Coronation flypast to go ahead! Bad weather fails to stop iconic aircraft tribute to King Charles

Flypast

The Coronation flypast is set to go ahead

PA
Dan Falvey

By Dan Falvey


Published: 06/05/2023

- 13:43

Updated: 06/05/2023

- 14:38

There had been a 90 per cent chance of rain at 2.30pm

The Coronation flypast over Buckingham Palace is to go ahead, despite fears earlier today that wet weather would force the event to be cancelled.

A slimmed down version of the spectacle will take place in order to account for the weather conditions.



The iconic moment will happen at 2.30pm, with members of the Royal Family expected to be on the balcony of Buckingham Palace to watch.

The Met Office had this morning warned Britons to prepare to "rain becoming prolonged and occasionally heavy in the afternoon".

It suggested there was a 90 per cent chance of precipitation at the time the flypast is scheduled for.

Originally sixty aircraft had been due take part in the air display to mark the crowning of King Charles II.

It was to include the Battle of Britain memorial flight, the Red Arrows, modern F-35s and Typhoons and last six minutes.

It has now been scaled back to consist of helicopters and The Red Arrows.

A Ministry of Defence statement said: “Due to unsuitable weather conditions, the coronation flypast will now be formed of helicopters and the Royal Air Force aerobatic team The Red Arrows.

“The flypast will last for two minutes and 30 seconds.”

Rain also impacted Queen Elizabeth II's Coronation in June 1953.

There were fears a flypast planned to mark her anointment would be called off due to the weather.

The event eventually went ahead at 5.15pm after a delay because conditions improved.

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