King's Coronation day arrives as 'nervous' royals await Harry …
Charles has spent his entire life preparing for his role as King, and today he will finally be crowned at a Coronation filled with pomp and ceremony. The late Queen's oldest son officially became Monarch as soon as his mother died in September last year, but today Britain and the Commonwealth will celebrate the reign of King Charles III. His second wife Camilla will also be crowned today, dropping her Consort title to become known as Queen Camilla.
The Prince and Princess of Wales and their children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Princess Louis, will have starring roles in the two-hour long service at Westminster Abbey. They will be supported by the entire Royal Family, including Princess Anne, Prince Edward, Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie and disgraced Prince Andrew. Prince Harry is flying in from the US to watch his father's big day, however he's set to leave straight after the ceremony and miss the tomorrow's Coronation Concert.
It's the first time Harry will be reunited with his family since he made a series of shocking allegations against them in his controversial memoir, Spare. But he will make the trip solo after Meghan Markle declined his invitation, choosing instead to remain in their California mansion with Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet. In an unfortunate diary clash, the couple's oldest son Archie celebrates his fourth birthday today.
The King and Queen will take two processions through the streets of London, accompanied for what's expected to be a spectacular military display. Hundreds of service men and women will march the route from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Abbey with the Monarch. And the celebrations will spread much further than Westminster Abbey, with street parties planned up and down the UK.
The most dedicated royal fans have been camped out on The Mall since Wednesday afternoon, battling the rain and wind to make sure they've got the best seats in the house for the historical day.
04:30William WalkerCoronation spirit will not be dampened as King Charles says 'rain is a blessing'
In typical British style, rain will play a major part during King Charles' Coronation as the historic event finally arrives. Charles and Queen Camilla will be enthroned in a ceremony which will take place at Westminster Abbey on Saturday morning, with more than 2,200 people in attendance. Thunderstorms hit London on Friday and steady rain is forecast for Saturday by the Met Office but Charles remained upbeat about the weather when he spoke to well-wishers on The Mall on Friday.
He told a group of campers: "I hope you don't all get soaked. Rain is a blessing... except for your camera!"
Umbrellas will be needed during King Charles' Coronation (Getty Images)
For the full weather forecast click here.
04:15William WalkerWho are the other guests?
King Charles and Queen Camilla have invited 2,200 people to with Coronation at Westminster Abbey today. While it mind sound like a lot, it's a much smaller guestlist than the late Queen, who had 8,000 people in her congregation.
From Government, we'll see Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and his predecessors, including Boris Johnson and Liz Truss. The leader of the Opposition Sir Keir Starmer will also be there. First Minister of Scotland Humza Yousaf has accepted an invite, as has Sinn Fein's leader in Northern Ireland Michelle O'Neill.
President Joe Biden has declined his Coronation invitation, but his wife First Lady Jill Biden will be at the Abbey. European French president Emmanuel Macron, Germany and Italy's ceremonial presidents Frank-Walter Steinmeier and Sergio Mattarella will also be there.
(PA)
Chinese vice-president Han Zheng, Australian prime minister Anthony Albanese and Pakistani prime minister Shehbaz Sharif will also be there. Iran has not been invited to the King's coronation - joining a list that includes Russia, Belarus, Myanmar, Afghanistan, Syria and Venezuela.
And there will be no shortage of celebs to bring a bit of glamour to the event, with Lord Andrew Lloyd Webber, Ant and Dec, David and Victoria Beckham and Rowan Atkinson on the guest list.
04:00KEY EVENTWhich royals will be at the Coronation?
Almost the entire UK royal family will attend the ceremony, including Prince Harry and Prince Andrew. Prince William and Prince George will have starring roles in the service, and Princess Anne will be front and centre for the procession. However Meghan Markle, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet are missing the celebrations.
In a break from tradition, members of foreign royal families will be invited to the ceremony. Centuries-old tradition stated that a coronation should be a sacred ceremony between a monarch and their people in the presence of God. However, Prince Albert II and Princess Charlene of Monaco will be attending, along with King Willem-Alexander and Queen
Maxima of the Netherlands, King Philippe and Queen Mathilde of Belgium, King Carl XVI Gustaf and Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden and Dragon King of Bhutan Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck and his wife Queen Jetsun Pema Wangchuck. Spain's King Felipe and Queen Letizia are expected to be there.
Crown Prince Fumihito and Crown Princess Kiko of Japan will represent Emperor Naruhito at the ceremony.
04:00KEY EVENTIt's Coronation day! - Welcome to our live blog with all the latest developments
It's Coronation day! Hello and welcome to The Mirror's Royal Family live blog as the UK celebrates King Charles and Queen Camilla's Coronation. Today is the day we will see the results of months of planning and preparation, with a spectacular two-hour ceremony set to take place at Westminster Abbey.
In the past week we've seen the King, Queen and other royals take place in several rehearsals for the big event, including a final run through yesterday morning. After the final prep, Charles, William and Kate carried out a surprise walkabout on The Mall, during which they chatted to well-wishers already camped out to ensure they get the best seats in the house. During the outing, Kate admitted feeling some last minute nerves but said she was trying to act like a swan and appear calm on the outside.
The Royal Family will be out in force for the celebrations, with multiple appearances expected from the Monarch, Prince and Princess of Wales, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, Prince Louis and the rest of The Firm.
We'll be bringing you live updates throughout the day at the UK celebrates the reign of King Charles III.