Charles's love of nature captured in coronation emblem

The official emblem to be used for the celebrations to accompany the coronation of Britain's King Charles has been unveiled, with the design giving a nod to the monarch's many years of environmental campaigning.

The emblem features flora from all the four nations that make up the United Kingdom - the rose of England, thistle of Scotland, the daffodil of Wales and shamrock of Northern Ireland, which was a tribute to Charles's love of nature, Buckingham Palace said.

It was also designed to use the red, white and blue colours of the Union flag.

"The design was inspired by King Charles' love of the planet, nature and his deep concern for the natural world," the designer Jony Ive said.

"The emblem speaks to the happy optimism of spring and celebrates the beginning of this new Carolean era for the United Kingdom."

Charles automatically became king of 15 realms, including Canada, New Zealand and Australia, on the death of his mother Queen Elizabeth in September.

His official coronation will take place on May 6 at London's Westminster Abbey in keeping with a tradition dating back some 1000 years.

Accompanying the service, there will celebrations including traditional processions, a music concert at Windsor Castle, street parties, light shows and community volunteering, Buckingham Palace has said.