The day’s events “deeply touched” King Charles and Queen Camilla, who were crowned in a magnificent, historic ceremony on Saturday, according to Buckingham Palace.
According to the palace, the royal couple was “profoundly grateful” to everyone who helped make it “such a glorious occasion” and to the “very many” people who came out to show their support.
In the meantime, the Prince and Princess of Wales paid a surprise visit to Windsor.
Crowds applauded as the newlyweds spoke with participants in the Big Lunch.
A day earlier, at Westminster Abbey, almost 2,000 visitors packed the pews to witness the crowning of a king, including world leaders, fellow kings and queens, celebrities, and community heroes.
Despite the rain, hundreds lined the Mall to cheer the king as his horse-drawn carriage proceeded from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Abbey.
Later, the pair appeared on the palace balcony, still wearing their crowns, to wave to the rain-soaked audience, eager to be a part of a historic moment in Britain’s history.
The Coronation, the first in 70 years, was viewed by millions around the world.
According to preliminary data, at least 18 million viewers tuned in in the United Kingdom alone.
Thousands of street parties and lunches are planned for Sunday ahead of a star-studded performance.
The Prince and Princess of Wales, William and Catherine, spoke and shook hands with picnickers along The Long Walk, which leads to Windsor Castle, in Windsor. Many people will be preparing for the Coronation Concert on Sunday night.
The lunchtime crowds sang “hip hip hooray” as the royals sipped Purple Reign, a handmade gin cocktail, from union jack paper cups while speaking to a group of women wearing foam crowns.
Catherine, dressed in a pale blue jacket, smiled for a selfie with one mother and knelt to comfort a crying small girl who was overwhelmed by the occasion.
Speaking to another well-wisher, William said that his eldest son, Prince George, is a fan of classic rock music. Prince George was one of the King’s pages of honour at the Coronation.
Caroline Mulvihill of the Windsor and Maidenhead Rock Choir stated, “Will was telling us in their household they have a very diverse music taste and George is very much into AC/DC and Led Zeppelin.”
Another choir member, Sam Leckenby, said the royal couple had disclosed they were “quite pleased” with the outcome. Saturday’s ceremony was cut short and did not last the full five hours.
The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh attended a Coronation Big Lunch in Cranleigh, Surrey, while the Princess Royal and her husband, Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence, attended a Swindon community street party.
Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie, the Duke of York’s children, were at a lunch in Chalfont St Giles, Buckinghamshire.
The prime minister and his wife hosted their own lunch at Downing Street for community figures, Ukrainian families, and youth organizations, as well as US First Lady Jill Biden, who represented President Biden at Saturday’s Coronation ceremony.
In total, 50,000 Coronation lunches are planned to be held in the UK and around the world.
The King and Queen expressed their hope that the celebrations will be “truly enjoyable” in a statement posted on the Royal Family’s official Instagram account.
Later that evening, at 20:00 BST, the Coronation Concert will be broadcast live on BBC One and BBC Radio 2.
Katy Perry and Lionel Richie attended the Coronation on Saturday, as did Take That, Olly Murs, and Paloma Faith.
Musical favorites by a world-class orchestra will also be performed, as will a collaborative performance by The Royal Ballet, The Royal Opera House, The Royal Shakespeare Company, The Royal College of Music, and The Royal College of Art.
