on Sunday with thousands of street parties and lunches planned ahead of a star-studded concert.
At Downing Street, the prime minister and his wife are hosting their own lunch for community figures, Ukrainian families, youth groups – and US First Lady Jill Biden, who represented President Biden at Saturday’s Coronation ceremony.
In all, some 50,000 Coronation lunches are expected to take place in the UK and across the world. BBC