King Charles and Queen Camilla's first appearance on the royal balcony after coronation

King Charles and Queen Camilla waved to their supporters as they made their first appearance at the balcony of the Buckingham Palace after being crowned monarchs at the coronation ceremony in Westminster Abbey.

Charles was crowned Saturday at Westminster Abbey, receiving the bejeweled St. Edward's Crown in a ceremony built on ancient tradition at a time when the monarchy is striving to remain relevant in a fractured modern Britain.

Trumpets sounded inside the medieval abbey and the congregation shouted "God save the king!" at a service attended by more than 2,000 guests, including world leaders, aristocrats and celebrities.

Outside, thousands of troops, tens of thousands of spectators and a smattering of protesters converged.

It was the culmination of a seven-decade journey for Charles from heir to monarch.