KING Charles and Queen Camilla have arrived at Westminster Abbey as they prepare to be crowned in a historic day.

The pair left Buckingham Palace in the Diamond Jubilee State Coach this morning to a chorus of God Save the King.

They were joined on the procession to Westminster Abbey by 200 members of the Armed Forces, mainly from the Sovereign’s Escort of the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment.

Charles, 74, and Queen Camilla will be crowned in a spectacular ceremony expected to be watched by 350million people.

It comes as…

• Prince Harry has been relegated to the third row at the ceremony
• All the details for the day have been released
• George, Charlotte and Louis are set for a starring role inthe procession
• UK news publishers will be able to livestream the coronation after the BBC sparked outrage with a blackout

Read more on the coronation

A look at the timing of the procession before King Charles’ coronation

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Celebs and world leaders eagerly waited at the Abbey where Charles pledges his life to his country.

Other members of the royal family made their way separately to the service.

Prince Harry was among the group after he accepted an invitation for his dad's big day – although Meghan Markle is remaining in the US for Archie's birthday.

But the Duke of Sussex is relegated to the third row amid a fallout with his dad and brother after the release of explosive biography Spare.

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He is sitting with Princess Eugenie, her husband Jack Brooksbank, the Queen's cousin Princess Alexandra, Princess Beatrice and her husband Edo Mapelli Mozzi.

Thousands of royal superfans packed into viewing areas from 6am to watch the procession.

The government tweeted just over two hours later confirming all the viewing areas were full – with people being urged to head to Hyde Park instead to watch the action on the big screen.

A ring of steel has been placed around London for the ceremony with snipers seen perched on the roof of the royal residence today.

Metropolitan police and military police officers are also patrolling in huge numbers with gun cops scattered around the procession route.

Anti-monarchy group Republic threatened to spoil proceedings with a protest but were booed by the waiting crowds, who broke out in a rousing chorus of the national anthem to silence the agitators.

The King and Queen Consort are expected to be crowned at midday to a rousing cheer of “God Save the King!” as a fanfare of trumpets blares out.

The coronation procession at 1pm will ramp up the day's pomp and pageantry as the couple leave Westminster Abbey.

In scenes similar to his mother's coronation, Charles and Camilla will make the journey back to Buckingham Palace in the 260-year-old Gold State Coach.

Famously uncomfortable, the four tonne gilded coach is suspended on leather straps and can only be pulled by eight horses.

The Queen used the carriage for both her processions and later described the bumpy ride as "horrible".

Perhaps with this in mind, the route has been limited to 1.3 miles in comparison to Her Majesty's own five-mile procession.

Charles and Camilla will be followed by other royals – including Princess Kate, Prince William and their three children Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis.

Princess Anne has been given the role of “Gold-Stick-in-Waiting”, meaning she is ceremonially in charge of her brother's safety.

Prince Edward, Sophie Wessex and their two children Louise and James are also in the procession along with the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester and Princess Anne’s husband Sir Timothy Laurence.

A whopping 4,000 members of the Armed Forces including 416 from the Commonwealth and British Overseas Territories will join the march.

There will also be 19 military bands marching in an exact rhythm in a massive ceremonial operation not seen since the Queen's coronation.

In fact, so many military personnel are included that the back of the group will only just have reached Downing Street by the time the first arrive a mile away at Buckingham Palace.

There will be a chance to glimpse the royals again at around 2.30pm when they appear in the balcony for a flypast.

It is not yet clear which members of the family are taking part but the Palace has already confirmed Harry and Prince Andrew will have no formal role in the coronation.

Spitfires, Hurricanes and a Lancaster bomber from the Battle of Britain will roar above the crowds in an impressive six-minute display.

The Red Arrows will then turn the sky red, white and blue as they bring the day's landmark festivities to a close.

The historic day will likely be poignant for Charles following the death of his "dear Mama" in September.

Aged just four, he watched in 1953 as the Queen dedicated herself to a life of service.

At the time, a young Charles probably could not have predicted waiting 70 years for his own coronation.

Over the years, the King has expressed a desire to thrust the royal family into the modern age, which will be reflected in today's service.

Charles has shunned the extravagant trappings of wealth seen in his own mother's £1.57million ceremony as he moves towards a stripped-back monarchy.

The guestlist has been slashed to just 2,000, compared to the Queen's 8,250, and the length of the service has been drastically reduced.

Even the dress code is different, with the King opting to wear military uniform instead of the silk stockings and breeches seen in the past.

But he will still wear the sacred garments – including a crimson Robe of State made for his grandfather George VI’s coronation in 1937 as he first enters the Abbey.

Charles is the first king to be crowned in Britain since his grandfather King George VI on May 12, 1937.

The Queen had attended the ceremony at Westminster Abbey before her own coronation just 16 years later after the death of her father.

Although not much time had passed, her own ceremony reflected a more modern monarchy after it was aired on TV for the first time ever.

More than 20 million people watched as St Edward's crown was placed on her head at the end of the three-hour ceremony.

Brits celebrated with street parties up and down the country while others tuned in from pubs and cinemas.

Charles was by his mother's side when she passed away in September aged 96.

He later paid tribute to his "darling mama" and vowed to renew her promise of a "lifelong service".

What happens in the coronation?

Once all guests are seated inside Westminster Abbey,the greeting of the King takes place and there is a moment of silent prayer.

The Archbishop of Canterbury then gives an introduction as the King stands in the coronation theatre and turns to show himself to the people at each of the four directions – east, south, west and north.

He is presented with the coronation bible and takes the oath, and then prays aloud with the King's Prayer.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak reads the Epistle and the archbishop delivers his sermon.

The King takes off his crimson robe of state and wears a simple white shirt for the private anointing with holy oil in the coronation chair behind a screen, in the most sacred part of the ceremony.

In the investiture, the King puts on a sleeveless white garment called the colobium sindonis, a shimmering gold-sleeved coat called the supertunica and a golden coronation girdle around his waist.

He is presented with the golden spurs, symbolising knighthood and chivalry, the jewelled sword of offering and the armills, the bracelets of sincerity of wisdom.

The King puts on the stole royal – a long, narrow embroidered band of gold silk which goes around the shoulders, mirroring outfits worn by a priest or a bishop.

The Prince of Wales steps forward to help dress the King in the golden brocaded cloak, the imperial mantle – or robe royal.

Next the King holds the sovereign's orb, before it is returned to the altar and touches the sovereign's ring, puts on the single white coronation glove to hold the sovereign's sceptre with cross in his right hand, with sovereign's sceptre with dove in his left, ready to be crowned.

After he is crowned, gun salutes will ring out from the Tower of London before the King is enthroned on his throne chair.

The archbishop pays homage, followed by the Prince of Wales's homage of royal blood, and then the new homage of the people takes place.

The Queen is anointed with holy oil in full public view in her chair of estate.

She touches the Queen Consort's ring and and is then crowned by the archbishop with Queen Mary's Crown.

Camilla will touch the Queen Consort's sceptre with cross and the ivory Queen Consort's rod with dove.

She is then is enthroned on her throne chair as the Lord's Prayer is said.

Camilla and Charles will then change into their purple robes of estate in St Edward's Chapel behind the altar and Charles puts on the Imperial State Crown.

The national anthem is sung and the King's outward procession, including the Prince and Princess of Wales and their children, makes its way to the Great West Door, where the King receives a greeting by leaders and representatives from different faith communities.

Charles also praised his mother in the speech and the “affection, admiration and respect” she inspired that “became the hallmark of her reign”.

And he spoke of her "unswerving dedication" as he took a "solemn pledge" to uphold the same "constitutional principles" for "the remaining time god grants me".

The King also poignantly touched on the Queen's "qualities with warmth, humour and an unerring ability always to see the best in people.”

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He ended the speech by saying: "To my darling Mama, as you begin your last great journey to join my dear late Papa, I want simply to say this: thank you.

"Thank you for your love and devotion to our family and to the family of nations you have served so diligently all these years. May ‘flights of angels sing thee to thy rest’.”

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