Huge crowds are gathering in central London ahead of the Coronation of King Charles III and Camilla, the Queen Consort.Lavish displays of royal pageantry are expected, with processions planned either side of the service at Westminster Abbey.

The ceremony itself will be led by the Archbishop of Canterbury at 11:00 BST (10:00 GMT) and attended by the Royal Family as well as world leaders and dignitaries.On Friday, the King along with Prince William and Catherine greeted crowds on the Mall and hosted world leaders at Buckingham Palace.

A weekend of planned special events also includes street parties and a concert at Windsor Castle tomorrow, as well as a nationwide volunteering drive on Monday.Anti-monarchy protests are also expected, spearheaded by the group Republic – which is coordinating rallies in Trafalgar Square and around the UK.

The historic St Edward’s Crown will be placed on the head of King Charles III as part of a coronation ritual that goes back centuries. Rarely seen outside the Tower of London, the gold crown will be worn for less than an hour before being stored away for the coronation of the next monarch. As per a 2022 statement by the Palace, Her Majesty Queen Consort will be crowned alongside His Majesty King Charles III. As a first, she has opted out of a custom-made crown and will be coronated with Queen Mary’s crown.