The weather god means it with King Charles III. (74) and Queen Camilla (75) not well on their big day. During the historical coronation procession it rains cats and dogs, the air show can only take place in a slimmed-down version. The monarch inherited the bad weather from his ancestors: there was also rain at the last four coronations.

As “The Guardian” recalls, Charles’ mother Elizabeth II (1926-2022) and his grandfather George VI also fought. (1895-1952) against heavy rain showers. The late weather historian Philip Eden described the Queen’s Coronation Day, June 2, 1953, as “a cruel day in the midst of a long period of terrible weather”. The highest temperature was an unusually cool 11.8 degrees. And also on May 12, 1937, when George VI. was crowned, the sun remained hidden behind the clouds.

However, the spectators in London on May 6, 2023 did not let the showers spoil their good mood. They braved the wet with suitable clothing and umbrellas and celebrated their royal couple on the streets. The rain is expected to move east by Sunday, so that the big coronation lunch and the coronation concert on the evening of May 7 at Windsor Castle can possibly go dry.