The British government has announced that approximately 4,000 UK Armed Forces veterans and healthcare workers will be provided with a premier vantage point across from Buckingham Palace in London during the Coronation of King Charles III.
A specially constructed grandstand will accommodate around 3,800 seats, where military veterans, employees from the state-funded National Health Service (NHS), and representatives of charitable organisations with ties to the British royal family will be hosted.
In addition, 354 uniformed cadet forces will have the chance to observe the royal procession at Admiralty Arch in London on May 6.
UK Culture Secretary Lucy Frazer stated, “As a mark of the nation’s profound gratitude, it is right that in celebrating the Coronation we include and champion those who have dedicated their lives to public service.”
She added, “The Coronation weekend marks the beginning of a new chapter in our national history and I’m delighted the procession will be lined by people and groups who contribute so much to our national life.”
The King’s regal procession is set to follow a route that includes the Mall, Admiralty Arch, the southern portion of Trafalgar Square, Whitehall, and the eastern and southern sides of Parliament Square, ultimately arriving at Westminster Abbey for the ceremony.
Those who are invited and members of the public who will be situated along the non-ticketed segments of the procession route will be able to witness King Charles III and Queen Camilla traveling from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Abbey aboard the Diamond Jubilee State Coach, which will be drawn by six Windsor Grey horses.
After the ceremony, King Charles III and Queen Camilla will return to Buckingham Palace in the Gold State Coach and will subsequently appear on the balcony to greet the public and witness a Royal Air Force (RAF) flyover.
Philippa Rawlinson, the Director of Remembrance at the Royal British Legion said, “The Armed Forces hold great importance to the nation as they work to protect us, our freedoms and our society’s way of life. We know that it will be a great privilege for members of the Armed Forces community to see their new Commander in Chief on this significant day.”
It was confirmed earlier that numerous big screens will be positioned at multiple locations throughout London and the rest of the UK for public viewing of the Coronation.
Over 57 locations in the UK will feature big screens, enabling over 100,000 individuals to witness the occasion in their own communities. Some screens will also display the Coronation Concert at Windsor Castle, scheduled for May 7.
The Department for Culture, Media, and Sport (DCMS) has revealed that the viewing locations will include first aid facilities, water stations, welfare checkpoints, and concession kiosks that offer food and beverages.
The Coronation of King Charles III will be celebrated on a grand scale, featuring street parties and volunteering events throughout the UK, as well as a celebratory long weekend from May 6 to 8.
(With inputs from PTI)
