Royals take centre stage before adoring crowds

AT 2.25pm, as rain poured down on his crown, King Charles stepped onto the world's most famous balcony for the first time since his mother's passing.

- PATRICK HILL

He last appeared there almost a year ago, alongside the late Queen, at her Platinum Jubilee celebrations at Buckingham Palace.

Charles' expression yesterday suggested an elation tempered by grief and a lifetime of fond memories of his beloved mother.

The King stayed on the balcony for 10 minutes, staring out at a sea of over 10,000 cheering people. Some had camped out for days to see this moment of history.

They popped champagne corks, sang the national anthem and chanted "hip hip hooray". And they roared their approval as he returned to the balcony for an encore.