AP PHOTOS: Pageantry, rain herald King Charles' coronation

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Britain’s King Charles III and Queen Camilla wave to the crowds from the balcony of Buckingham Palace after the coronation ceremony in London, Saturday, May 6, 2023. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein)

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Britain’s King Charles III and Queen Camilla travel in the Gold State Coach from Westminster Abbey to Buckingham Palace following the coronation ceremony in London, Saturday, May 6, 2023. (AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali)

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Britain’s King Charles III greets the crowd as he and Queen Camilla travel to Buckingham Palace in the Gold State Coach after their coronation ceremony in Westminster Abbey, in London, Saturday, May 6, 2023. (Rob Pinney/Pool Photo via AP)

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Britain’s Princess Anne arrives at Westminster Abbey for the coronation of King Charles III in London, Saturday, May 6, 2023. (Peter Tarry/Pool Photo via AP)

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US First Lady Jill Biden arrives at Westminster Abbey prior to the coronation ceremony of Britain’s King Charles III in London Saturday, May 6, 2023. (Jacob King/PA via AP)

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Katy Perry at Westminster Abbey during the coronation of King Charles III in London, Saturday, May 6, 2023. (Gareth Cattermole/Pool Photo via AP)

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King Charles III sits as he receives The St Edward’s Crown during the coronation ceremony at Westminster Abbey, London, Saturday, May 6, 2023. (Jonathan Brady/Pool Photo via AP)

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Britain’s Prince William touches St Edward’s Crown on King Charles III’s head during his coronation ceremony in Westminster Abbey, London, Saturday May 6, 2023. (Yui Mok, Pool via AP)

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Lord President of the Council, Penny Mordaunt, holds the Sword of State walking ahead of King Charles III during his coronation ceremony in Westminster Abbey, London, Saturday May 6, 2023. (Yui Mok, Pool via AP)

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A coach carrying Britain’s Prince William, Kate, Princess of Wales, and their children Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis rides past protesters following the coronation ceremony of King Charles III at Westminster Abbey, in London, Saturday May 6, 2023. (Violeta Santos Moura/Pool Photo via AP)

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Britain’s King Charles III wearing the Imperial state Crown and carrying the Sovereign’s Orb and Sceptre leaves Westminster Abbey after coronation in central London Saturday, May 6, 2023. The set-piece coronation is the first in Britain in 70 years, and only the second in history to be televised. Charles will be the 40th reigning monarch to be crowned at the central London church since King William I in 1066. (Ben Stansall/POOL photo via AP)

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Britain’s Prince William and Kate, Princess of Wales leave after the coronation ceremony of King Charles III and Queen Camilla in London, Saturday, May 6, 2023. (Andy Stenning/Pool photo via AP)

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Britain’s Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, and Prince Andrew leave Westminster Abbey following the coronation ceremony of Britain’s King Charles and Queen Camilla, in London, Saturday, May 6, 2023. (Toby Melville, Pool via AP)

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A man sleeps on the ground ahead of Britain’s King Charles III coronation ceremony in London, Saturday, May 6, 2023. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)

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Princess Charlotte departs Westminster Abbey after the coronation ceremony of Britain’s King Charles III in London Saturday, May 6, 2023. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino)

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People use their mobile phones as Britain’s King Charles III and Queen Camilla ride in the Gold State Coach, returning from the coronation ceremony, in London, Saturday, May 6, 2023. (AP Photo/Andreea Alexandru)

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The Coronation Procession travels along The Mall following the coronation ceremony of King Charles III and Queen Camilla in central London, Saturday, May 6, 2023. (Gareth Fuller/Pool Photo via AP)

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Britain’s King Charles III and Queen Camilla are on the way back to Buckingham Palace after his coronation ceremony in London, Saturday, May 6, 2023. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)

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Soldiers march in a procession after the coronation ceremony of Britain’s King Charles III and Queen Camilla in London, Saturday, May 6, 2023. (AP Photo/David Cliff)

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King Charles III, wearing the Imperial State Crown, followed by Queen Camilla, leaves Westminster Abbey in central London following his coronation ceremony, Saturday, May 6, 2023. (Ben Birchall/Pool via AP)

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People walk past a giant screen in Piccadilly Circus, central London, showing an image of Britain’s King Charles III during the coronation ceremony in Westminster Abbey, Saturday May 6, 2023. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)

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Britain’s King Charles III and Queen Camilla travel in the Gold State Coach, back to Buckingham Palace from Westminster Abbey after the coronation in London, Saturday, May 6, 2023. (Carl Court/Pool Photo via AP)

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Britain’s King Charles III and Queen Camilla wave to the crowds from the balcony of Buckingham Palace after the coronation ceremony in London, Saturday, May 6, 2023. (AP Photo/ Andreea Alexandru )

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Crowds are on the way to Buckingham Palace after the coronation ceremony for Britain’s King Charles III in London, Saturday, May 6, 2023. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)

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People watch the fly past as Britain’s King Charles III and Queen Camilla wave to the crowds from the balcony of Buckingham Palace after the coronation ceremony in London, Saturday, May 6, 2023. (AP Photo/ Andreea Alexandru )

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Sophie Duchess of Edinburgh, from left, Princess Charlotte, Kate Princess of Wales, Prince Louis, Prince William and Prince George, right, greet the crowd from the balcony of Buckingham Palace after the coronation ceremony of King Charles III and Queen Camilla in London, Saturday, May 6, 2023. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein)

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Britain’s King Charles III and Queen Camilla on the balcony of Buckingham Palace watch the Royal Air Force Red Arrows fly over after their coronation ceremony, in London, Saturday, May 6, 2023. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)

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Britain’s King Charles III and Queen Camilla look at each other as they stand on the balcony of the Buckingham Palace after their coronation, in London, Saturday, May 6, 2023. (Leon Neal/Pool Photo via AP)

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Britain’s King Charles III and Queen Camilla wave from the balcony of Buckingham Palace after their coronation, in London, Saturday, May 6, 2023. (Chris Jackson/Getty via AP)

LONDON (AP) — A horse-drawn golden carriage. The sound of choristers and trumpeters filling Westminster Abbey. Hundreds of Coldstream Guards throwing their bearskin hats into the air and shouting “hip, hip hooray!” Pop stars, young and old. Not one, but several crowns. And of course, persistent rain.

The very British coronation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla went ahead Saturday seemingly without a hitch.

Around 2,000 guests attended the service and many thousands more well-wishers lined the route from the abbey to Buckingham Palace to celebrate the occasion. Some had camped for days in the volatile spring weather to secure a spot along the Mall that would guarantee a view of Charles and Camilla riding in the fairy-tale coach, wearing their crowns.

The largest British military procession in 70 years accompanied them back to the palace. Shortly thereafter, Charles and Camilla appeared on the balcony with other senior members of the royal family to wave to the adoring crowds assembled below as an aerobatic team of jets roared overhead.

Amid one of the biggest security operations Britain has ever seen, several dozen anti-monarchy and environmental protesters were arrested.

AP PHOTOS: Pageantry, rain herald King Charles’ coronation