Windsor, England
CNN
—
It was a royal night to remember: A magnificent coronation concert staged in the grounds of Windsor Castle, capping a day of street parties and community lunch events across the UK on Sunday in celebration of King Charles III.
A huge roar erupted from the flag-waving 20,000-strong crowd as the newly-crowned King and Queen took their seats in the royal box to watch a star-studded ensemble.
It was an enthusiastically patriotic display that will go down as a highlight of the bank holiday weekend of celebrations in honor of “the artist formerly known as Prince,” as host and “Downton Abbey” star Hugh Bonneville quipped.
The glorious line-up was certainly fit for a King – complete with global superstars, classical music maestros and performers from around the Commonwealth – delighting a buzzing audience from a fabulous Union Flag-shaped stage.
Here’s a look back at all the best bits:
The Prince of Wales paid a heartfelt homage to his father during the festivities, saying: “Pa, we are all so proud of you.”
Energetic cheers broke out as Prince William walked out on stage. He opened his speech on a humorous note, promising the crowd that unlike concert performer Lionel Richie, he wouldn’t “go on all night long.”
William said he wanted to say a few words about why he thought the weekend’s celebrations were important, recalling what his late grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II, said when she was crowned.
“Coronations are a declaration of our hopes for the future,” the prince said. “I know she’s up there fondly keeping an eye on us and she would be a very proud mother,” he added, as crowds roared once more.
Leon Neal/AFP/Pool/Getty Images
Prince William honors his father with a few words during Sunday night's concert - the first ever to be staged at Windsor Castle, home to monarchs for almost 1,000 years.
He went on to note “my father’s first words on entering Westminster Abbey yesterday were a pledge of service” before outlining the King’s commitment to service over the years.
Several members of the royal family got their groove on throughout the concert. They could be seen bopping along to the tunes from their seats with Union Flags in hand.
But it was when Richie emerged on stage, dressed in a sequined silver jacket, for a performance of his hits “Easy Like Sunday Morning” and “All Night Long,” that had both the public and King himself on their feet.
Richie later joined the Sunday broadcast of “American Idol” by video link, telling host Ryan Seacrest and their fellow judges: “What a party. It was unbelievable.”
Richie then mused about what could be done “to bring something different to the show,” before the King and Queen wandered into the shot. “I just wanted to check how long you’ll be using this room for?” Charles joked before thanking him and fellow headliner Katy Perry for their performances.
Leon Neal/Pool/AFP/Getty Images
International superstar and "American Idol" host Lionel Richie gets the crowd swaying with a couple of his hits.
Crowds were thrilled to see two of their favorite little royals, Prince George and Princess Charlotte, sat with their parents, enjoying the spectacle. Sadly, 5-year-old Prince Louis stayed home.
The royals would jump up again once more for the grand finale when “British pop royalty” Take That took to the stage for their first live performance in four years.
They were joined by singer Calum Scott for their track “Greatest Day,” continued with “Shine” and finished up with their classic and delighted the audience with “Never Forget.”
Chris Jackson/Getty Images
Gary Barlow, Howard Donald and Mark Owen of Take That perform with Calum Scott.
A fabulous drone display lit up the sky over the coronation concert, earning audible gasps from the crowd below.
As Alexis Ffrench and Zak Abel performed a cover of the Simple Minds hit “Don’t You Forget About Me,” the audience was mesmerized by the impressive visual display.
Hundreds of drones flew in formation and sparkled in the night sky, coming together to form a nature-themed light show featuring a blue whale, butterfly and an owl over the castle.
Elsewhere during the show, singer Paloma Faith sang as landmarks around the United Kingdom – including Blackpool Tower, Edinburgh Castle and others – were lit up for the celebrations.
Kin Cheung/Pool/AFP/Getty Images
Crowds watch illuminated drones creating a light display above Windsor Castle.
Katy Perry, wearing a voluminous golden gown, was among the stars to take to the stage.
Accompanied by an array of backing singers and an orchestra, the American singer was greeted with cheers of appreciation from the huge crowd for her song “Roar.” Among the many fans singing along was Princess Charlotte.
Before performing her next song, Perry said of the weekend: “I got to bring my mom – she is so happy to be here. We get to stay in Windsor Castle – no big deal.”
She dedicated her second song, “Firework,” to the King for his work with the British Asian Trust, of which Perry is an ambassador.
Addressing the King, she said: “Thank you for bringing out the firework in so many young people.”
Chris Jackson/Pool/Reuters
Katy Perry performs an orchestra version of "Roar" complete with an aerial drone display of a lion floating above the stage.
Stefan Rousseau/Pool/AFP/Getty Images
A view of the royal box during the show.
Known as the Queen of Afrobeats, Tiwa Savage thrilled the audience at Windsor Castle with the song “Keys to the Kingdom,” which featured a talking drum and elements of her native Yoruba language.
Savage, who is also a British citizen and once appeared on talent show “X Factor,” faced backlash in Nigeria – a former British colony – when it was first announced she would perform at the coronation concert.
Nevertheless, her performance garnered widespread praise, with the emerald green dress she wore by Nigerian designer Lanre Da Silva Ajayi seen by some as a nod to the green on the Nigerian flag.
Chris Jackson/Getty Images
Nigerian music star Tiwa Savage takes center stage at the concert.
Later, Savage posted a video of her performance on social media, with the caption: “One day I will tell my son that this is ‘Tiwa Savage’”
Hollywood star Tom Cruise delivered a high altitude message to the newly-crowned King from the cockpit of his War Bird plane.
“Pilot to pilot, Your Majesty, you can be my wingman anytime,” the “Top Gun” star said in a pre-recorded message.
Cruise’s message featured in a segment introduced by “James Bond” star Pierce Brosnan, who described the King as an “action man.”
“At 22 years old, His Majesty got his wings as a fully-trained RAF pilot,” said Brosnan.
Cruise’s message was one of numerous pre-recorded greetings to the King from famous people, among them Hugh Jackman, Tom Jones, Tracey Emin, Richard E Grant, Joan Collins … and Winnie the Pooh.
BBC Studios
Tom Cruise sent a video message for the King.
Surprise appearance from Kermit and Miss Piggy
Another pair of famous faces to join the celebration were “The Muppets” stars Kermit the Frog and Miss Piggy, who interrupted presenter Bonneville as he was thanking Savage for her performance.
Dressed in a suit and tie, Kermit told Bonneville they were looking for their seats. “We are in the royal box,” he said.
But when Miss Piggy, dressed in a cerise pink evening dress and glittering necklace, recognized “Downton Abbey” star Bonneville she had other things in mind, thinking he was a real lord.
BBC Studios
Hugh Bonneville appears in a skit alongside Kermit the Frog and Miss Piggy.
“Can you believe moi (me) is not yet a lady?” she asked, cosying up to a seemingly frustrated Bonneville, asking if he was single.
“Give me a bear with a marmalade habit any day,” he muttered, in reference to his leading role in the “Paddington” bear movies.
Miss Piggy then asked Bonneville to show Kermit the way to the royal box, saying, “King Charlesey Warlesy is expecting him” - a comment which drew laughter from the monarch and his wife, Queen Camilla.
And in case you’re wondering, Kermit finally found his seat among the royals and was seen enjoying the end of the concert next to Prince Edward.
Hugo Burnand/Royal Household 2023/AP
Britain's King Charles III
poses for a portrait in Buckingham Palace's Throne Room dressed in full regalia. He is wearing the Robe of Estate and the Imperial State Crown while holding the Sovereign's Orb and the Sovereign's Sceptre with Cross.
Emilio Morenatti/AP
A storefront window in London is decorated with framed photographs and a painting of the King on Thursday.
Charles McQuillan/Getty Images
Westminster staff and police take cover from the rain on Friday.
Toby Melville/Pool/Reuters
The King meets well-wishers outside Buckingham Palace during a walkabout on Friday.
Emilio Morenatti/AP
A royal fan sleeps along the procession route on Friday.
Sarah Tilotta/CNN
People travel into London on Saturday to be a part of the historic day.
Toby Hancock/CNN
Preparations are made on the balcony of Buckingham Palace.
Sarah Tilotta/CNN
A child has paint applied to his face while waiting for the procession.
Marco Bertoorello/AFP/Getty Images
Members of the Coldstream Guards march on the procession route before the coronation.
Sarah Tilotta/CNN
People wait on the procession route ahead of the coronation.
Sarah Tilotta/CNN
Troops march in London ahead of the coronation ceremony.
Toby Hancock/CNN
The King's carriage leaves Buckingham Palace before the coronation.
Phil Noble/Pool/Reuters
Order-of-service booklets are seen at Westminster Abbey as guests arrive for the coronation.
Jeff J. Mitchell/Getty Images
Members of the public look out onto Parliament Square ahead of the coronation.
Marko Djurica/Retuers
A boy watches guards march on the streets in front of Big Ben.
Niall Carson/PA Images/Getty Images
The King and Queen travel in the Diamond Jubilee State Coach as they make their short journey from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Abbey.
Sarah Tilotta/CNN
People line the procession route in London.
Henry Nicholls/Reuters
Jill Biden, first lady of the United States, arrives at Westminster Abbey. Biden,
who led the US delegation, traveled with her granddaughter Finnegan Biden.
Sarah Tilotta/CNN
The procession takes place in London before the coronation.
Gareth Cattermole/Pool/Reuters
Charles McQuillan/Pool/Reuters
Royal Navy sailors stand at attention on the Mall in London.
Andrew Matthews/PA/AP
Musicians perform at Westminster Abbey before the coronation ceremony.
Gareth Cattermole/Pool/Reuters
Singer Lionel Richie poses for a selfie at Westminster Abbey.
Toby Melville/PA/AP
Prince George, second from left, stands with other pages of honor at Westminster Abbey.
Andrew Milligan/PA/AP
Prince Harry, right, arrives at Westminster Abbey along with Princess Beatrice, one of the King's nieces, and her husband, Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi.
Harry accepted the invitation to his father's coronation but was without his wife, Meghan, who stayed back in California with the couple's two children.
Sarah Tilotta/CNN
The King and Queen travel to Westminstger Abbey in the Diamond Jubilee State Coach.
Henry Nicholls/Reuters
The King is seen near his grandson Prince George, one of his pages of honor.
Andrew Matthews/PA/AP
Prince Harry enters Westminster Abbey.
Richard Pohle/Pool/AP
Former British prime ministers Tony Blair, Gordon Brown, David Cameron, Theresa May, Boris Johnson and Liz Truss sit with their partners.
Dan Charity/Pool/AP
Prince Louis and Princess Charlotte, two of the King's grandchildren, arrive for the coronation.
Phil Noble/Pool/Getty Images
Prince William, Harry's brother, and Catherine, the Princess of Wales,
arrive for the coronation with Prince Louis and Princess Charlotte.
Ben Birchall/PA/AP
The King enters Westminster Abbey for his coronation.
Andrew Matthews/Pool/Reuters
The King arrives at Westminster Abbey for his coronation.
Emilio Morenatti/AP
People watch the ceremony on a screen in Hyde Park.
Phil Noble/Pool/Reuters
The King and Queen
entered the Abbey to the strains of "I was glad," the stirring coronation anthem written by Hubert Parry for the coronation of King Edward VII in 1902. It has been sung at all coronations since then.
Yui Mok/Pool/Reuters
The King and Queen take part in the coronation ceremony.
Richard Pohle/Pool/AP
Prince Harry looks around Westminster Abbey from his spot in the third row. He is a non-working royal and did not perform any duties during the ceremony.
Phil Noble/Pool/Reuters
Guests watch the coronation ceremony at Westminster Abbey.
Phil Noble/Pool/Reuters
The St. Edward's Crown is carried inside Westminster Abbey.
Victoria Jones/Pool/Reuters
The King holds a sword during the ceremony.
Yui Mok/Pool/Reuters
Prince Louis points out something to his sister, Princess Charlotte, during the ceremony. They are flanked by their parents, Prince William and Catherine, the Princess of Wales.
Emilio Morenatti/AP
Royal fan Ben Weller reacts as he watches the coronation on a screen in London's Hyde Park.
Jonathan Brady/Pool/AFP/Getty Images
This was the only time Charles will ever wear St. Edward's Crown, as it is reserved for the coronation of a new monarch.
Andrew Matthews/Pool/AP
The King wears the St. Edward's Crown during his coronation.
Yui Mok/Pool/AFP/Getty Images
The King's son Prince William, the heir apparent to the throne, kisses his father on the cheek during the ceremony.
Yui Mok/Pool/AP
British lawmaker Penny Mordaunt carries the Sword of State during the coronation. She was involved in the ceremony because as the current Leader of the House of Commons, she is also the Lord President of the Privy Council — a body formed of senior politicians who act as the monarch's official advisers.
Sarah Tilotta/CNN
People in London's Piccadilly Circus walk past a giant screen showing an image of the King during the coronation ceremony.
Kirsty Wigglesworth/Pool/AFP/Getty Images
Charles and Camilla walk out of Westminster Abbey.
Ben Stansall/Pool/Reuters
The King greets multifaith leaders on his way out of Westminster Abbey.
Toby Melville/Pool/AP
The Queen walks toward the Gold State Coach after leaving Westminster Abbey.
Toby Melville/Pool/Getty Images
Prince Harry leaves Westminster Abbey after the ceremony. He did not join members of his family to ride in an impressive procession back to the palace. Instead, he got into a car alone and departed the abbey shortly after the service had ended.
Sarah Tilotta/CNN
Troops march in London for the King's coronation. On their way back to Buckingham Palace, the King and Queen were accompanied by a huge parade of soldiers, musicians and horses.
Toby Hancock/CNN
The King and Queen travel to Buckingham Palace in the Gold State Coach after the ceremony at Westminster Abbey.
Carl Court/Pool/AP
The Gold State Coach carries the King and Queen back to Buckingham Palace.
Sebastien Bozon/Pool/AFP/Getty Images
A horse, apparently spooked, rears back into a crowd and
crashes into a barrier during the procession. The animal was quickly brought back under control.
Toby Hancock/CNN
Prince William heads back to Buckingham Palace with Catherine and their three children: Louis, George and Charlotte.
Sarah Tilotta/CNN
Military groups take part in the parade from Westminster Abbey to Buckingham Palace.
Sarah Tilotta/CNN
The Gold State Coach that carried the King and Queen
is incredibly heavy, weighing 4 tons. Because of its weight, it can travel only at a walking pace.
Peter Byrne/Pool/AP
The King and Queen arrive at the palace to receive a
royal salute from members of the military.
Andreea Alexandru/AP
The Red Arrows, the aerobatics display team of the Royal Air Force, fly over Buckingham Palace as members of the public watch nearby.
Hannah McKay/Reuters
Some members of the royal family appear on the palace balcony after the coronation. From left are Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh; Princess Charlotte; Princess Anne; Catherine, Princess of Wales; Prince Louis; Prince William; and Oliver Cholmondeley.
Toby Hancock/CNN
The crowd outside Buckingham Palace watches the Red Arrows fly by as the royals stand on the balcony.
Samir Hussein/WireImage/Getty Images
The King's eldest grandson, Prince George, stands on the palace balcony between two other boys who like him served as pages of honor for the coronation: Oliver Cholmondeley, left, and Nicholas Barclay.
Chris Jackson/Pool/AP
The King and Queen wave to people from the palace balcony.
Leon Neal/Pool/AP
The King and Queen look at each other on the balcony. They gave an
encore wave to the crowd after initially going back inside.
Hugo Burnand/Royal Household 2023/AP
The King and Queen pose for a portrait flanked by "working royals" — members of the family who carry out official duties on behalf of the monarch.
Emilio Morenatti/AP
Musicians play while people take part in the "Coronation Big Lunch" in London on Sunday. Thousands of community events took place across the country to
commemorate the King's coronation.
Jordan Pettitt/PA/AP
US first lady Jill Biden and British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak speak during a "Coronation Big Lunch" event on Downing Street.
Kirsty Wigglesworth/AP
Sylvia Daw leaves her cottage to celebrate in Alfriston, England.
Leon Neal/PA/AP
Princess Anne, the King's sister, presents a young girl with a commemorative tin of old coins during celebrations in Swindon, England.
Leon Neal/Pool/AFP/Getty Images
The crowd inside the Windsor Castle grounds waves flags as Sunday's "Coronation Concert" gets underway.
Abbie Trayler-Smith for CNN
A child sleeps on a makeshift throne at a street party in London's Brixton district.
Yui Mok/Pool/Reuters
Lionel Richie performs on the castle grounds. He performed his hit songs "Easy" and "All Night Long (All Night)."
Leon Neal/Pool/Reuters
Katy Perry dedicated her song "Firework" to King Charles.
Mark Large/Pool/Reuters
From left, Prince William, Queen Camilla, King Charles and Baroness Patricia Scotland attend the concert.
Chris Jackson/Pool/AFP/Getty Images
Gary Barlow, Howard Donald and Mark Owen of '90s British pop group Take That perform backed by military drummers.
Yui Mok/Pool/Getty Images
Prince William speaks on stage. "I want to say a few words about my father, and why I believe this weekend is so important," he said. "But don't worry, unlike Lionel, I won't go on all night long."
Carl Recine/Reuters
The Blackpool Tower in England is illuminated to mark the King's coronation.
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