As darkness fell in the early hours of Tuesday, hundreds of British military personnel on horseback gathered outside Buckingham Palace to rehearse the parade they will undertake for King Charles III’ coronation on May 6.
The practice run—which covered the 1.3 mile route between Westminster Abbey and Buckingham Palace that Charles and Camilla will complete—saw uniformed officers and horse drawn carriages traveling through central London by street lamp.
Buckingham Palace, it appears, is leaving no stone unturned in its planning of the historic event; the last time Britain hosted a coronation was 70 years ago, when the late Queen Elizabeth II was crowned before more than 8,000 guests. To mark the occasion, London is receiving a royal makeover before tourists from around the world flock to the capital to join in with the festivities.
![Coronation preparation, London, United Kingdon - 18 Apr 2023 The balcony at Buckingham Palace balcony is cleaned ahead of the coronation, on April 18.](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/coronation-king-charles-britain-prep-balcony.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![Preparations for King Charles III coronation, Buckingham Palace, London, United Kingdom - 13 Apr 2023 Workers build a viewing grandstand opposite Buckingham Palace on April 13.](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/coronation-king-charles-britain-prep-flags.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![BRITAIN-ROYAL-MEMORABILIA-CORONATION A life-sized cardboard cut-out of King Charles II and Camilla, Queen Consort is displayed amongst the 13,283 pieces of royal memorabilia which ardent monarchist Anita Atkinson exhibits at her Weardale farm near Bishop Auckland, northern England on March 31.](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/coronation-king-charles-britain-prep-memorabilia.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
Bleachers have already been set up at Horse Guards Parade where the public will observe a 62-round salute and a six-gun salvo as part of wider military displays on the day. Carnaby Street and Regent Street, popular shopping regions in central London, will be decorated with large Union Jack flags and extravagant window displays at the city’s iconic stores. Mayfair’s Burlington Arcade will also display the national flowers of England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.
These visuals can be expected at homes and venues across the country, particularly at the seven pubs located across the procession route. Airports are also starting to sell coronation-themed memorabilia for tourists to collect and British heritage brands will roll out limited edition products.
![Preparations for King Charles III coronation, Buckingham Palace, London, United Kingdom - 13 Apr 2023 Workers build a viewing grandstand opposite Buckingham Palace on April 13.](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/coronation-king-charles-britain-prep-bleachers.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![King Charles III coronation A monument is cleaned near Horse Guards Parade, London, April 13.](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/coronation-king-charles-britain-prep-statues.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
A Royal Air Force college undertook its own rehearsal on April 26, as more than 30 aircrafts took to the skies for a practice run. The actual fly-past will see 68 military aircrafts flying over Buckingham Palace on May 6, the first of which will be a Juno HT1 helicopter from RAF Shawbury, flown by Flight Lieutenant Tom Knapp.
Meanwhile, Westminster Abbey, where Charles and Camilla will be crowned in a symbolic ceremony carried out by the Archbishop of Canterbury, closed to the public for preparations on April 25. Royal Albert Hall, a world famous concert hall, will host a sold out coronation themed prom, while the Ritz hotel will hold a ball where tickets will set each attendee back by £1,250 ($1,553).
Away from the glitz and glamor, a huge security effort has been underway for weeks as police and transport officials prepare to host an influx of people. The Times of London reported that a Fixated Threat Assessment Centre has been established, consisting of a joint effort between police and mental health units who have been vetting royal-obsessed individuals to monitor any risks. London’s Metropolitan Police are also coordinating intelligence efforts to prevent potential threats from terrorist groups and minimize disruption caused by environmental protesters.
As London is brought to life with novelty decorations and parties, TIME has selected the best images of the city’s transformation so far.
![Equine Rehearsals For The Coronation Of King Charles III Members of the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment prepare for a night time rehearsal for the coronation of King Charles III at Hyde Park Barracks on April 17.](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/coronation-king-charles-britain-prep-stables.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![King Charles III coronation A worker sticks the paint on official chinaware at a pottery factory in Stoke-on-Trent where the official Coronation chinaware is produced on behalf of Royal Collection Trust.](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/coronation-king-charles-britain-prep-cup.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![King Charles III coronation preparations, Horse Guards Parade, London, UK - 17 Apr 2023 Workers install seats at Horse Guards Parade on April 17.](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/coronation-king-charles-britain-prep-london-eye.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![London Prepares For The Coronation Of King Charles III And The Queen Consort A crown is lifted into place atop a flag pole on The Mall on April 17.](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/coronation-king-charles-britain-prep-crown.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![King Charles III coronation Members of different religious communities attend a Coronation Big Lunch hosted by the Archbishop of Canterbury, at Westminster Abbey, April 18.](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/coronation-king-charles-britain-prep-religious.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![Equine Rehearsals For The Coronation Of King Charles III A night time rehearsal for the coronation of King Charles III passes the Houses of Parliament on April 18.](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/coronation-king-charles-britain-prep-horses.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![London Prepares For The Coronation Of King Charles III And The Queen Consort Yeoman of the Guard prepare to board a coach bus on May 3.](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/coronation-preparation-king-charles-bus.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![Craft And Tradition Combine, A New Insignia For A New Reign A worker stitches chevrons onto the coat of a lance corporals, band uniform at Kashket & Partners, on April 11.](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/coronation-preparation-king-charles-band-uniform.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![UK Armed Forces Prepare For The Coronation Of King Charles III And The Queen Consort Soldiers from the Guards hold their bearskin hats in the air as they give three cheers for King Charles III and Queen Camilla as part of a Royal Salute on April 30.](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/coronation-preparation-king-charles-soldiers-procession.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![*** BESTPIX *** Coronation Military Rehearsal Soldiers from The Kings Troop Royal Horse Artillery remount their horses as they take part in the riding assessment needed to ride in ceremonial parades, on April 24.](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/coronation-preparation-king-charles-horse-practice.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![Red Arrows Rehearsal for King Charles III Coronation, Lincolnshire, UK - 03 May 2023 The Red Arrows rehearse for the Coronation over the Lincolnshire countryside on May 3.](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/coronation-preparation-king-charles-red-arrows.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![London Prepares For The Coronation Of King Charles III And The Queen Consort Julia Walker sits waiting along the procession line on May 3. The Coronation of King Charles III and The Queen Consort will take place on May 6.](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/coronation-preparation-king-charles-crowd.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
!['Stone Of Destiny' Moved From Edinburgh To London Ahead Of Coronation The Stone of Destiny is carried out of the Great Hall in Edinburgh Castle before onward transportation to Westminster Abbey for the Coronation of King Charles III, on April 27.](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/coronation-preparation-king-charles-stone-destiny.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![London Prepares For The Coronation Of King Charles III And The Queen Consort People have afternoon tea outside a cafe next to a poster of King Charles III on April 29.](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/coronation-preparation-king-charles-afternoon-tea.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![Britain Coronation Preparations A member of the military marches during a rehearsal on May 3.](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/coronation-preparation-king-charles-westminster-abbey.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
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Write to Armani Syed at armani.syed@time.com