Getting ready for the big day! With King Charles III and Queen Camilla’s coronation just days away, the royal couple took part in an overnight rehearsal that gave a glimpse of the elaborate festivities ahead.
In the early morning hours on Wednesday, May 3, members of the U.K.’s armed forces rehearsed the procession that will take Charles, 74, and Camilla, 75, from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Abbey for the coronation on Saturday, May 6.
Dressed in full uniformed regalia, the military personnel practiced their route on foot and on horseback, accompanying the king and queen in their horse-drawn carriages. Charles and Camilla will both ride to Westminster Abbey in the Diamond Jubilee State Coach, which was commissioned in 2012 to commemorate the 60th anniversary of Queen Elizabeth II’s reign.
After the ceremony, the duo — who wed in 2005 — will travel back to Buckingham Palace in the Gold State Coach, which was built in 1762. The carriage has been used at every coronation since King William IV’s in 1831.
Charles and Camilla — who both immediately assumed their new titles after the queen’s death at age 96 in September 2022 — will be surrounded by their loved ones during the official crowning. Among the attendees are the former Prince of Wales’ sons, Prince William and Prince Harry.
During the ceremony, William, 40, will present his father with the Stole Royal and the Robe Royal, according to the official liturgy shared on the Church of England’s website.
The Duke of Cambridge and his wife, Princess Kate, and their three children — Prince George, 9, Princess Charlotte, 8, and Prince Louis, 5 — will all participate in the coronation procession from Westminster Abbey to Buckingham Palace. George will have an additional role of his own, serving as one of four Pages of Honor.
Harry, 38, for his part — who stepped back from his senior duties in 2020 along with wife Meghan Markle — will not have a role in the coronation.
Royal expert Gareth Russell exclusively told Us Weekly on Tuesday, May 2, that it’s not “surprising that Prince Harry hasn’t been giving a role” in his father’s big day. Russell added that he thinks the Firm chose “not to complicate matters further by having him involved.”
The Duke of Sussex has spoken out against the Institution on numerous occasions, including in his January memoir, Spare. In the book, he made several allegations against his father and brother, including a claim that the king’s team cooperated with the U.K. media to plant negative stories about Harry and William in the press amid his controversial romance with Camilla.
Despite the family drama, a source exclusively told Us in April that Charles is “thrilled” that the BetterUp CIO will be present for his official crowning. Meghan, 41, for her part, will remain in California with her and Harry’s Children: Prince Archie — who turns 4 the same day as the coronation — and Princess Lilibet, 23 months.
Keep scrolling to see the striking photos from Charles’ procession rehearsal:
