What members of the British Army, Royal Navy and the RAF participate in the coronation of Charles III?

With the coronation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla upon us, it’s not only the royal family and invited guests that will be looking their best. Supporting the pomp of the occasion will be the British Armed Forces: the highly ranked British Army, the fully ship shape Royal Navy, and the Royal Air Force, which is expected to pass the test with flying colours.

King Charles III surrounded by British Armed Forces

Buckingham Palace confirmed to us that the coronation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla will be the largest military operation in 70 years, involving over 6,000 members of the various forces from the United Kingdom. In addition, nearly 400 Armed Forces personnel from at least 35 Commonwealth countries will be on parade to mark the historic moment.

The coronation - which we’ll be covering live on Saturday 6 May 2023 from around 4 a.m. ET - will feature a spectacular display of pageantry, professionalism, and pride to honour the new Commander-in-Chief, The King. Many of the military personnel will accompany their Majesties to and from Westminster Abbey, where the coronation service takes place.

Armed Forces in coronation processions

The first procession, The King’s Procession, will feature just under 200 members, centred around The Sovereign’s Escort of The Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment. The procession will travel down The Mall to Trafalgar Square, where they’ll turn onto Whitehall before marching to Westminster Abbey. Flanking them will be over 1,000 Forces route liners from all three services.

The Coronation Procession, the larger of the two, will follow the same route back to Buckingham Palace from Westminster Abbey. Featuring nearly 4,000 personnel, this major military ceremonial operation will be the largest of its kind for a generation. The Coronation Procession will represent the diversity and traditions of the UK and Commonwealth Armed Forces.

A full-spectrum display of unique and historic uniforms, flags from across the Commonwealth, and 20 different bands, all marching in exact rhythm, will demonstrate the very best of the Armed Forces. They will guide Their Majesties back to Buckingham Palace before conducting a Royal Salute.

But it’s not just a day of pomp and circumstance. No, really it’s not. There will also be plenty of opportunities for the Armed Forces to show off their incredible skills and bravery, with the Royal Air Force Aerobatic Team, also known commonly as the Red Arrows, will be participating in a flypast. Could they spell out “Long Live The King” in smoke trails across the sky?

The flypast will also feature aircraft that have delivered support to Ukraine, policed NATO airspace, supported disaster relief, deterred drug trafficking, and countered terrorism in the Middle East and Africa. It will include 16 helicopters, the historic Spitfires of the RAF Battle of Britain Memorial Flight, the RAF’s brand-new P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft, Joint RAF and RN crewed state-of-the-art F-35B Lightning II jets, and transport aircraft from the RAF’s Air Mobility Force. Rather interestingly, it will feature the first flypast involvement of the RAF’s new Envoy IV CC1 aircraft.

Armed Forces around the UK

From military bases in all corners of the country and on His Majesty’s ships at sea, gun salutes will sound out to herald the moment when The King is crowned. This will include firing stations in Edinburgh, Cardiff, and Belfast, gun salutes will sound at the moment of The King’s Coronation to celebrate the historic moment. Featuring more than 400 personnel, across 13 locations and deployed Royal Navy ships, 21 rounds will fire to mark the Coronation with the exception of The Tower of London and Horse Guards Parade, where a 62 round salute and a six-gun salvo will fire respectively.

If you want to be impressed by the skill, dedication, and coordination of the British Armed Forces, then the coronation is where you want to be. And if you can’t be there in person, don’t fret. As stated above, we have you covered right here on AS USA with our gem of a live coverage all day.