Cookham Discussion Board

On Saturday (May 6), many people will be keen to celebrate the coronation of King Charles III. A whole host of events have been arranged including a large procession in central London.

However, one of the most popular sights at events such as this is a Red Arrows display. Timings for the coronation flyby have now been announced with the route set to pass over parts of Berkshire.



With the county home to one of the most famous Royal residences, it comes as no surprise that the Royal Air Force Aerobatic Team will be seen above Windsor. Those in Reading will also be lucky enough to catch a glimpse of the display on Saturday afternoon.

Weather permitting, the flying team will take off at 1.50pm from RAF Waddington, Lincolnshire, before making its way further south. The Red Arrows will be visible over parts of Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex and London before arriving in Berkshire.

After passing over Buckingham Palace at 2.36pm, the incredible display will then appear over Heathrow at 2.38pm before gracing the skies of Windsor and Reading at 2.40pm and 2.42pm respectively. The display will then make its way over Hampshire before landing in Dorset.

As well as the Red Arrows, a number of other aircraft are set to appear in the King's Coronation Flypast. A six minute flypast will include the Red Arrows, 16 helicopters, Spitfires and various other RAF jets and aircraft. The Military Airshows website has created a map outlining the route for the Red Arrows flypast.

A flypast to celebrate the King’s coronation is at risk of being cancelled due to poor weather.

Royal Air Force (RAF) Air Chief Marshal Sir Michael Wigston has said “it’s 50/50” as to whether the event will go ahead, and the final decision will be made just one or two hours before it is due to start.

Forecasters expect conditions in London to be cloudy and wet on Saturday, which could hamper the ability of pilots to fly safely.

More than 60 aircraft from the Royal Navy, British Army and Royal Air Force – including the Red Arrows – are scheduled to fly over The Mall and Buckingham Palace at around 2.15pm.

The King and Queen Consort are due to appear on the palace balcony with other members of the royal family to watch the six-minute flypast.

Sir Michael said: “The weather isn’t looking brilliant, but there’s nothing we can do about it.

“We have to be safe, we have to make sure that we aren’t taking any unnecessary risks.

“We’ll make a weather call one or two hours before the actual moment, but if there’s rain and low cloud then it will be almost impossible to get it through.