World heads of state gather in London for the lavish coronation of Charles and Camilla | Coronation of King Charles

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Foreign royalty, heads of state and other dignitaries from around the world descended on London for the coronation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla, which will include a military spectacle unlike any seen in Britain for 70 years.

Seven thousand soldiers will be in parade with 19 military bands in the coronation procession running one mile from front to back, the most for any state event since the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II in 1953.

The ceremony will conclude with a balcony appearance by the Royal Family and, weather permitting, a trio of 60-aircraft services, including the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight and the Red Arrows.

In a message on the eve of the coronation, the Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak, said it would be “a moment of extraordinary national pride”. “It is a proud expression of our history, our culture and our traditions. A living proof of the modern character of our country. It is a cherished ritual through which a new era is born.”

The monarch and close family hosted a reception at Buckingham Palace for foreign royals and other high-profile guests including Jill Biden and Ukraine’s first lady, Olena Zelenska, on Friday evening.

King Charles hosting guests at Buckingham Palace on Friday evening, on the eve of the coronation ceremony. Photo: Reuters

He also conducted a last-minute rehearsal in Westminster Abbey during a busy day when the finishing touches were being put on the Coronation Theatre, the ceremony taking place in front of the high altar.

Royal fans, some of whom had camped out for days at the mall, were rewarded with a surprise ride by the King and the Prince and Princess of Wales.

King Charles meets members of the public at The Mall near Buckingham Palace. Photo: Toby Melville/AFP/Getty Images

Four thousand soldiers will participate in the coronation procession as the king and queen travel from Westminster Abbey in the Gold State carriage, while others will line the path five paces apart.

“With these numbers, it means that when we bring Their Majesties back to Buckingham Palace, and when the main items arrive at the Palace, the Mall will be filled left to right, front to back, and the back of the procession will remain only in Downing Street. A Department spokesperson said Defense “will be an iconic image of the day.”In total, 9,000 military personnel will take part in ceremonial and support roles.

The procession to Westminster Abbey will begin at 10.20 am and will consist of 200 horses and horses. Once the front wheels of the Diamond Jubilee coach bearing the royal couple have passed the central arch at Buckingham Palace, a three-duty honor guard with a band of Royal Marines will deliver the royal salute. The monastery will arrive in 33 minutes.

The governor would be accompanied by four divisions of cavalry, each with 24 horses. The procession will be led by the House Mounted Band of 48 horses, musicians, and their featured horse on the drum, Atlas and Apollo.

Once at the Abbey, the King and Queen will proceed to the coronation stage preceded by the priceless regalia, and followed by a procession of religious leaders, prime ministers and Commonwealth flag bearers.

Charles greets Owencar Domingo Pez, spokesman for the sacred springs of the Amazon, an indigenous elder, during an audience at Buckingham Palace. Photo: Getty Images

During the two-hour service, the king will be anointed and crowned in an ancient coronation chair – St. Edward’s Chair – located in the center of the 13th-century mosaic Cosmati Pavement, which has been the site of the coronation of kings and queens for more than 700 years. The queen will be anointed and enthroned on the estate chair.

Both will later be enthroned on the red velvet throne.

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In an ancient custom, 100 freshly minted 50p coins bearing an effigy of the crowned king would be exchanged for a shimmering, jeweled sacrificial sword.

The moment St Edward’s Crown is placed upon the King’s head a six-gun salvo will be fired from the Horse Guards Parade, a 13-pounder howitzer which has seen active service in both World Wars. A 62-gun salute will be fired from the Tower of London, and a 21-gun salute from salute stations across the UK, and ships at sea. Inside the monastery there will be a trumpet bang and the monastery bells will ring for two minutes.

Ukraine’s First Lady, Olena Zelenska, and the Prime Minister, Denis Shmyhal, arrive at Buckingham Palace. Photo: WPA/Getty Images

Buckingham Palace has confirmed that the Duke of Sussex and the Duke of York will not have an official role in the service, although both will attend.

The coronation procession from the Abbey will run from one mile from front to back, so long as it forms at The Mall and Whitehall at 12.45pm, the front being about halfway along the Mall and the rear at the Abbey. Exactly 15 seconds before its launch, ceremonial flags and batons are lowered and the command is given: “Coronation procession from the center. Rapid march.”

The Princess Royal will follow the King and Queen in the Golden State Coach, riding in procession as golden wand-in-waiting and Colonels of the Blues and Royals.

The Prince and Princess of Wales, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis will be in the first carriage. They will be followed by the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh and their children and the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester with Vice Admiral Sir Tim Lawrence in other carriages. Traveling by car, the Duke of Kent and Princess Alexandra completed the procession.

Inside the Buckingham Palace gardens, 4,000 soldiers will line up for the parade as the King and Queen move to West Terrace. The king and other members of the royal family will then head out onto the front porch of Buckingham Palace to greet the public crowds gathered in the mall.

A six-minute triple flight, weather permitting, is planned at around 2.15pm, including 60 aircraft including the Battle of Britain Memorial flight and the Red Arrows up to modern F35s and Typhoons.

The king and queen will then retire to a private lunch with family members.

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