it is ham in london, coronation day in the united kingdom. just hours from now, king charles iii will be crowned, along with queen consort camilla, at westminster abbey, in front of 2300 guests watching in—person and tens of millions of others around the world following along. it is an historic moment. charles becomes the 40th reigning monarch to be crowned there since 1066. a historic day in the united kingdon and the bbc will have full coverage from london, the 1a countries in the commonwealth, and all over the globe,

bringing you the regalia, processions and ancient rituals. we'll have all that and more, including the crowning moment itself later today at westminster abbey. these are pictures from inside the venue and how it will look for the grand ceremony. you can see the ornate chairs taking centre stage, there, on top of the medieval mosaic floor of the church. crowds have been camping out ahead of the big day. they were treated to a surprise visit by king charles, the prince and the princess of wales. charles went to one side of the mall while william and kate went to the other. many continued to camp out despite the london rain, to save a spot on the procession route. let's go live now to bbc correspondent louisa pilbeam at the mall in london. people have been camping out and we are edging closer to the dawn hours and a lot going on. tell us what is happening. definitely. i think the excitement is really building

now because we are getting towards the morning and there are so many people around here, it is an incredible atmosphere. these out, i am loving the hats. ~ ., , ., these out, i am loving the hats. ~ ., ., these out, i am loving the hats. ~ . ., ~ hats. where are you from? we are from _ hats. where are you from? we are from near— hats. where are you from? we are from near gatwick, - hats. where are you from? we are from near gatwick, a - hats. where are you from? we are from near gatwick, a small village — are from near gatwick, a small village. we want to see the gold — village. we want to see the gold coaches and the profession and obviously the king was dumped everyone seems to be saying — dumped everyone seems to be saying that, the gold coach. and — saying that, the gold coach. and the _ saying that, the gold coach. and the pageantry? the atmosphere _ and the pageantry? the atmosphere here - and the pageantry? the atmosphere here is - and the pageantry? the atmosphere here isjust amazing. it isjust amazing. one — amazing. it isjust amazing. one aspect of this is sleep and some people are actually sleeping because obviously it is throughout the night and some guys have just woken up and they say it is all right for me to talk to them. good morning. for me to talk to them. good morning-— for me to talk to them. good morning. for me to talk to them. good morninu. ,, j , . morning. sleepy? very much so. we not morning. sleepy? very much so. we got here _ morning. sleepy? very much so. we got here at — morning. sleepy? very much so. we got here at about _ morning. sleepy? very much so. we got here at about 11. - morning. sleepy? very much so. we got here at about 11. a -

morning. sleepy? very much so. we got here at about 11. a lot - we got here at about 11. a lot of peeple _ we got here at about 11. a lot of people have _ we got here at about 11. a lot of people have been - we got here at about 11. a lot of people have been here - we got here at about 11. a lot of people have been here a l we got here at about 11. a lot| of people have been here a lot longer— of people have been here a lot longer than _ of people have been here a lot longer than that. _ of people have been here a lot longer than that. i— of people have been here a lot longer than that. i have - of people have been here a lot longer than that. i have had i longer than that. i have had ten days— longer than that. i have had ten days on_ longer than that. i have had ten days on the _ longer than that. i have had ten days on the other- longer than that. i have had ten days on the other side. i longer than that. i have had i ten days on the other side. we are almost _ ten days on the other side. are almost there. ten days on the other side. we are almost there. when - ten days on the other side. we are almost there. when the i ten days on the other side. we i are almost there. when the tent come down. _ are almost there. when the tent come down, we _ are almost there. when the tent come down, we can _ are almost there. when the tent come down, we can shuffle - are almost there. when the tent come down, we can shuffle ourl come down, we can shuffle our way through _ come down, we can shuffle our way through-— way through. lots of strategy here. way through. lots of strategy here- what — way through. lots of strategy here. what are _ way through. lots of strategy here. what are you _ way through. lots of strategy here. what are you looking . here. what are you looking forward to?— here. what are you looking forward to? seeing a nice big crown on _ forward to? seeing a nice big crown on charles's _ forward to? seeing a nice big crown on charles's had. - forward to? seeing a nice big crown on charles's had. and | forward to? seeing a nice big i crown on charles's had. and the carriaue. crown on charles's had. and the carriage. people _ crown on charles's had. and the carriage. people have _ crown on charles's had. and the carriage. people have come - crown on charles's had. and the | carriage. people have come from far and wide. _ carriage. people have come from far and wide. the _ carriage. people have come from far and wide. the cameramen - far and wide. the cameramen doing some gymnastics. you are from china? _ doing some gymnastics. you are from china? yes. _ doing some gymnastics. you are from china? yes. we _ doing some gymnastics. you are from china? yes. we study - doing some gymnastics. you are | from china? yes. we study here. we study at _ from china? yes. we study here. we study at king's _ from china? yes. we study here. we study at king's college. - we study at king's college. what — we study at king's college. what are _ we study at king's college. what are you _ we study at king's college. what are you looking - we study at king's college. i what are you looking forward we study at king's college. - what are you looking forward to see? .., ., ., ., what are you looking forward to see? ., ., ., ., see? the coronation, all aspects _ see? the coronation, all meets and _ see? the coronation, all aspects and we - see? the coronation, all aspects and we just - see? the coronation, all| aspects and we just come see? the coronation, all- aspects and we just come here and sit — aspects and we just come here and sit here, awaiting for all these — and sit here, awaiting for all these things.— and sit here, awaiting for all these thins. . ~' ,, . these things. thank you so much and i hope _ these things. thank you so much and i hope you — these things. thank you so much and i hope you have _ these things. thank you so much and i hope you have a _ these things. thank you so much and i hope you have a lovely - and i hope you have a lovely time. there are lots of

different outfits. will you speak to me? i love your outfit. . ~' , ., speak to me? i love your outfit-_ why i speak to me? i love your. outfit._ why did speak to me? i love your- outfit._ why did you outfit. thank you. why did you want to be _ outfit. thank you. why did you want to be here _ outfit. thank you. why did you want to be here today? - outfit. thank you. why did you want to be here today? just i outfit. thank you. why did you want to be here today? just to j want to be here today? just to soak u- want to be here today? just to soak no the — want to be here today? just to soak up the atmosphere. - want to be here today? just to | soak up the atmosphere. what has it— soak up the atmosphere. what has it been like?— has it been like? brilliant. as i mentioned, _ has it been like? brilliant. as i mentioned, the _ has it been like? brilliant. as i mentioned, the outfits, - i mentioned, the outfits, people have made such an effort. this is a very classy outfit. , , . outfit. this is a little journal _ outfit. this is a little journal i _ outfit. this is a little journal i have - outfit. this is a little journal i have been i outfit. this is a little - journall have been keeping journal i have been keeping since — journal i have been keeping since the queen's gallery believe _ since the queen's gallery believe. taking a few little notes _ believe. taking a few little notes. also i have kept it from the queen's gallery as well. and — the queen's gallery as well. and i— the queen's gallery as well. and i queued up 11 hours to see her lying—in—state. i met some lovely— her lying—in—state. i met some lovely people and friends here and we — lovely people and friends here and we have kept in touch. why do ou and we have kept in touch. why do you do _

and we have kept in touch. why do you do this? _ and we have kept in touch. why do you do this? it _ and we have kept in touch. “twig do you do this? it sounds and we have kept in touch. way do you do this? it sounds like you are an expert. why do you come? i you are an expert. why do you come? ., ., , come? i enjoy it, not only the atmosphere _ come? i enjoy it, not only the atmosphere but _ come? i enjoy it, not only the atmosphere but meeting - come? i enjoy it, not only the atmosphere but meeting new| atmosphere but meeting new people — atmosphere but meeting new people as well and keeping in touch — people as well and keeping in touch i— people as well and keeping in touch. i would love to see if the — touch. i would love to see if the king _ touch. i would love to see if the king and i would like to say to— the king and i would like to say to the king, please, see me — say to the king, please, see me. , , say to the king, please, see me, , , ., say to the king, please, see me. , , ., , ., say to the king, please, see me. , , . me. girls, have you come together? _ me. girls, have you come together? yes _ me. girls, have you come together? yes we - me. girls, have you come together? yes we arrived| together? yes we arrived yesterday- _ together? yes we arrived yesterday. we _ together? yes we arrived yesterday. we were - together? yes we arrived yesterday. we were here| together? yes we arrived - yesterday. we were here when kate _ yesterday. we were here when kate and — yesterday. we were here when kate and william did the walk around — kate and william did the walk around us that kate had a chat with _ around us that kate had a chat with nry — around us that kate had a chat with my daughter.— with my daughter. what happened? _ with my daughter. what happened? she - with my daughter. what happened? she was - with my daughter. what l happened? she was being with my daughter. what - happened? she was being really nice and — happened? she was being really nice and asked _ happened? she was being really nice and asked how— happened? she was being really nice and asked how our- happened? she was being really nice and asked how our day- happened? she was being really| nice and asked how our day was. they— nice and asked how our day was. they definitely _ nice and asked how our day was. they definitely seem _ nice and asked how our day was. they definitely seem very- they definitely seem very popular. they definitely seem very --oular. ., they definitely seem very “oular. ., .., they definitely seem very .o ular, ., .., ., they definitely seem very --oular. ., ., , popular. you came together? yes and we got _ popular. you came together? yes and we got some _ popular. you came together? yes and we got some selfies - popular. you came together? yes and we got some selfies with - and we got some selfies with william — and we got some selfies with william and kate. did and we got some selfies with william and kate.— and we got some selfies with william and kate. did you! what are ou william and kate. did you! what are you most — william and kate. did you! what are you most looking _ william and kate. did you! what are you most looking forward . william and kate. did you! what are you most looking forward to | are you most looking forward to seeing? bill are you most looking forward to seeinr ? �* ., , , are you most looking forward to seeina? �* ., , , ., ., seeing? all the horses and of the guards. _ seeing? all the horses and of the guards, the _ seeing? all the horses and of the guards, the carriage, - seeing? all the horses and of the guards, the carriage, just

the guards, the carriage, just the whole experience was up it would — the whole experience was up it would be — the whole experience was up it would be amazing. in the whole experience was up it would be amazing.— would be amazing. in each service we _ would be amazing. in each service we have _ would be amazing. in each service we have been - would be amazing. in each - service we have been attending or whatever, _ service we have been attending or whatever, it _ service we have been attending or whatever, it is— service we have been attending or whatever, it is important- service we have been attending or whatever, it is important toi or whatever, it is important to 'ust or whatever, it is important to just get— or whatever, it is important to just get involved. _ or whatever, it is important to just get involved. i— or whatever, it is important to just get involved.— just get involved. i have heard that it is a _ just get involved. i have heard that it is a part _ just get involved. i have heard that it is a part of— just get involved. i have heard that it is a part of history - that it is a part of history and looking forward to that aspect. we are right at the front of the queue and it is really building. it is getting busier and busier and it is only going to get busier as the morning goes on. me only going to get busier as the morning goes on.— only going to get busier as the morning goes on. we are seeing --eole morning goes on. we are seeing people young _ morning goes on. we are seeing people young and _ morning goes on. we are seeing people young and old, _ morning goes on. we are seeing people young and old, people i people young and old, people from around the world. what is the unifying factor? is it people are fascinated with the royal family, the pageantry of this coronation? d0 royal family, the pageantry of this coronation?— royal family, the pageantry of this coronation? do you know, i think it is _ this coronation? do you know, i think it is actually _ this coronation? do you know, i think it is actually the _ think it is actually the history. so many people have said to me it is such a great thing for britain to have this long history. of course it has

been a thousand years that kings and queens have been culminated in this country so i think that is it, it is the history and also the atmosphere, community, people coming together. there's a lot of things that are brought people out here today but not as many people in terms of the royal family, the enthusiasm. i thought people would be just in one section as being royal fans but people have had their own motivation.— motivation. lovely talking to ou, motivation. lovely talking to you. louisa _ motivation. lovely talking to you, louisa pilbeam, - motivation. lovely talking to you, louisa pilbeam, for- you, louisa pilbeam, for soaking up the atmosphere and we will speak to you later. well, let's take a closer look now at the main events happening over this coronation weekend. if you're watching from the us, it's an early start. the formal celebrations will begin with a procession from buckingham palace, due to get underway at 10:20 local time — that's 5:20 est. we'll see king charles iii and queen consort camilla make their way down the mall in the diamond jubilee stage coach. around and down to here. this is westminster abbey.

the king will enter the abbey through the great west door at10:53, wearing a red velvet robe of state. the ceremony is due to begin at 11:00 local time — that's 6am est — and will be punctuated by music selected by the king. and will be punctuated by music selected by the king. his grandson, prince george will be among the pages. the king and queen consort will then return back to buckingham palace and head to the west terrace. at 2:30pm local time — that's 9:30am est — the royals will gather on the buckingham palace balcony for a fly—past. this marks the end of the day's public celebrations. it will involve members of the army, royal navy and royal air force, culminating in a display by the red arrows. on sunday, the public is being invited to hold their own parties, in what's been called the coronation big lunch. sunday evening local time, we'll see the coronation concert at windsor castle. the weekend wraps up with the big help 0ut, designed to encourage the public to get out and volunter in their local communities.

joining me to discuss is richard berthelsen, a royal commentator who has also served as private secretary and advisor to several of the monarch's representatives in canada. tell us more about the significance of this entire weekend. it seems buckingham palace wants to sure they are the public?— palace wants to sure they are the public? that's right. there are so few _ the public? that's right. there are so few people _ the public? that's right. there are so few people who - the public? that's right. there are so few people who can - the public? that's right. there are so few people who can go| the public? that's right. there i are so few people who can go to the abbey, just over 2200 people and we have seen some people and we have seen some people but that is not everybody. the focus of the weekend is to present the monarchy as an institution of service and to focus on that the very first thing the king will say when he arrives at the abbey tomorrow is i come not to be served but to serve and that would be the thread throughout the weekend. we have the coronation big lunch, the

people attending the concert have been chosen from the community for their service and we have an entire day of service where all members of the royal family will be focusing on community service so this is a real recasting of the monarchy and also a suggestion to people that while not everyone will be interested in the intricacies of the religious ceremony tomorrow morning at the abbey, they will be interested in the concert, the communities, and community groups. irate the communities, and community u-rous. ~ , , groups. we were 'ust listening to a math groups. we were 'ust listening to a royal fan — groups. we were just listening to a royal fan down _ groups. we were just listening to a royal fan down at - groups. we were just listening to a royal fan down at the - groups. we were just listening | to a royal fan down at the mall saying she had been following the queensjubilee as well. remind us again what a ride the last year and a half has been for the royal family. irate last year and a half has been for the royal family. we saw the queen's _ for the royal family. we saw the queen's gallery - for the royal family. we saw the queen's gallery declining health over the last two years, let's say. we had thejubilee.

we saw little of the queen but there were huge crowds and celebrations over the weekend. catching breath from that, it was a clear from july, late july, was a clear from july, late july, that the queen wasn't well. we had the death in september. two weeks of observances followed. a little more than six months later, the coronation. it is indicative of how short this reign is going to be that the king feels he has to get these things done very quickly to proceed, to either modernise and contemporary touches, because of the monarchy is evolving before our very i am very quickly, to remain relevant in the 21st century.— quickly, to remain relevant in the 21st century. what is king charles facing _ the 21st century. what is king charles facing as _

the 21st century. what is king charles facing as he - the 21st century. what is king charles facing as he enters i charles facing as he enters this massive coronation day in the uk? it this massive coronation day in the uk? , , , , , the uk? it is his destiny he is facin: the uk? it is his destiny he is facing but — the uk? it is his destiny he is facing but he _ the uk? it is his destiny he is facing but he is _ the uk? it is his destiny he is facing but he is facing - the uk? it is his destiny he is facing but he is facing huge i facing but he is facing huge headwinds. there would be protests, which we have rarely seen at any vile event and in countries like canada, australia, new zealand, the caribbean countries led by jamaica, they will question whether or not a sovereign based in the uk can remain with their head of state. there will be some really big headwinds. i think the palace is sanguine about some of that. with the king will be focused on retaining the commonwealth which is now up to 56 nations and continues to be a very strong entity. a strong luncheon today for commonwealth heads of government today. the king will also be canvassing to

remain relevant in the uk, particularly in a monarchy where there are only two monarchs under the age of 50 and until the children come to the fore in 10—50 years, this is an ageing monarchy in a society where youth are not seeing the relevance of the monarchy. seeing the relevance of the monarchy-— seeing the relevance of the monarch . ., , , ., monarchy. how is this ageing monarchy _ monarchy. how is this ageing monarchy seen _ monarchy. how is this ageing monarchy seen in _ monarchy. how is this ageing monarchy seen in canada? i monarchy. how is this ageing i monarchy seen in canada? they have seemed — monarchy seen in canada? they have seemed less _ monarchy seen in canada? they have seemed less relevant - have seemed less relevant because we have seen less of them, particularly during covid times when we did not have it to us or visits. that has been a declining interest in those kinds of things in canada over the last 15—20 years as the queen has aged and has not been able to be connected to the canadian life to some extent. charles has been extremely busy filling in for his mother when she was not able to travel. his workload has dramatically

increased and this is one of the significant problems with this particular royal family is they are down to 11 working members of the royal family. 50 countries head of state and 56 countries head of state and 56 countries in the commonwealth and the amount does not really work. give people looking to other symbols in society to see as mentors or look up to and the monarchy has to play a real role in demonstrating service which is i think the point of this coronation.— which is i think the point of this coronation. how do you think this — this coronation. how do you think this coronation - this coronation. how do you think this coronation we - this coronation. how do you think this coronation we can help the palace, the king reengage with people? i think any coronation _ reengage with people? i think any coronation solidifies - reengage with people? i think any coronation solidifies the l any coronation solidifies the position of the bonnet. the whole point is to demonstrate this is now the person in charge after a previous of morning the previous reign. there will be challenges. the changes the king has made in this ceremony are things that

are important to him. the floral and blood in limitation, the flowers in the church. —— floral emblem. it is connecting him to the natural world. the real key is whether people are going to see themselves in all the religious aspects of the monarchy at a time when religion and participation in churches is dramatically decreasing and that is going to be a very big challenge because at its heart, the coronation is fundamentally a religious service. , , service. very interesting. it is been a — service. very interesting. it is been a pleasure - service. very interesting. itj is been a pleasure speaking service. very interesting. it i is been a pleasure speaking to you all evening and we hope you enjoyed the ceremony. around 100 heads of state are in london for the coronation, with representatives from more than 200 countries in attendance. the united states first lady jill biden was greeted at number 10 downing street by the prime minister rishi sunak�*s wife, akshata murthy.

ahead of the coronation, the pair visited the charles dickens primary school, where students greeted them with golden crowns and a tea party. 0ur diplomatic correspondent james landale has more on that, as well as the coronation guest list and the diplomatic tightropes involved. a warning his report does include flashing images. three, two, one... applause. correlations may be grand ceremony but they are also a time for high diplomacy. today, the king met commonwealth leaders all togetherfor the king met commonwealth leaders all together for the first time in his reign. in downing street they rolled up the red carpet so the prime minister would have a few meetings of his own. but this was perhaps the most important conversation, between the foreign secretary and china's vice president. hang jen here to represent president xi used to represent president xi used to run china's policy on hong kong. when new security laws prompted riots as people resisted a crackdown on their rights and freedoms. the foreign secretary said he raised areas of deep

disagreement, including hong kong, but he also talked about vital cooperation about trade and climate change. but for hong kong citizens in britain, there was disappointment at his presence. he there was disappointment at his resence. , , , presence. he is representing the political _ presence. he is representing the political terror _ presence. he is representing the political terror of - presence. he is representing the political terror of the - the political terror of the chinese party so inviting him to this really special occasion that could bring a lot of trauma to some extent to some hong kong people, they will see it as an insult to the community.- it as an insult to the community. it as an insult to the communi . �* ., , ., community. all heads of state not an community. all heads of state got an invitation, _ community. all heads of state got an invitation, except - community. all heads of state | got an invitation, except those with whom britain has four diplomatic relations, so not invited whether leaders of russia, belarus, iran, myanmar, syria, afghanistan and venezuela. the us president has declined his invitation. his wife doctorjill biden easier in his stead. buckingham palace at about 100 heads of state have agreed to come. this is church house, around the corner from the abbey, and it will become a sort of grand erp waiting room where world

leaders gather before and after the service. i will have privacy, coffee and time on their hands. perfect conditions for a spot of light diplomacy. a lot of people in the us are also watching the coronation. helena humphrey is outside the queen vic, a british pub here in washington dc. tell us what people there have been saying about the coronation.— been saying about the coronation. ., , , ., coronation. hello. definitely a sense of anticipation - coronation. hello. definitely a sense of anticipation building l sense of anticipation building here and i want to show you this. i may be in the heart of washington, dc, the us capitol, but it does not get any more british than this, it makes me a bit homesick, actually, a red telephone booth here, the perfect backdrop for this coronation party, the watch party which will be taking place here tomorrow. tables have already been sold out, in fact. i want to tell you to the invitation that has gone out to people, tables sold out and you

have to be pretty brave, pretty committed if you show up for the festivities which start at six am due to the time difference. i've been speaking to the bar owner who says he expects people to show up in an outfit they may wear to the palace, perhaps, with their fascinate is. he says he really thinks that one of the reasons that there has been this interest is because it is about history it's about bearing witness to history. most people in this bar tonight did not watch the coronation in 1935 so seven decades on, it's an opportunity to come together and see images which will be going right around the globe and, of course, have a good time at the same time because taking a look at the menu, fish and chips, full english breakfast with beans, sausages, bacon and the like, some tea perhaps, people will be drinking, perhaps that is a little bit too british to be drinking at 6pm but certainly, people are getting ready to have a good time ——at 6am. we

are seeing it at various parties, whether it is a picnic in central part, brings on the beachin in central part, brings on the beach in miami, various people having garden parties for example in la so things are going on across the country if you look for it —— central park. it is not to say the whole country is on tenterhooks, waiting for the coronation but certainly, there is an interest and a feeling that people will be bearing witness to a moment in history. that's interesting, is exactly what our correspondent at the mall said, people seem to be enchanted but the sense of being part of history but beyond that, how do americans feel about the monarchy? i think it's fair to say it's an ever evolving discussion, you know? we're almost 250 years on from american independence, breaking from british colonial rule, so keeping that in mind but at the same time as well, geographically, cognisant of the fact that caribbean nations

nearby here that are in the commonwealth are talking about whether they want to see their future continue with a sovereign with a monarch, which is not in their country, and that's something people are aware of here as well. a lot of people though see it as an opportunity to enjoy themselves, have a good time. certainly, there is some kind of fascination with the pomp and ceremony and circumstance provided by the british monarchy, one superfan, monarchy, one super fan, american monarchy, one superfan, american superfan, in london said the only comparable type of thing would be the tickertape parade after the yankees victory in the world series, so you can see the differences there as well. in terms of popularity, a lot of people i've been speaking to still have fond memories of queen elizabeth ii, reflected in an ipsos poll which found she remains the most popular member of the british royal family in this country. more mixed feelings, i think it is fair to say, for king charles.

and helena, quickly, seemed overly interested in the menu. will you be watching the coronation at six in the morning?— coronation at six in the mornin:? , ., , morning? maybe not then but i will certainly _ morning? maybe not then but i will certainly be _ morning? maybe not then but i will certainly be finding - morning? maybe not then but i will certainly be finding a - morning? maybe not then but i will certainly be finding a way i will certainly be finding a way to mark it in my own way, perhaps with a cup of tea, as many suggest, but after a late night here, 6am, perhaps not. helena humphrey at the queen vic in washington, we will let you go. today's event will bring back memories for those who played a part in the last coronation, of queen elizabeth ii in 1953. 0ur royal correspondent daniela relph has been talking to three people who were at that coronation 70 years ago. memories may fade, but some never lose their lustre. vivat regina! # vivat! # regina elizabetha! # vivat!

that was... giggles. 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'd already got quite a way in before we shouted "vivat". and we knew we were privileged but being young boys, we had plenty of other things to do and it didn't sort of hit us so much that we were uniquely privileged. this is your amazing scrapbook. as well as the sound, the look of the coronation mattered, too. eve morris was a 17—year—old apprentice for designer norman hartnell, who made the queen's coronation gown. her scrapbook is rich in detail, designs, fabrics and the letter with instructions for the big day. "please take sandwiches with you and a 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 living at home at the time. i was only 17 — i was still at home. 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 past 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. plays tune. 91 years old and still playing. now a chelsea pensioner, basil king was amongst the crowds lining the procession route on coronation day as a trumpeter with the band of the royal military school of music.

there was excitement around but — and ifelt — just me, i suppose — 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 sort of mind. it's been a great day — apart from the weather. universally modest about their contributions, they will all be watching closely tomorrow. daniela relph, bbc news. there's much more to get you ready for the coronation on our website, including a 3d look at the historic st edward's crown that will be placed on the head of king charles iii — a crown that is rarely seen outside the tower of london. it will be worn for less than an hour before being stored away for the coronation of the next monarch. that's our show at this hour. let's bring you one more image

of london life from this hour, almost 430 in the morning, just hours ahead of the coronation. keep it right here for all of the royal coverage. thank you for watching. hello there. the coronation is almost here and the heavy showers that we had on friday, those have been fading away. we had some late in the day lovely rainbows but earlier on, there was a lot of thunder and lightning. those have pushed clear but we need to look to the south now, into the english channel. this is where our weather is now coming from, the cloud thickening up and these weather fronts will bring some rain. so, this is the forecast for the coronation in central london. looks cloudy, there'll be some rain from time to time. temperatures are not going to be as high as the 20 degrees that we had on friday. we start with ten degrees in london first thing on saturday, seven or eight further north, just one of two showers left over here but we've got this patchy rain here developing in southern england, moving steadily northwards into wales, the midlands, eventually into east anglia and lincolnshire. for northern england, scotland,

northern ireland some sunny spells breaking out but also some heavy showers developing. in between those heavy showers in the sunshine, temperatures could reach 17 or 18 degrees. under the cloud and the rain across england and wales nearer 1a or 15 celsius. there could be some wet weather into the night as well before finally pushing away out into the north sea and then, we'll see some sunny spells on sunday but also some showers. more likely to have those showers in scotland and down the eastern side of england, so further west, you may get away with a dry day. with some sunshine around, it should be a bit warmer for most areas — temperatures peaking at 20 or 21 across the south—east in the afternoon. but if we look to the west, more weather fronts are beginning to pile in from the atlantic and during the evening and overnight, we're going to find rain pushing its way eastwards across the whole of the country, so bank holiday monday starts cloudy with some rain around as well. that rain may be pushing its way eastwards but it will be followed by some sunshine and some showers. these could be heavy and thundery, particularly in northern ireland and western parts of scotland. temperatures, while not

quite as high, at around about 16—18 degrees. so, a real mixture of weather, i think, over the coronation weekend. unfortunately, there is rain in the forecast for many of us. wet weather developing on saturday. fewer showers on sunday but then, we're back into some heavy showers on monday. and this very mixed picture continues into next week. we're on the cooler side of the jet, so temperatures nothing to write home about. there'll be some sunshine but showers never too far away.

under the cover of darkness, thousands of troops from all across the uk and around the world are preparing. their mission dash to ensure the king's coronation passes without a hitch. just days before millions tune in to watch the coronation... they are able to practise their movements along the procession route.

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