The bunting is hung, the Union Jack flags are hoisted, and the royal emblems have been rolled out as Britain gets ready for a weekend of celebrations for the coronation of King Charles III. The monarch will be formally crowned in a ceremony on Saturday, and the festive agenda will run through the weekend, including a nationwide day off on Monday.
Here’s the official schedule of events:
Saturday
The coronation service will take place at 11 a.m. in Westminster Abbey. King Charles III and Camilla, the queen consort, will travel in a horse-drawn coach from Buckingham Palace through central London to arrive at Westminster Abbey. Crowds are expected to line the route, and the service will be broadcast on screens at several of London’s major parks.
The royal couple will then travel back to Buckingham Palace, accompanied by a mile-long procession of 4,000 troops. After an official salute from the armed forces, they will appear on the balcony of Buckingham Palace to greet the public.
Sunday
People in neighborhoods across Britain will gather during the day to share coronation lunches in what Buckingham Palace has called a “nationwide act of celebration and friendship.” Many of the country’s street parties, spread across the weekend, will also take place on Sunday.
At night, Windsor Castle will host a coronation concert for 20,000 people, and online viewers can watch it live via the BBC. Musical artists including Take That, Katy Perry, Tiwa Savage and Andrea Bocelli will take to the stage, as will performers from the Royal Ballet, the Royal Opera House and the Royal Shakespeare Company.
Monday
Capping off the official agenda for the weekend is “The Big Help Out,” an initiative in which charities and other organizations across Britain will offer volunteering opportunities for people who want to get involved.
Given that the initiative is intended as a tribute to King Charles III’s own public service, members of the royal family will also take part in charity events, Buckingham Palace said.
