The Coronation at Buckingham Palace: the Coronation Procession

The service concluded at 2 o’clock in the afternoon and, after lunch in the Abbey annex, The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh left Westminster Abbey in the Gold State Coach.

They received a rapturous reception from the crowds as they travelled on the processional route around the centre of London, a route that was specially extended to ensure that The Queen could be seen by as many people as possible.

On arrival at Buckingham Palace, The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh joined other members of the Royal Family to sit for the official photographic portraits, taken by Cecil Beaton.

Then, around an hour later, came the balcony appearance in front of the crowds of hundreds of thousands who lined The Mall and the area in front of the Palace.

The members of the Royal Family on the balcony witnessed the fly past by the Royal Air Force.

Further balcony appearances followed, concluding when The Queen with The Duke of Edinburgh turned on the illuminations in The Mall.

Floodlighting of Buckingham Palace, Windsor Castle, St James’s Palace and Hampton Court Palace to celebrate the Coronation continued until 21 June and was extended even further at Windsor Castle until 17 August and until 29 September at St James’s Palace and Hampton Court.

The celebratory atmosphere of the day continued with a firework display over the Thames, which was enjoyed by many thousands of onlookers. The fireworks included images in lights of The Queen, The Duke of Edinburgh and their children.

At 9 o’clock in the evening The Queen made an historic Coronation Day radio broadcast from the Palace, which was relayed around the world in which she reflected on the events of the day and thanked the public for its support.