Aircraft from the Royal Navy, British Army and Royal Air Force celebrated His Majesty The King’s Coronation with a flypast on Saturday afternoon.

The pilots had to adapt to the weather conditions, which meant that elements of the flypast had to be withdrawn, leaving just the helicopters from all three Services and the Royal Air Force Aerobatic Team, the Red Arrows to conclude today’s celebrations.

This isn’t the first time the weather has interfered with a Coronation flypast. In 1953, for the Late Queen Elizabeth II’s Coronation, rain and low cloud meant the flypast was delayed for the sky to clear enough for the aircraft to fly over Buckingham Palace.

King’s Coronation

Royal Air Force aviators are also taking part in the ceremonial element of His Majesty the King’s Coronation.

Last week saw the final preparations at RAF Halton for the RAF’s ceremonial contribution, which also saw the Coronation of Her Majesty The Queen Consort.

The procession escorted Their Majesties from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Abbey and then on the return to Buckingham Palace after the Coronation Service.

The King in the RAF

The King took flying lessons with the RAF in a Chipmunk aircraft during his second year of university.

In 1971 he successfully completed flying training in the Jet Provost aircraft at RAF Cranwell. During his RAF training he became the first heir to the throne to conduct a parachute jump.

He went on to complete a further seven jumps during his two weeks of training with No.1 Parachute Training School at RAF Brize Norton.

There will be 894 RAF aviators taking part in the ceremony for the Coronation on 6 May 2023. RAF aviators will be on Parade, with hundreds more supporting behind the scenes, including drill instructors, medics, police, drivers, transport managers, armoury staff, chefs, and caterers.Subscribe to the FINN weekly newsletter