and joining me now is sally bedell smith author of the book "elizabeth the queen," we've been lookingtoday as far as the world is concerned and reaffirming diplomatic ties? >> well, i think it is on the one hand it's unusual in that it is a state occasion as well as a religious occasion. so obviously there will be heads of state from all over the world, and they are coming to witness this extraordinary series of rituals that really make the monarch into the monarch that he is. he has been the monarch, obviously, since his mother died, but this is a particular celebration. it's both solemn and serious and joyful, but because he is -- in addition to being the head of state, he's also the supreme governor of the church of england. what i think is going to be so fascinating today, and what will be for many, many foreign leaders, a real sort of education in what the british -- the unique british constitutional monarchy is all about. and that will be displayed in all the different -- you know, the five different stages of the coronation, much of which has been explained. i mean, i've been s