The Ministry of Defence has warned that the coronation flypast for King Charles III could be scaled back or cancelled due to adverse weather forecast for Saturday. The planned six-minute display featuring 60 aircraft, including the Red Arrows and modern fighter jets, is intended as a finale to the coronation celebrations.
The newly crowned king and queen are expected to watch the flypast from the Buckingham Palace balcony, alongside other royal family members. However, the Met Office predicts cloudy and wet conditions in London, which may compromise flight safety.
An MoD spokesperson stated that weather limits for cloud base and visibility must be met for such a large-scale flypast. The Met Office and helicopter weather checks will provide updates, and options include reducing aircraft numbers or, as a last resort, cancellation. Safety remains the primary concern.
Similar concerns arose during the late queen's coronation in 1953, but the flypast proceeded after a delay due to improved conditions. The final decision for Saturday's flypast will depend on real-time weather assessments.
