Huge crowds are gathering in central London ahead of the Coronation of King Charles III and Camilla, the Queen Consort.
Parts of central London have been gridlocked for several days, with barriers lining the route that King Charles and Queen Camilla will take in procession from Buckingham Palace, the British monarchy’s official London residence,to Westminster Abbey, the nation’s coronation church since 1066.
Lavish displays of royal pageantry are expected, with processions planned either side of the service at Westminster Abbey
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.
The event will be the 40th coronation at Westminster Abbey, a tradition dating to 1066.
More than 5,000 Armed forces personnel are arriving by train to London Waterloo before marching over Westminster Bridge.
Network Rail says “it is the biggest movement of military personnel on Britain’s railways since Winston Churchill’s funeral in 1965.”
Hundreds of uniformed guards are marching through streets more used to seeing red London buses and perhaps the occasional cold kebab at this hour on a Saturday morning.
The London Metropolitan Police Service also said Saturday would be the largest one-day policing operation in decades, with more than 11,500 officers on duty in London.
A weekend of planned special events also includes street parties and a concert at Windsor Castle on Sunday and a nationwide volunteering drive on Monday.
Born Nov. 14, 1948, Charles Philip Arthur George Windsor is the eldest son of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, who died April 9, 2021.
Known as Prince Charles of Wales, he became king the moment his mother died in September last year, meaning he immediately became head of state for the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and a dozen other countries.
But his name is going to be an even bigger when he is officially crowned king at coronation. After the coronation, he will be the oldest monarch to ever take the British throne.
He’s also the titular head of the Church of England and head of the military and the judiciary, and he carries a host of other royal titles and duties.
Charles’ wife, Camilla, previously known as the queen consort, will officially become queen.
The ceremony will be a profoundly religious affair, reflecting the fact that aside from being head of state of the United Kingdom and 14 other countries, Charles is also the Supreme Governor of the Church of England.
The coronation will be presided over by Justin Welby, the archbishop of Canterbury, whose role has remained unchanged since 1066.
BBC/ CNN/ Mercy Chukwudiebere
