Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Travel
Neil Lancefield & Milo Boyd

Coronation weekend to include UK flight restrictions due to Red Arrow flypast

Flight restrictions will ban aircraft across parts of the South East and East Anglia on the Coronation weekend.

Transport Secretary Mark Harper has decided to ban aircraft from flying below various altitudes in certain areas on the afternoon of Saturday May 6, due to the schedule flypast.

This will have an impact on light aircraft pilots and drone users, but not commercial flights.

That is in contrast with the day of the late Queen's funeral, when more than 100 Heathrow Airport flights were cancelled to prevent aircraft noise disturbing proceedings at Westminster Abbey and Windsor Castle.

At around 2.15pm on May 6, the King and Queen Consort will appear on the balcony of Buckingham Palace with other members of the royal family to watch a six-minute flypast of more than 60 aircraft from the Royal Navy, British Army and Royal Air Force - including the Red Arrows - over The Mall.

King Charles will officially be crowned on May 6 (Getty Images)

The aircraft will then fly into airspace above Surrey, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire, Gloucestershire and Wiltshire.

Restrictions on aircraft not taking part will be in place in airspace above parts of London, East Anglia and the North Sea at various times from 12.15pm until 2pm.

A document published by the Civil Aviation Authority and air traffic control service Nats setting out the exact details and locations of the rules states: "Due to the large number of aircraft involved (in the flypast), the Secretary of State for Transport has decided that it is necessary to introduce Restriction of Flying Regulations."

Aircraft operated by the emergency services are exempt.

Restrictions have also been announced for parts of East Anglia, Lincolnshire and the North Sea on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday due to flypast rehearsals.

Pilots have been told that "following a successful rehearsal, subsequent rehearsal days will be cancelled by Notam (Notice to Airmen)."

The coronation comes 70 years after Queen Elizabeth's (PA)

According to the latest forecast Brits can look forward to street parties and barbecues for the King’s Coronation weekend.

So far the signs suggest the streets will not be filled with union flag umbrellas as temperatures are set to increase over the weekend.

The news will be welcome to millions of Brits planning on spending the day with their friends, loved ones and neighbours at street parties to celebrate the first coronation in the UK since 1953.

Brian Gaze, forecaster from The Weather Outlook, told the Mirror: "It's still too early to be confident about the weather prospects for the Coronation period, but at the moment there is cause for some optimism.

"It has been a disappointing spring so far and I would be quite surprised if we see really warm weather developing in early May.

"However, computer models are suggesting the possibility of it turning warmer and drier than we've become accustomed to in recent weeks.

"The highest temperatures are likely to be in southern counties with temperatures in the upper teens celsius currently favoured, and a chance of 21C (70F) being reached.

"With festivities taking place over three days it would be surprising if the umbrellas were completely banished in the UK.

"Nonetheless, anything significantly drier and warmer than what we have had recently will be welcomed by most people."

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.