Culture

Full dress rehearsal takes place ahead of coronation

Members of the military march near Buckingham Palace in central London, May 2, 2023 during a rehearsal for the coronation of King Charles III which will take place at Westminster Abbey on May 6.
Vadim Ghirda/AP

May 03, 2023, 4:40 PM

While the city of London slept, the dress rehearsal for the coronation procession took place, complete with white horses pulling gold carriages and guards marching.

PHOTO: A member of the military marches on The Mall, in central London, early Wednesday, May 3, 2023, during a rehearsal for the Coronation of King Charles III — A member of the military marches on The Mall, in central London, early Wednesday, May 3, 2023, during a rehearsal for the Coronation of King Charles III which will take place on May 6.
Andreea Alexandru/AP

The coronation for King Charles III will take place on Saturday, but in the darkness early Wednesday, the participants held a full-dress rehearsal for the big day.

A member of the military marches on The Mall, in central London, early Wednesday, May 3, 2023, during a full-dress rehearsal for the Coronation of King Charles III.
Andreea Alexandru/AP

Members of the British armed forces and the palace guards practiced their steps along the route the king and queen will take to and from Westminster Abbey for the formal crowning.

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White horses pulled the Golden State coach that will carry the newly crowned King following coronation ceremony.

The Gold State Coach is driven alongside members of the military during a full overnight dress rehearsal of the coronation procession for Britain's King Charles and Camilla, Queen Consort, in London, May 3, 2023.
Henry Nicholls/Reuters

The Gold State Coach is accompanied by members of the military during a full overnight dress rehearsal ahead of the coronation for King Charles and Camilla, Queen Consort, in London, May 3, 2023.
Henry Nicholls/Reuters

The Diamond Jubilee State coach also came out of storage, illuminated with lights. It was pulled by white horses along the route, where thousands of onlookers are expected to witness the event. That coach will carry King Charles and Queen Camilla to the ceremony.

The Diamond Jubilee State Coach is led in a procession rehearsal near Buckingham Palace in central London, early Wednesday, May 3, 2023, for the coronation of King Charles III, which will take place at Westminster Abbey on Saturday, May 6.
Jordan Pettitt/PA via AP

The route will carry them from Buckingham Palace down The Mall, through the Admiralty Arch, down Whitehall street and around Parliament Square to Westminster Abbey.

PHOTO: Members of the military stand in front of Buckingham Palace in central London, early Wednesday, May 3, 2023, during a rehearsal for the coronation of King Charles III which will take place at Westminster Abbey on May 6. — By the light of the moon, members of the military stand in front of Buckingham Palace in central London, early Wednesday, May 3, 2023, during a rehearsal for the coronation of King Charles III which will take place at Westminster Abbey on May 6.
Andreea Alexandru/AP

After the crowning, the procession, which will be much larger, will take the same route in reverse, but the Golden State coach will carry the king and queen.

PHOTOS: The coronation of Queen Elizabeth II

King Charles, Queen Camila and the Prince and Princess of Wales and their children all went to Westminster Abbey for the rehearsal on Wednesday but during daylight hours.