AAs darkness fell in the early hours of Tuesday, hundreds of British military personnel gathered on horseback outside Buckingham Palace to rehearse the parade they will take for the coronation of King Charles III on May 6.
The practice run – which included a 1.3-mile route between Westminster Abbey and Buckingham Palace that Charles and Camilla will complete – saw uniformed officers and horse-drawn carriages pass through central London by street lamp,
It appears that Buckingham Palace is leaving no stone unturned in planning for the historic event; The last time Britain hosted a coronation was 70 years ago, when the late Queen Elizabeth II was crowned in front of more than 8,000 guests. To mark the occasion, London is receiving a royal makeover before tourists from around the world flock to the capital to join in the festivities.
The balcony of Buckingham Palace is cleaned before the coronation on 18 April.
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Workers build a viewing grandstand in front of Buckingham Palace on April 13.
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A life-size cardboard cut-out of King Charles III and Camilla, Queen Consort, is displayed among 13,283 pieces of royal memorabilia by ardent monarchist Anita Atkinson at her Weardale Farm near Bishop Auckland, northern England, on March 31 Is.
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bleachers have already been installed on Horse Guards Parade where the public would observe a 62-round salute and a six-gun salute massive military demonstration Same day Carnaby Street and Regent Street, popular shopping areas in central London, will be decorated with large Union Jack flags and extravagant window displays on the city’s iconic stores. Mayfair’s Burlington Arcade will also display the national flowers of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
These scenes can be expected in homes and venues across the country, especially in the seven pubs located along the Processional Route. Airports are also starting to sell coronation-themed memorabilia to collect tourists and British heritage brands will introduce limited edition products.
Workers build a viewing grandstand in front of Buckingham Palace on April 13.
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A memorial is cleaned near Horse Guards Parade in London on 13 April.
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During this, Westminster Abbey, Where Charles and Camilla will be crowned in a symbolic ceremony performed by the Archbishop of Canterbury will be closed for preparations from April 25. The Royal Albert Hall, a world-renowned concert hall, will host a sold-out coronation theme promwhile the Ritz Hotel will hold ball where tickets will set each attendee back £1,250 ($1,553).
As London comes alive with novelty decorations and parties, TIME has selected the best images of the city’s transformation ever captured.
Members of the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment prepare for a night time rehearsal for the coronation of King Charles III at Hyde Park Barracks on April 17.
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A worker applies paint to official porcelain at the pottery factory in Stoke-on-Trent, where the official Coronation porcelain is produced on behalf of the Royal Collection Trust.
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Activists setting up seats at the Horse Guards parade on 17 April.
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A crown is installed atop a flag pole at The Mall on 17 April.
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Members of various religious communities attend the Coronation Big Lunch hosted by the Archbishop of Canterbury at Westminster Abbey on April 18.
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A night rehearsal for the coronation of King Charles III passes through the Houses of Parliament on 18 April.
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