King Charles III and Queen Camilla's coronation: 10 fascinating facts about the historic event

Charles III will be crowned today and thousands are expected to line the streets and millions will watch at home and across the globe. King Charles III's coronation - the first of a British king since 1937 - is the religious confirmation of his accession after the death of his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, last September

The coronation will be attended by just 2,000 people - a fraction of the more than 8,000 guests who crammed into Westminster Abbey for Queen Elizabeth II's crowning in 1953. Camilla will be crowned separately in a similar but simpler ceremony

Charles III and wife Camilla will travel to the abbey in the Diamond Jubilee State Coach, drawn by six Windsor Grey horses, and escorted by members of the king's bodyguard, the Household Cavalry

He will become the oldest British monarch to have the 360-year-old St Edward's Crown placed on his head as he sits upon a 14th century throne at London's Westminster Abbey

It is a Christian service but there will be an "unprecedented" greeting from leaders of other faiths and Charles's grandson Prince George and the grandchildren of Camilla will act as pages

Rishi Sunak, Britain's Prime Minister and a practising Hindu will also make history by giving a reading from the Bible as the head of the UK government

The event will be on a smaller scale than that staged for Queen Elizabeth in 1953, but will still aim to be spectacular, featuring an array of historical regalia from golden orbs and bejewelled swords to a sceptre holding the world's largest colourless cut diamond

Princes Harry and Andrew will both attend the coronation of King Charles III, but will have no formal role in proceedings -- confirming they remain out in the cold. The pair will also be absent from the public procession behind the Gold State Coach carrying the newly crowned king from the abbey back to Buckingham Palace after the ceremony.

After the service, the king and queen will return to Buckingham Palace in the Gold State Coach in a larger ceremonial "Coronation Procession". They will be joined by other members of the royal family and some 4,000 British and Commonwealth troops in full regalia.

After returning to Buckingham Palace, the couple and other British royals will make a traditional appearance on the balcony, with a fly-past by military aircraft