King Charles III and the Queen Consort are preparing for their historic carriage ride to Westminster Abbey for the first coronation in 70 years. Despite the prediction of rain, the procession route is already filling up with excited onlookers.
With 100 heads of state in attendance, a massive security operation has been put in place in central London. However, not everyone is happy about the occasion, and there are promises of protests from those who oppose the monarchy.
Members of the Royal Navy, Army, Royal Air Force and Commonwealth forces arrive at Waterloo Station in London and march to assemble ahead of the #coronationhttps://t.co/SvPyMdzcVq
— Sky News (@SkyNews) May 6, 2023
📺 Sky 501, Virgin 602, Freeview 233 and YouTube pic.twitter.com/wFzCnJR1qD
Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex, who arrived from the United States on Friday, will be among the 2,300 guests to witness the almost two-hour Coronation service. It will be the first time he has been seen in public with his brother, Prince William, the Prince of Wales, since the release of his memoir.
Westminster Abbey is ready for the #Coronation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla. pic.twitter.com/LfS3wJBK4k
— The Royal Family (@RoyalFamily) May 5, 2023
Charles became king of the United Kingdom and 14 other realms in September, following the death of his mother Elizabeth, who had reigned for 70 years. Months of meticulous planning have gone into the coronation celebrations, which will take place at Westminster Abbey, the 40th such ceremony there since 1066.
On the eve of the Coronation, the King took a leisurely walkabout on the Mall, flanked by the Prince and Princess of Wales and a heavy security detail. Excited crowds, such as Barbara Crowther, 69, and her friend Pauline, holding a “Coronation Street” banner, have been camping out to ensure a good view.
Welcoming friends from across the Commonwealth and around the world ahead of tomorrow’s #Coronation pic.twitter.com/57i58Mqa9N
— The Prince and Princess of Wales (@KensingtonRoyal) May 5, 2023
The Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, will preside over the service, with guests ranging from US First Lady Jill Biden to President Macron of France and entertainers Ant and Dec. Catherine, Princess of Wales, attended a pre-Coronation reception at Buckingham Palace on Friday, where she met with Olena Zelenska, the wife of the Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky.
We’re honoured to be taking part in the #Coronation of Their Majesties The King and The Queen Consort.
— British Army 🇬🇧 (@BritishArmy) May 5, 2023
As our soldiers and officers finalise their preparations for the big day tomorrow, we take a look behind the scenes.
Watch the full video on YouTube: https://t.co/NwkGdUv59R pic.twitter.com/mmzHjBqROZ
Charles was seen sharing warm words with the First Lady of Ukraine and greeting Mary, Crown Princess of Denmark, with a handshake and a kiss on the cheek. All in all, the Coronation promises to be a significant and memorable event.