Huge crowds are gathering in central London ahead of the Coronation of King Charles III and Camilla, the Queen Consort Lavish displays of royal pageantry are expected, with processions planned either side of the service at Westminster Abbey. Some 5,000 members of the armed forces are arriving by train at London Waterloo station.
The ceremony itself will be led by the Archbishop of Canterbury at 11:00 BST (10:00 GMT) and attended by the Royal Family as well as world leaders and dignitaries. A weekend of planned special events also includes street parties and a concert at Windsor Castle tomorrow, as well as a nationwide volunteering drive on Monday. Anti-monarchy protests are also expected, spearheaded by the group Republic – which is coordinating rallies in Trafalgar Square and around the UK.
Crowd near Buckingham Palace is buzzing with activity
Hordes of royal fans arrived in the early hours of the morning.
Wearing a bright red, blue and white wig, Heidi Roberts, from Surrey, said she’s come for the “happy atmosphere”.
“Just being with the crowd and having something to celebrate,” she says. “I think we’re all mourning the Queen, and I think it’s a bit of a hangover from that.”
And draped from head to toe in the union jack, Helen Sermons, from Buckinghamshire, is eager to see King Charles and Camilla, the Queen Consort, on the Palace’s balcony.
“We want to see the procession as well, but from here we can’t see much,” she says.
Helen says the Royal Family “binds the country together”.
Andrea Dyer, from Colorado in the United States, arrived at 06:00 to nab a spot in view of the balcony.
“I can’t believe people were camping out two days prior. Hopefully we will at least see the top of the carriage,” she says.
Where to watch the coronation in London
As we can see The Mall and the surrounding area in central London is already pretty packed.
So, here are some useful alternative locations where you can watch the coronation processions and service on big screens elsewhere in the capital.
- In Mayfair Grosvenor Square will screen the big day
- Screens at Hyde Park will be located at the Old Football Pitches, The Cockpit and Boathouse Lawn areas
- A much smaller screen will be located near Marlborough Gate in St James’s Park
- It is a similar scene at Green Park too where a smaller screen will be showing the days events near The Broad Walk
- Decorated in Union Jack bunting, the newly refurbished Battersea Power Station will have a big screen
- Boxpark in Croydon and in Wembley – usually home to football crowds – will mark the historic occasion with a special performance in Croydon from veteran Shaun Williams (aka Barry from Eastenders)
- Elsewhere, outside central London big screens will be up at the Big Penny Social in Walthamstow
