tonight at ten, we've got all the local election results and analysis. and we are live outside westminster abbey on the eve of the king's coronation.— coronation. these are our top stories. cheering labour make big gains at the poles from swindon to stoke to medway as the conservatives endure a bruising election. , . ~ , election. these are the key battlegrounds _ election. these are the key battlegrounds as _ election. these are the key battlegrounds as we - election. these are the key battlegrounds as we go - election. these are the key| battlegrounds as we go into election. these are the key - battlegrounds as we go into the next election_ battlegrounds as we go into the next election and make no mistake, it means— election and make no mistake, it means we — election and make no mistake, it means we are on course for a labour majority— means we are on course for a labour majority at _ means we are on course for a labour majority at the next election. dejection for the conservatives who saw a collapse in support right across england but the prime minister says he is sticking to his agenda. minister says he is sticking to his

a . enda. , ,., minister says he is sticking to his aaenda. , �* minister says he is sticking to his aaenda. �* ., minister says he is sticking to his aaenda. , �* ., ., agenda. the message i'm hearing from --eole agenda. the message i'm hearing from peeple tonight — agenda. the message i'm hearing from peeple tonight as _ agenda. the message i'm hearing from people tonight as they _ agenda. the message i'm hearing from people tonight as they want _ agenda. the message i'm hearing from people tonight as they want us - agenda. the message i'm hearing from people tonight as they want us to - people tonight as they want us to focus _ people tonight as they want us to focus on — people tonight as they want us to focus on their— people tonight as they want us to focus on their priorities _ people tonight as they want us to focus on their priorities and - focus on their priorities and deiiver— focus on their priorities and deliver for— focus on their priorities and deliver for them, _ focus on their priorities and deliver for them, having. focus on their priorities and - deliverforthem, having inflation, deliver for them, having inflation, growing _ deliver for them, having inflation, growing the — deliverforthem, having inflation, growing the economy, _ deliverforthem, having inflation, growing the economy, reducing i deliver for them, having inflation, - growing the economy, reducing debt, cutting _ growing the economy, reducing debt, cutting waiting — growing the economy, reducing debt, cutting waiting lists _ growing the economy, reducing debt, cutting waiting lists and _ growing the economy, reducing debt, cutting waiting lists and stopping - cutting waiting lists and stopping the boats— cutting waiting lists and stopping the boats was— cutting waiting lists and stopping the boats was white _ cutting waiting lists and stopping the boats was white so _ cutting waiting lists and stopping the boats was white so what - the boats was white so what could the boats was white so what could the results — the boats was white so what could the results mean _ the boats was white so what could the results mean for— the boats was white so what could the results mean for a _ the boats was white so what could the results mean for a general- the results mean for a general election? _ the results mean for a general election? ~ ., ., election? will have all the analysis- _ election? will have all the analysis. meanwhile - election? will have all the analysis. meanwhile here| election? will have all the i analysis. meanwhile here at westminster _ analysis. meanwhile here at westminster abbey - analysis. meanwhile here at westminster abbey the - analysis. meanwhile here at| westminster abbey the final preparations have been made for the first coronation in 70 years. hip hi - , first coronation in 70 years. hip hip. hurray- _ first coronation in 70 years. hip hip, hurray. the _ first coronation in 70 years. hip hip, hurray. the king _ first coronation in 70 years. hip hip, hurray. the king and - first coronation in 70 years. hip hip, hurray. the king and the l first coronation in 70 years. hip - hip, hurray. the king and the prince and princess — hip, hurray. the king and the prince and princess of— hip, hurray. the king and the prince and princess of wales _ hip, hurray. the king and the prince and princess of wales made - hip, hurray. the king and the prince and princess of wales made a - and princess of wales made a surprise visit to chat to well—wishers on the mall. some people have been camping out for days to get a prime view of tomorrow's royal procession. i don't think too may _ tomorrow's royal procession. i don't think too may be _ tomorrow's royal procession. i don't think too may be many _ tomorrow's royal procession. i don't think too may be many people - think too may be many people will have been— think too may be many people will have been to — think too may be many people will have been to two _ think too may be many people will have been to two coronation - think too may be many people will have been to two coronation is, i. have been to two coronation is, i was here — have been to two coronation is, i was here 70 _ have been to two coronation is, i was here 70 years— have been to two coronation is, i was here 70 years ago _ have been to two coronation is, i was here 70 years ago for- have been to two coronation is, i was here 70 years ago for the . was here 70 years ago for the queen's— was here 70 years ago for the queen's coronation. - was here 70 years ago for the queen's coronation. find - was here 70 years ago for the queen's coronation.— was here 70 years ago for the queen's coronation. and the stage is set, we queen's coronation. and the stage is set. we get — queen's coronation. and the stage is set. we get the _ queen's coronation. and the stage is set, we get the first _ queen's coronation. and the stage is set, we get the first glimpse - queen's coronation. and the stage is set, we get the first glimpse inside l set, we get the first glimpse inside the abbey on newsnight at 10:30pm tonight... what do the local election results

tell us about who will be living in 10 downing street in two years' time? good evening, we start tonight with the local elections in england and the local elections in england and the conservatives falling well behind labour, losing more than 1000 councillors. rishi sunak says the results are disappointing but insists he will carry on with his agenda while sir keir starmer claims his party is on course to win the next general election. labour have taken control of councils in swindon, east staffordshire, stoke—on—trent and medway. with most of the results in and declared, this was the position of the three main parties a few minutes ago. labour are the big winners with more than 2600 councillors up by more than

500. the tories have fewer than 2300, down by more than 1000, and the lib dems have more than 1600, up more than 400. it means of the council is up for grabs labour now control 71, the conservatives 32, and the lib dems 29. there are 89 councils with no overall majority and if all of britain had voted today, following a similar pattern, then the bbc predicts the share of votes to each party would look something like this, with labour on 35%, the conservatives on 26% and the lib dems on 20%. others have 19%. so let's get the very latest now and join our political editor chris mason who is live at westminster for us tonight. it was a long night, a long day, little sleep and lots to digester. we've just passed the 24—hour mark from polls closing and the counting is almost complete. 227 councils

have now declared, there are just three still to come doing their number crunching. first and foremost this matters because it may mean that where you are, those providing the key local services that you rely on, are provided by different people or a different blend of people, but the big picture tonight looks like this. it's bleakfor the conservatives. it's great for the liberal democrats and the greens in the areas they have focused on, and labour are chipper. they think today suggests they could win the next general election with a majority, but there are some who think that perhaps not doing quite enough. you can measure elections in numbers, you can measure them in where the smiles and cheers are too. the labour leader keir starmer was in chatham in kent this morning, where labour took control of the council from the conservatives. you've done an absolutely stunning job here. you didn'tjust get it over the line, you blew the doors off! make no mistake, we are on course for a labour majority

at the next general election. cheering. chanting: labour gain, labour gain. look and listen to the contrast — silent and solitary. the prime minister delivering bacon sandwiches to party staff and insisting he's not changing course. i'm not detecting any massive groundswell of movement towards the labour party or excitement for their agenda. what people want us to do is focus on their priorities — halving inflation, growing the economy, reducing debt, cutting waiting lists and stopping the boats. those are the country's priorities, those are this government's priorities and that's what we're going to deliver. the liberal democrats are making something of an art form out of less than subtle campaign props. all: three, two, one. this their latest as party leader ed davey celebrated taking windsor and maidenhead in berkshire from the tories. i'm so proud that when katy perry and lionel richie enter windsor

castle for the coronation concert on sunday they'll be going into a ward that's represented by three brand—new liberal democrat councillors. cheering. let's go back and work even harder so we can beat the conservatives at the next general election. labour took east staffordshire, and tonight amber valley in derbyshire from the conservatives, and here they are doing the same in swindon, a key general election battleground. could time be up for this former cabinet minister, local tory mp robert buckland? stoke—on—trent is such a highly contested political spot, people there could barely pop out for the groceries without being accosted by someone after their vote. no one party ran the council here until today. now, labour do. and 250 miles down the road in plymouth, a similar picture. labour winning in the kind of places that help determine who ends up running the country.

the problem the conservatives have faced is a range of competitive opponents. the liberal democrats appear to have finally banished the baggage of their years in coalition government, beating the tories not just here in windsor, but in the midlands, in stratford—on—avon, and in and around totnes in devon, and chichester in west sussex, among others. this was the green party's best ever set of local election results. for the first time in england they've secured a majority on a council. what a brilliant result so far. they'll run the local authority in mid—suffolk. they made big advances in east suffolk, came from almost nowhere to become the biggest party in east hertfordshire and contributed to a total wipe—out of conservatives in lewes in east sussex. we're seeing record green wins in rural and urban areas, from labour and the conservatives. people looking at the other parties feeling disillusioned by the government, uninspired

by labour, and voting for green councillors in ever greater numbers. so what could all of this mean for who might be in power here at westminster after the next general election, expected next year? from where we are right now it seems that neither conservatives nor labour can be super confident that they would win a majority. labour claim that they are well—placed because they are winning over voters in places that they need to, as opposed to stacking up votes in places where they're already ahead. and where does it leave the tories? jittery. and, yes, a spot of conservative sniping, primarily in private for now, has begun. was it a disastrous night for the conservatives, prime minister? little wonder perhaps the prime minister is finding comfort and distraction from the election aftermath by focusing on the international stage, welcoming world leaders to downing street ahead of the coronation tomorrow.

chris mason, bbc news, at westminster. 0k, ok, let's take a closer look at some of the results now. as chris was saying in his report, labour took stoke, a key target for the next general election. they won a massive 29 of the 44 seats available there, up 29 of the 44 seats available there, up 14. there was no change for the conservatives. in windsor and labour headed —— windsor and maidenhead its liberal democrats celebrating tonight after taking control of just over half the seats, they gain 13 while the tories lost 16 and in mid suffolk it's the greens who make history, taking control of the council for the first time. they won 24 of the 34 seats available, doubling their tally from the last election. he has professorjohn curtice with his assessment on what the results all mean. the results are certainly deeply

disappointing for the conservatives. they may well be heading for something close to the 1000 seat losses they were hoping to avoid and certainly their share of the vote is down a couple of points on even theresa may's very poor performance backin theresa may's very poor performance back in may 2019. labour in contrast, much more encouraging. they've got the biggest lead over the conservatives in terms of votes at any point since 2010, though their own share of the vote was in fact no better than what they achieved last year, and that will be something of a disappointment for them. would labour have won a general election if they had been held on thursday? they may have got an overall majority, none of us can be sure and i certainly think labour would hope to be much further ahead of the conservatives in the event the general election does finally come around. professorjohn curtice. one of labour's biggest victories was in medway in kent which the conservatives had controlled for more than 20 years. labour won 33 of its 59 seats, that's up 11, with the

tories losing 13. our political correspondent ben wright has spent the day and medway talking to voters about the issues most important to them. the medway towns revel in their connection to the novelist charles dickens. labour had high hopes here, and the result has given the party a story to celebrate — seizing control of the council from the conservatives for the first time in 20 years. in rochester, i dropped into georgia's florists. she switched her vote from conservative to labour. you know, everyone's struggling, aren't they? there's so much unhappiness, and everyone is struggling to feed their children and put clothes on their backs, and things like that. it just. .. we needed more help. do you think that explains the shift here to labour? i think so, yes. personally, labour sort of seem to be promising things that would help us in the future. but are you going to stick with them at the general election, or is your vote still up for grabs? i think my vote's still up for grabs. medway voted strongly for brexit, and has three conservative mps.

but these elections suggests that support for the tories could be cracking. we voted for brexit. but now it's something we do regret. i think we've been misled on that as well. the country, i think, has just come to a bit of a standstill in general. we need to speak out now before there is a general election, and let the government know how we feel. i personally think they have had their day, and it's time for a change. yeah, i think they've lost our votes. as she put out her bunting, julie told me she had voted for her local conservative councillor. this is very much a local issue for me. i've no idea how i'll vote next year. i like rishi sunak. i didn't like boris. i'm hoping they'll do a good job, but i think they don't do themselves any favours at all, the scandals and everything. so, i think it puts doubts in people's minds. sir keir starmer came to chatham at the start of the campaign, and he is celebrating here today. this corner of kent hasn't shown any

enthusiasm for labour since the days of tony blair. but sir kier hopes he has found a winning message that can sink the conservatives at the general election here in medway and beyond. but it's a labour message that didn't hit the right note forjenny, who i met at a mothers�* singing group in chillingham. she voted green. i felt like conservatives and labour had a bit of the same message. local amenities, they are on their knees in medway, and they need improvement before more houses get built. have you decided how you're going to vote at the general election? no, not yet. these are hard times for the tories, and the success of opposition parties across england shows the scale of challenge facing the conservatives as the general election gets close. ben wright, bbc news, in rochester. we are going to get a final word now from chris mason, who is live at

westminster. chris, the conservatives had suggested losing around 1000 councillors would suggest a lousy election for them. how are they feeling tonight? it suggest a lousy election for them. how are they feeling tonight? it was worse than lousy _ how are they feeling tonight? it was worse than lousy for _ how are they feeling tonight? it was worse than lousy for them, - how are they feeling tonight? it was worse than lousy for them, it - how are they feeling tonight? it was worse than lousy for them, it was i worse than lousy for them, it was grim. there isjust no doubt worse than lousy for them, it was grim. there is just no doubt about that, looking at the numbers. those around rishi sunak claim that it would have been much, much worse without him, but the recriminations are beginning. let me give you a little trip inside my notebook courtesy of a phone call i took in the middle of this afternoon. this came from a figure loyal to the former prime minister, borisjohnson and liz truss, and this is what i was told. she has no option but to own these results. he was the chancellor who presided over the stagnation of the british economy and hiked taxes to their highest level in 70 years, little wonder so many previous conservative voters have deserted us yesterday. now, we should say, we should calibrate this kind of thing. these are not,

critics leaping in front of the in front of the cameras and there is no appetite for the toppling of rishi sunak but it gives you some sense of the conversations going on within the conversations going on within the tory fold. what about the big picture as far as politics is concerned? it is hypercompetitive and so not definitive and the general election is still quite a long way off. mil general election is still quite a long way off-— long way off. all right, chris, thank you. — long way off. all right, chris, thank you, chris _ long way off. all right, chris, thank you, chris mason - long way off. all right, chris, thank you, chris mason live | long way off. all right, chris, | thank you, chris mason live at westminster. the head of the world health organization has declared the global covid—19 emergency is over. our medical editor fergus walsh is here. people are still dying. thea;r people are still dying. they absolutely _ people are still dying. they absolutely are. _ people are still dying. they absolutely are. this - people are still dying. they absolutely are. this is - people are still dying. they l absolutely are. this is largely people are still dying. they - absolutely are. this is largely a symbolic moment, a recognition that covid is not the global threat it once was. the death rate has plummeted, thanks to a combination of very effective vaccines, effective at preventing severe

illness. not effective at preventing people from getting covid and so many others have had covid at least once or twice. it doesn't mean to say we are not going to get some new troubling variant at some point. omicron has been dominant for such a long time. it doesn't mean the pandemic is over. covid, i'm afraid, is here to stay and it remains a threat to some, especially the over 75s and those with weakened immune system who are being urged to have their spring covid boosterjab. the who said its not a time for complacency but perhaps to reflect on the global death toll from this pandemic, which it is put at 20 million people.— pandemic, which it is put at 20 million people. 0k, fergus, many thanks, million people. ok, fergus, many thanks. fergus— million people. 0k, fergus, many thanks, fergus walsh _ million people. 0k, fergus, many thanks, fergus walsh there. - million people. 0k, fergus, many| thanks, fergus walsh there. now, thousands of people have been gathering along the procession route in central london on this, the eve of the coronation of king charles iii. letsjoin my colleaguejane hill outside westminster abbey, where tomorrow's historic ceremony

will be taking place. good evening. clive, thank you so much, yes, welcome to westminster abbey tonight, where we are just a matter of hours from the coronation of king charles iii. the stage inside the abbey has now been set. visitors and special guests from around the world have been arriving in london throughout the day. thousands of people have come to the capital for the event and a little earlier this afternoon the king was joined by the prince and princess of wales and they went on a surprise walkabout on the mall to meet some of the well—wishers gathered there. our first report is from our royal correspondent nicholas witchell. standing in front of the high altar of this ancient abbey, a sight which hasn't been seen for 70 years. the 700—year—old coronation chair complete with scotland's stone of destiny underneath it. the chair upon which kings and queens have been crowned across the centuries

and where tomorrow, charles iii will be consecrated in an act of christian worship dating back a thousand years. london is ready. many have already made their way to the processional route to bag their places. and this afternoon they had a visit from the king. on the other side of the mall, william was preoccupied with the weather. i'm praying a bit of sunshine stays out, keep you all dry. catherine with the children and prince george's role as a page boy. they're really well, thank you. are they excited? excited, a bit nervous, obviously got a big day ahead, but can't wait actually. vip guests are arriving in london. prime ministers from the 14 other countries which have the british monarch as their head of state were at buckingham palace. several of them are committed republicans, but this really wasn't the moment for that kind of discussion. instead, from prince william...

we pray for the weather tomorrow. we need a bit of sunshine tomorrow. indeed, indeed. and here's why the weather is on everyone's mind. this was westminster abbey for a period this morning. a little earlier, the king and queen consort had arrived for a full dress rehearsal, a run—through of all the elements of the service. and it's one of those elements, the homage of the people, which continues to cause comment. jonathan dimbleby is a long—standing friend of the king from his days as prince of wales. he believes the homage, where the public is invited to swear allegiance to the king, is misguided. i can think of nothing that he would find more abhorrent. he's never wanted to be revered. he's never wanted, so far as i know, to have anyone pay homage to him except in mock terms as a joke. buckingham palace said mr dimbleby was speaking on his own account. in a lightervein, a surprise for travellers.

my wife and i wish you - and your families a wonderful coronation weekend. wherever you are travelling, we hope you have a safe and pleasant journey. rail passengers are hearing some familiar voices over the public address system. and remember, please mind the gap. from kensington palace tonight, a photograph of the princess of wales with the first ladies of the united states of america and ukraine. ceremonial london is dressed and coronation day awaits. tonight, there will be many thousands bedding down on the mall and elsewhere who will be echoing prince william's hope that tomorrow won't be too wet. nicholas witchell, bbc news. well, we will hear from some of those people in the next few minutes, but of course, this is the first coronation for 70 years. let's just take a look at the main events

that are happening across this bank holiday weekend. formal celebrations begin with a procession setting off from buckingham palace at 10:20 to go to westminster abbey. king charles will enter the abbey through the great west door at 11. at 2:30, the royal family will be on the palace balcony for a fly—past involving members of the army, royal navy and royal air force and culminating in a display by the red arrows. on sunday, communities across the uk are invited to share food and fun as part of the coronation big lunch. and then at 8pm on sunday evening is the coronation concert at windsor castle. then on bank holiday monday, members of the public are invited to take part in the big help out, which aims to raise awareness of volunteering around the country. well, that is just some of what is happening this weekend. as we have been reflecting, followers of the

royal family have been camping been reflecting, followers of the royalfamily have been camping out near buckingham palace, some of them for many days, in fact. keen for the very best spot from which to watch tomorrow's events, and goodness, what weather they have been contending with. our correspondent has spent today with people out on the mall, and he is there for us now tonight. ashley. yes, well, i have been outside here at buckingham palace since this morning, and the sense of anticipation, among loyal fans, really anticipation, among loyalfans, really has been a constant throughout the day, and for those camping, getting ready for the night, sitting out, there is still a buzz. i have spoken to people from different walks of life and generations, united in their support for the king. among the tents, decorations and cloud there were crowds, a family of royal supporters spanning three generation's. i don't think too many people will have been to two coronation is. i was here 70 years ago for the queen has made a nation because of it's just an amazing experience, really, being here with grandma, who was

amused visa here for the coronation many years ago. and it's notjust families here new friendships are being formed. you guys have just new friendships are being formed. you guys havejust met, is that you guys have just met, is that right? — right? yes! she came up last night, and you can't _ she came up last night, and you can't help— she came up last night, and you can't help but— she came up last night, and you can't help but make _ she came up last night, and you can't help but make friends, - she came up last night, and youj can't help but make friends, you know? _ can't help but make friends, you know? it's— can't help but make friends, you know? it's a _ can't help but make friends, you know? it's a really— can't help but make friends, you know? it's a really cool- can't help but make friends, you know? it's a really cool social i can't help but make friends, you . know? it's a really cool social time to he _ know? it's a really cool social time to be together, _ know? it's a really cool social time to be together, to— know? it's a really cool social time to be together, to meet— know? it's a really cool social time to be together, to meet different i to be together, to meet different people. _ to be together, to meet different people. so— to be together, to meet different people. so it's _ to be together, to meet different people, so it's fun. _ people, so it's fun. absolutely. - absolutely. outside buckingham palace this afternoon, a surprise appearance. the man they will be waiting for, his majesty the king, taking a walk along the mile to grate some of the royalfans. —— along along the mile to grate some of the royal fans. —— along the mall. what a surprise. i was not sure how we're going to feel. _ i was not sure how we're going to feel. but— i was not sure how we're going to feel, but feel as proud now as ever. did you _ feel, but feel as proud now as ever. did you get — feel, but feel as proud now as ever. did you get a handshake? | feel, but feel as proud now as ever. did you get a handshake?— feel, but feel as proud now as ever. did you get a handshake? i did, and it was 'ust did you get a handshake? i did, and it wasjust amazing. _ it was just amazing. i it was just amazing. ican't _ it wasjust amazing. i can't get over it. are _ i can't get over it. are you feeling ok? this was the moment when the princess of wales spoke to a fan on the phone who couldn't be there in person. well, come and say hi when you are back over— well, come and say hi when you are back over here, _ well, come and say hi when you are

back over here, but _ well, come and say hi when you are back over here, but i— well, come and say hi when you are back over here, but i hope - well, come and say hi when you are back over here, but i hope you get i back over here, but i hope you get better— back over here, but i hope you get better soon — better soon. i _ better soon. iwill! - better soon. i will! thank| better soon. - i will! thank you very better soon. _ i will! thank you very much. bettersoon. iwill! thank ou ve much. j i will! thank you very much. bye. b e. bye. we feel like bye. — we feel like we have a good bye. we feel like we have a -ood spot for we feel like we have a good spot for tomorrow. with a long night ahead, some are more prepared than others. are you camping out? we are camping out, but not in a tent. we havejust got we are camping out, but not in a tent. we have just got our chairs. you are camping out with just chairs?! chairs?i just i chairs?! just chairs. a very comfy chair! the _ just chairs. a very comfy chair! the build—up to tomorrow as being feltjust here. at the school in londonderry, the celebrations are well under way. londonderry, the celebrations are well underway. —— londonderry, the celebrations are well under way. —— at this school. we are, like, really, really, really, really excited for the king's coronation. i think it will be amazing, and i am really— i think it will be amazing, and i am really excited for it. and _ really excited for it. and at _ really excited for it. and at this hindu temple in leicester, final preparations for a multi—faith service that takes place tomorrow to mark the coronation. we just want to sing for the king tomorrow, play instruments for the king. it would be lovely. it's going to be a lovely get together with all

faith communities. this pub in hull was once used to try and bring down the monarchy, but punters today are not plotting against king charles was that i will be at work, probably. yes, i willjust be saving all the yes, iwilljust be saving all the beer— yes, i willjust be saving all the beer and — yes, i willjust be saving all the beer and having a good time with anyone, — beer and having a good time with anyone, helping celebrate. i'm going fishing, just to be on my own _ own. but | own. - but there were own. — but there were thousands own. but there were thousands bearin- but there were thousands bearing down on the mall tonight who do want to catch a glimpse of the king. —— bedding down. well, meanwhile, world leaders, foreign royals and other overseas dignitaries have been at buckingham palace tonight for a reception, and earlier today, the king met commonwealth leaders. our diplomatic correspondentjames commonwealth leaders. our diplomatic correspondent james landale looks at who is attending the coronation, who is not, and some of the diplomatic sensitivities involved. three, two, one... applause coronations maybe grand ceremonies, but there is also a chance for high

diplomacy. today, the king met commonwealth leaders altogether for the first time in his reign. in downing street, they rolled out the red carpet so the prime minister could have a few meetings of his own. but this was perhaps the most important conversation, between the foreign secretary in china's vice president. here to represent present she, han jeng used to run china's policy on hong kong, where new security laws prompted riots as people resisted a crackdown on their rights and freedoms. the foreign secretary says he raised areas of deep disagreement, including hong kong, but he also talked about vital cooperation over trade and climate change. but for hong kong citizens in britain, there was disappointment at mr han's presence. he is representing the chinese community, so inviting him to this really special occasion that could bring a lot of drama, and to some

extent, some hong kong people will see it as an insult to the community. or heads of state got an invitation except those with whom britain has poor diplomatic relations. —— all heads of state. so not invited where the leaders of russia, belarus, iran, myanmar, syria, afghanistan and venezuela. the us president has declined his invitation. his wife doctorjill biden is here in his stead, but buckingham palace says about a hundred heads of state have agreed to come. this is church house, just round the corner from the abbey. tomorrow, this will become a kind of grand vip waiting room where world leaders gather before and after the service. they will have privacy, coffee and time on their hands. perfect conditions for a spot of light diplomacy. which is normally what he does.— for a spot of light diplomacy. which is normally what he does. where have ou come is normally what he does. where have you come from? _ you come from? today, the foreign secretary's staff filmed him pretending to be a tv reporter. let's hope he returns to the dayjob tomorrow!

james landale, bbc news. well, tomorrow because i can events will bring back memories for those who played a part in the last coronation, of queen elizabeth ii in 1953. -- coronation, of queen elizabeth ii in 1953. —— tomorrow's events. our royal correspondent has talked to three people who were there 70 years ago. memories may fade, but some will never lose their lustre. gavin ross was a scholar at westminster school 70 years ago. it was the scholar�*s job to deliver the vivat regina, the musical anthem to welcome the monarch. so, we were high up, and the queen arrived a little early in the music, so she had already got quite a way in before we shouted vivat! we knew

we were privileged, but being young boys, we had plenty of other things to do, and it didn't hit us so much that we were uniquely privileged. this is your amazing scrapbook. as well— this is your amazing scrapbook. as well as— this is your amazing scrapbook. as well as the sound, the look of the coronation matter too. eve morris was a 17—year—old apprentice were designer norman hartnell, who made the queen has coronation gown. her scrapbook is rich in detail, designs, fabrics and a letter with instructions for the big day. please take sandwiches with you and thermos flask as coffee will not be available. eve's job was inside the abbey. a needle and thread in her pocket, ready for any emergency repairs. i was sleeping at home because i was only 17 and none of the family had cars, so the baker had to take me to the railway station to get me to the train. i can remember seeing the queen come past, virtually passed me where i was standing,

quite close to me, catching her eye as she went by, quite close. i had a better seat than a lot of the seats in the abbey. 91 years old and still playing. now a chelsea pensioner, basil king was amongst the crowds lining the procession route on coronation day, as trumpeter with the royal military band. there was excitement around | and i felt a little bit proud that i had been on such an occasion. i was only one out of thousands, but the lads in the band, - all of those from the school - of music, they were all of the same mind that it was a great day, apart from the weather. - universally modest about their contributions, they will all be watching closely tomorrow.