Braving the wet weather and waving their drooping Union Jack flags, the public came out en masse to celebrate a moment in history King Charles III has been waiting for.

The police were in their places, the King’s Guard were ready to march, and the world’s media once again gathered outside Buckingham Palace.

Crowds crammed onto the pavement, as police cordoned off roads and remained vigilant for any trouble.

Oxford Mail: Oxford Mail politics reporter Ed HalfordOxford Mail politics reporter Ed Halford (Image: Immy Share)

While making my way to Whitehall and to a media box, with a view of Downing Street, I encountered protesters at Trafalgar Square.

‘Not our King’ protesters stood at the front of Trafalgar Square’s crowds before the procession had even begun and started booing the King’s guards as they marched by.

The protesters were definitely in the minority but they were doing a good job of making their feelings known.

Royalists tried to drown them out, but they continued.

As I got closer to Downing Street, more troublemakers appeared to be chanting anti-monarchy chants and were embroiled in confrontations with stewards and the police.

One man who was causing a stir opposite Downing Street was clearly involved in arguing the toss with a policeman for what must have been 30 minutes.

The King’s Coronation is by no means a universally popular event and the freedom to protest in a democratic society is a principle most would say they agree with.

However, as I was taking in the atmosphere, it became apparent that many people who had turned up didn’t look like ultra-royalists or King Charles III fanatics.

Instead, the majority of people seemed to have turned up so they could witness an important historical chapter in King Charles III’s reign and tell their relatives and friends in the future "I was there!".

As the rain became more persistent and started to chuck down, spectators did begin to filter away from the procession route but the crowds remained resilient nevertheless and were eager to catch another glimpse of their King and Queen.

Oxford Mail: Royal Navy sailorsRoyal Navy sailors (Image: Ed Halford)

On the King’s journey to Westminster Abbey, crowds did not catch a glimpse of the Prince and Princess of Wales so when they were seen on their way to Buckingham Palace with their children, they were given a sensational reception.

Prince Louis, increasingly becoming the media’s favourite, waved to the jubilant crowds out of the carriage windows and was greeted with a roar of applause.

The spirits seemed somewhat subdued at times because of the wet weather but this did not takeaway from what was an energetic display of British pageantry.

Despite Just Stop Oil protesters and anti-monarchy groups causing disruption and attempting to steal the limelight, they failed in ruining what was for many their first experience of a coronation.

Thousands of armed service personnel played their part and the public were shown a spectacle to remember.