The nation is gearing up for a three-day bank to celebrate the coronation of King Charles.

From the Westminster Abbey service to the Coronation Concert – we take a look at what is happening on Saturday, Sunday and bank holiday Monday...

Saturday, May 6

King Charles III will be officially crowned King on Saturday, May 6, 2023.

In front of a congregation of 2,200 and a global audience of millions, the Queen's eldest son will accept the role he has spent a lifetime preparing for in a service that will be led in-part by the Archbishop of Canterbury.

Members of the royal family, the government, heads of state, royals from around the world, celebrities, sports people and representatives from charities, the NHS and veterans organisations are all expected to take their seats inside the Abbey.

The coronation is both a religious ceremony and an act of tradition that cements the new monarch's role as head of the Church of England and marks the transfer of titles and powers to them. The King’s wife Camilla will be crowned Queen alongside him.

Television coverage

The coronation ceremony will begin at Westminster Abbey at 11am but television coverage will start much earlier in the morning – with the BBC having confirmed it will launch its official programme from 7.30am.

The BBC is broadcasting ceremonial events on BBC One, BBC Two, iPlayer and its radio channels with presenters set to include Kirsty Young, JJ Chalmers, Huw Edwards, Sophie Raworth, Clare Balding and Anita Rani.

ITV’s programme King Charles III: The Coronation is expected to start at 8.30am and run until the middle of the afternoon with its team of presenters including Julie Etchingham, Tom Bradby, Mary Nightingale, Nina Hossain, Charlene White and James Mates.

While Sky News has confirmed coronation guest Joanna Lumley will join Kay Burley, Anna Botting and Alistair Bruce for its live broadcast and rolling coverage on Saturday.

Coronation timings

Proceedings in London will begin very early on May 6 with the main viewing areas opening to the public at 6am. Those who can’t find space on the route are also expected to be directed to big screens in the royal parks.

From 9am invited guests will begin to arrive and take their seats inside the Abbey, with the royal family expected to be among the last to enter sometime between 9.30am and 10.30am alongside other heads of state and former British prime ministers.

The King and Queen will set off from Buckingham Palace at 10.20am in what is known as the King’s Procession.

The pair are travelling in the Diamond Jubilee State Coach, drawn by six Windsor Grey horses and the Household Cavalry will provide their escort.

They are expected to arrive at the Abbey shortly after 10.50am ready for the service to begin promptly at 11am. The King's grandson, Prince George, will be among the pages at Westminster Abbey, alongside Camilla's grandchildren, Lola, Eliza, Gus, Louis and Freddy.

King Charles will be officially crowned King halfway through the ceremony - at midday – and that’ll be marked with the sound of trumpets, gun salutes and the bells of Big Ben.

After the remainder of the service, the couple will then leave Westminster Abbey at 1pm ready for the Coronation Procession that will take them back to Buckingham Palace. Here they will travel in the gold State Coach, drawn this time by eight horses. A staggering 4,000 military personal are also expected to be involved in their historical journey back to the Palace.

At 1.45pm the couple will take the salute at Buckingham Palace and there will be ‘three cheers’ for the new King and Queen.

Before - at 2.15pm - King Charles and Queen Camilla will be joined by around 15 other members of the royal family for an appearance on the Palace balcony.

A six-minute fly past is then expected overhead involving the RAF, Army and Royal Navy ahead of an appearance by the Red Arrows.

Sunday, May 7

Coronation Big Lunches will be held across the country on Sunday.

The aim of Big Lunches, organised by educational charity Eden Project, is to bring communities together to enable people to get to know others where they live.

It is thought that some members of the royal family may also choose to attend an official event near them – just as William and Catherine did last year for the Jubilee - while King Charles and Camilla, Queen Consort have officially chosen a coronation quiche as the designated dish.

In Kent – Whitefriars in Canterbury is among the locations planning a Big Lunch which is taking place between 11am and 4pm in Whitefriars Square. Entertainment will include live music, face painting, coronation games and children’s activities and the invitation to bring and enjoy a picnic.

There are also events in the precincts of Canterbury Cathedral where people can picnic for free to the sound of live music, at Tonbridge Castle, and at the Salvation Army hall in Sittingbourne.

To coincide with these official gatherings many towns and villages are also expected to hold their coronation street parties on Sunday afternoon. For more details about the numbers of parties being held in Kent, and where, click here.

And for a guide to all of the event and activities being hosted at Kent’s tourist attractions across this special weekend click here.

Coronation Concert

The other major event happening on Sunday in honour of the coronation is the official concert being held in the grounds of Windsor Castle in the evening.

A crowd of 20,000 is expected – with many of those going along having won their tickets in a free ballot. Gates will open to audience members from 3pm.

Take That, Katy Perry and Lionel Ritchie are among the performers, who will take to the stage alongside stars of stage and screen. BBC television coverage is currently scheduled to begin at 8pm.

For the third night in a row pubs in the UK will also be able to open a little later – thanks to a relaxation of laws introduced for May 5, 6 and 7 to enable people to celebrate the coronation and make the most of the long weekend.

Bank Holiday Monday, May 8

The final day of celebrations will be marked with The Big Help Out – which is an idea of the King’s to shine a light on the important role volunteers play in local communities.

The initiative aims to encourage people to donate a few hours of their time to a charity or cause near to them with the RSPCA, the Scouts and NSPCC having already pledged to take part with their own events welcoming new volunteers.

Litter picks are also taking place in some towns and cities, and at picturesque locations such as National Trust properties, to encourage people to spend a short amount of time making a difference to where they live.