Tomorrow marks the highly anticipated coronation of King Charles III, expected to draw in hundreds of thousands of onlookers in London and millions more tuning in from their homes.
The momentous occasion will entail a grand procession by the King and Queen Camilla through central London involving around 7,000 members of the Armed Forces – Britain’s largest ceremonial military procession in 70 years, culminating in the official crowning ceremony at Westminster Abbey.
Attending the service will be the royal couple’s close relatives and acquaintances, dignitaries from other nations, political figures, world leaders, notable personalities, and invited members of the public.
The Archbishop of Canterbury will officiate the crowning, which will signify the commencement of a bank holiday weekend filled with regal extravagance.
Here’s a full schedule for the ceremony, including the exact time the King will be crowned and also what time we can expect to see the family out on the balcony.
According to Buckingham Palace, the coronation will be “a solemn religious service, as well as an occasion for celebration and pageantry”.
Here is the full schedule of events for tomorrow:
- 6am – Viewing areas open along the procession route
- 7.15am – Guests start to arrive at Westminster Abbey
- 9am – Congregation to be seated inside the abbey
- 9.30am – The first heads of state, overseas government representatives, Government ministers, First Ministers, former PMs, foreign royals and members of the Royal Family begin to arrive
- 10.20am – The Royal procession sets off from the Palace
- 10.53am – The procession arrives at Westminster Abbey
- 11am – Charles and Camilla enter the abbey through the Great West Door and the service begins
- 12pm – The Archbishop of Canterbury places the St Edward’s Crown on Charles’s head. Trumpets will sound and gun salutes will be fired across the UK
- 1pm – The service ends and the newly crowned King and Queen begin their coronation procession back to Buckingham Palace in the Gold State Coach
- 2.15pm – The newly crowned King and Queen, along with other members of the Royal Family appear on the Palace balcony to watch the flypast.
