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King Charles’s coronation is mere hours away. From the coronation concert to the extra bank hol, this weekend is set to be a big’un. There’s a lot going on, and we mean a lot, so we recommend you plan you time carefully.
Whether you’re planning to watch the whole thing from the comfort of your own home or are currently braving the crowds, we’ve got you covered. Below you’ll find a full breakdown of all the key moments, so you can time your toilet breaks down to the second or find temporary shelter from the rain.
RECOMMENDED: What time is the coronation flypast?
Keep reading the full deets on what’s happening and when, so you won’t miss a beat (or crown). Without further ado, here’s the full schedule for King Charles’s coronation weekend.
What time is King Charles’s coronation?
The Westminster service starts at 11am following a royal procession from Buckingham Palace.
What time does the coronation procession start?
The royal procession will leave Buckingham Palace at 10.20am.
What time does King Charles actually get crowned?
The King will be crowned at around 12pm. Want to make sure you see it? Here’s what you need to know.
How long will the coronation ceremony last?
The service at Westminster Abbey will start at 11am and finish at 1pm, lasting around two hours. You can see the full schedule here.
What’s the coronation timetable?
Saturday, May 6
6am Public viewing areas will open along the main procession route, down the Mall and through Whitehall.
7.15am Westminster Abbey guests start to arrive for security checks.
9am The congregation will begin to be seated inside Westminster Abbey.
9.30am Members of the royal family, heads of state and former prime ministers are scheduled to start arriving.
9.45am The Sovereign’s Escort of the Household Cavalry will assemble for the royal procession.
10.20am The King and Queen will set off from Buckingham Palace to begin the royal procession to Westminster Abbey in the Diamond Jubilee State Coach.
11am Charles and Camilla are expected to arrive at the abbey. The religious ceremony will begin, with the monarch entering through the Great West Door and walking to the central area of the building.
The event will have five stages. First, Charles will be proclaimed the ‘undoubted King’ and the service will be invited to shout ‘God Save the King!’ Second, the Archbishop of Canterbury will administer the coronation oath. Next the monarch will sit on the coronation chair and presented with royal regalia in order to be anointed (here’s everything you need to know about this sacred – and secret – part of the ceremony), then be crowned with St Edwards Crown. The conclusion of the ceremony will see King Charles take to the throne.
Afterwards, Queen Camilla will be anointed, crowned and enthroned in a shorter ceremony.
1pm The second procession takes place as the royals travel back to the palace.
1.45pm The Royal Salute will take place in which the King and Queen are saluted on the West Terrace of Buckingham Palace’s garden.
2.15pm Fifteen members of the royal family will congregate on the iconic Buckingham Palace balcony to watch the flypast, made up of aircrafts from the UK Armed Forces.
Sunday, May 7
12pm Coronation ‘Big Lunches’, organised by the Eden Project charity, will be held across the country as people dine and share food with their local communities in honour of the occasion.
8pm Celebrations will continue in the form of the coronation concert. Take That, Katy Perry and Lionel Richie will all be performing at Windsor Castle.
Monday, May 8
For the bank holiday and final day of celebrations, the King has asked the British public to get involved in some volunteering. It’s being dubbed ‘The Big Help Out’, and people can use an app to find opportunities in their local area.
How can I watch the coronation ceremony?
Unfortunately, only an exclusive group of invited guests will be able to watch the ceremony in person inside the Abbey.
However, members of the public can line the streets of London to catch a glimpse of the new monarchs on their procession to and from the ceremony.
There will be more than 30 big screens erected in cities across the country for people to gather and watch the occasion. You can also catch all of the proceedings on TV on BBC One, BBC Two, ITV 1 and Sky News or stream via BBC iPlayer, ITVX or the Sky News Youtube channel.
Read more: here’s where to watch the King’s coronation on a big screen.
Plus: here’s the full timetable for the King’s coronation.