it’s time for final preparations

The moment is totally unexpected. Friday, May 5, less than 24 hours before his coronation, Charles III enjoys a walkabout on the avenue opposite Buckingham Palace in London (United Kingdom). The district is completely cordoned off and is ready to welcome heads of state and sovereigns from all over the world. 11,500 police officers are deployed and facial recognition has just been authorized. The authorities fear in particular anti-monarchy demonstrations. “This is not an attack on Charles, but on his status as monarch”said an activist.

4,000 soldiers

These opponents hope to disrupt a well-oiled, 1,000-year-old ceremonial. The pressure is on for Howard Wilkinson, an infantry colonel who will oversee the cannon fire. “[Parmi] the young soldiers of the regiment, there are a certain number of them who were not even born in 1953. […] It’s something we’re doing for the first time.”, he explains. 4,000 soldiers will take part in the parade, in front of 1.5 million people, expected along the way.