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At the start of the ceremony, the State Flag of Russia, the President’s Standard, the Constitution and the Badge of the President of Russia were brought into St. Andrew’s Hall at the Grand Kremlin Palace.

The President’s motorcade drove through the Spasskaya Tower Gate towards the Grand Kremlin Palace. On ordinary days the head of state enters the Kremlin through the Borovitsky Gate.

To the sound of the presidential fanfare, Mr Putin walked to St Andrew’s Hall passing through the Georgievsky and Alexandrovsky Halls.

After taking an oath of allegiance to the people of Russia, President Putin addressed the nation.

To a 30-salvo salute, the head of state emerged into the Kremlin’s Sobornaya Square to review the Presidential Regiment. The Regiment marched in three columns. The highlight of the review was the march of the Honorary Cavalry Escort of 21 mounted cavalrymen wearing Russian Army uniforms from the time of the 1812 war against Napoleon.

The ceremony lasted about 25 minutes, half the time a similar ceremony lasted four years ago. Among the 1700 invited guests were holders of the Order of St. Andrew, Heroes of Russia, the Services to Motherland Order categories I and II; representatives of the Government, the Federation Council, the State Duma, the President’s Staff, the Central Election Commission; representatives of main religions; the heads of diplomatic missions accredited in Moscow; representatives of the President’s campaign headquarters, non-governmental organisations and associations. Also present were numerous journalists, members of the Presidential Councils on Science and High Technologies, Culture and Arts, Physical Culture and Sports and representatives of business circles.

After the inauguration ceremony, President Putin visited Annunciation Cathedral at the Kremlin where Patriarch Alexii II of Moscow and All Russia gave a a short prayer on the occasion of Mr Putin’s inauguration as President of Russia.