LONDON GEARS UP FOR CORONATION

RING OF STEEL AFTER PALACE ARREST, DRESS REHEARSAL IN THE EARLY HOURS

- Nicholas Cecil, Anthony France and Rachael Burford

A MASSIVE security operation was being ramped up today as final rehearsals were taking place for the Coronation of King Charles. 

A ring of steel was being put in place around Westminster Abbey, with roads closed off, to counter any threat from protesters or terror groups. Thousands of police will be deployed to protect the procession and ceremony on Saturday, which will be attended by heads of state and government leaders. As London was set to “showcase” Britain on the global stage:

⬤ The first glimpses of the Coronation were revealed as rehearsals took place in central London in the early hours of today.

⬤ Hundreds of soldiers, many on horseback, went from Buckingham Palace, past Trafalgar Square and Downing Street, to the abbey.

⬤ The Diamond Jubilee State Coach and Gold State Coach were taken down The Mall.

⬤ Security minister Tom Tugendhat said the security operation was one of the “most important”. It followed a security alert last night when a man was arrested outside Buckingham Palace after shotgun cartridges were allegedly thrown into the grounds.

⬤ MI5 and the intelligence services, MI6 and the GCHQ spy listening centre, are involved in identifying any threats, including possibly from overseas.

⬤ Ministers stated that controversial new public order laws would target “guerrilla tactics” of climate activists blocking roads in the capital.

⬤ The Bishop of London, Dame Sarah Mullally, told of the “privilege of a lifetime” to be one of the first female church leaders to take part in a coronation.