Umbrella wars, morning drinking and a moment in history: What being in the coronation crowd was like

Despite the rain, the King's coronation and the chance to see Royal Family members process to and from Westminster Abbey yesterday drew in big crowds.

Millions of royal fans flew to London or travelled for several hours from their British hometown for this once-in-a-lifetime moment.

There was cheer, camaraderie and song but if anyone dared put up an umbrella the crowd would yell in protest, desperate not to have their view blocked.

The onlookers weren't all there to celebrate the King. A sea of anti-monarchy protestors stood in Trafalgar Square, carrying yellow flags bearing the 'Not My King' slogan, their mood a stark contrast to the jubilant royal fans, sporting union jack outfits, some clutching plastic cups of bubbly.

It was a day of two halves, but how did it feel to be there in person?

Laurence Hewetson, 48, from Bristol

"I've come here today with my girlfriend – she's my queen! You might have guessed I'm [pro-Royal] from the outfit. I think it's something to be proud of," Hewetson tells Yahoo UK.

"Lots of nations are proud of their patriotism, so why not us as well? The Royals are part of our heritage. You can't change history and this is live history in the making.

"I came here from Bristol because I just wanted to be part of the celebrations, part of the atmosphere. I wasn't sure if we'd be able to get anywhere close but I'm very glad I got to see the carriage and the King from Trafalgar Square. Now the ceremony's over, we're heading down to the Mall for some proper royal action."

Lucy Wells, 36, from Cornwall

"I come from a tiny place, Redruth in Cornwall, so the crowds here in London can be quite overwhelming but it's been great. It's such a buzz, there's a really nice vibe. There hasn't been a coronation in my lifetime or my mum's lifetime, so I thought, 'Why not come along?'

"I came up on the train with my sister Jen on Friday. My husband and two children are watching it back home on the telly. My mum is at home too, living the day vicariously through us. We keep Facetiming her with updates!

"I come from a county that's 80% dependent on tourism so even though the Royal Family don’t live in Cornwall, Wills is now the Duke of Cornwall, and [the associated] tourism is a huge thing for us. We wouldn’t have jobs and homes if it wasn’t for tourism so I think the Royal Family are really worthwhile – and I love the pomp – who doesn’t?

"We saw the protesters when we came here, but we live in an equal society so as long as they're not violent or massively disruptive, let them be. The amount of people who support the monarchy today outweigh the protesters significantly. There's definitely a lot more red, white and blue than there is yellow [the protesters' colour] in Trafalgar Square...

"My favourite Royal? My youngest son Ted was due to be born on the same day as George, so I've got a special place in my heart for George. Ted was actually born two days early but when I see George on TV, walking to school and having his picture taken, I think, 'Oh my days!' As George grows up, I think my son will have that same connection to him because their birthdays are so close.

"As I'm a country bumpkin [laughs], later on my sister and I will go round all the posh shops that we can't afford to buy anything in – Harrods, Fortnum and Mason, Selfridges and because of my [black and white] hair like Cruella's I'll have an Instagram moment in Liberty's [the young Cruella lands her dream job at Liberty's]."

Jill Caine, 49, from Sevenoaks

"Why did I come here today? It's what you do if you're British, be there for the celebration! I came here with my best friend and her mum. We got here at 9.30am and were so far back in the crowd, we didn't get to see the carriage but never mind, we'll need to watch it on TV later.

"The atmosphere is really good here – everyone's been so lovely and happy, apart from the protesters. I think they should have stayed at home because they've ruined it. If you don't like the Royal Family, don't come here [to the procession]."

Renee Mauldin, 59, from Oklahoma, US

Renee Mauldin managed to climb up high onto an electrical cable box. "Everyone kept getting in my way because I'm so short, so I thought, 'Here we go! I got on top of the box and solved it all.' I got to see the King pass by in the carriage, it was amazing. Everything was beautiful. I managed to get above all the umbrellas too.

"I was here for Princess Beatrice's wedding and now I'm here for the coronation. I flew to London first and then I'm heading to Plymouth on Monday to stay with my brother and sister-in-law. For now though, I'm staying right here [up high]. I don't even mind the rain."

Sam Keen, 19, from Hertfordshire

"I came here for the Jubilee and it was such a fantastic atmosphere, I wanted to experience it all again. I'm 100% a Royalist – I just love the way the Royal Family represent the United Kingdom and Commonwealth.

"I'm most hoping to see Princess Anne today – I think she's brilliant. She does a lot for communities and charities – and I really like the way she puts herself forward and gets involved.

"I'm planning to stay by the Mall as long as possible and take it all in. I'm surprised by quite how many people are dressed up. I love seeing everyone in their Great Britain regalia – all their flags and symbols. It's fantastic."

Erika Yip, 20, from Hong Kong, is studying in Oxford

"My friends and I are studying in Oxford, so we felt it was such a historical moment we wanted to be part of it. We got up at 4.30am this morning to get the train from Oxford – it was a long journey but it was worth it.

"As I'm not from the UK, I'm neutral on the royals but I'm most looking forward to seeing Charles. I really want to see what he's wearing and see him go by in the carriage. Later my friends and I are going for a meal in Chinatown to celebrate."

Watch: Queen Consort waves to onlookers as King's procession moves down Whitehall