Most of the Welsh councils confirmed to openDemocracy that no money was budgeted for coronation celebrations, while one council had allocated thousands of pounds.

Independent news website, openDemocracy, has asked each county council across the UK how much money they have allocated to the coronation, including the 22 county councils here in Wales. However, separate unverified sources have suggested it may have been a lot higher, with up to £250 million spent on the ceremony partly due to the vast security costs. The Times has reported that a member of Operation Golden Orb organising committee told The Sun that the ceremony may have cost £100 million. Read more: Bryn Terfel almost didn't make it to the coronation because he was stopped by police You can read more about the protest here. Many held placards and signs calling for an end to the monarchy, with one sign reading: 'Thousands go hungry and we have to pay for a rich man in another country to put a crown of jewels on his head. The group met at the Aneurin Bevan statue on Queen Street with at least 300 people there to protest the coronation. On Saturday, hundreds of people gathered at a Not My King protest organised by Republic Cymru at Cardiff city centre to coincide with the coronation. However over recent weeks, discussion has taken place on whether public funding should have gone to the royal event, especially amid a cost of living crisis.

From street parties to celebratory concerts, there was something for everyone to mark the beginning of the new monarch, King Charles III. The weekend's coronation saw a plethora of activities going on around the country.

Close to the Edge by Chris Welch