Royals attend coronation rehearsal at Westminster Abbey

Practice ceremony takes place hours after state coaches took part in night-time rehearsal in central London

Members of Britain's royal family, including King Charles, Queen Consort Camilla and the Prince and Princess of Wales, on Wednesday attended a coronation rehearsal at Westminster Abbey in London.

In preparation for the event, a laid-back King Charles and Queen Consort Camilla were seen arriving at the venue accompanied by the Prince William, his wife Catherine, and their children Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis.

Upon arrival, the royal family were warmly welcomed by the Dean of Westminster and ushered into the historic gothic church, where the king and queen consort will be crowned on Saturday, surrounded by 2,300 guests and a worldwide TV audience of millions.

Prince George, 9, will serve as one of his grandfather's pages of honour, while Prince William will assist the king in donning his golden robe before the crowning.

The king's sister, the Princess Royal, attended the rehearsal after visiting soldiers from The Household Division at Wellington Barracks earlier in the day.

The rehearsal took place amid heightened security after Tuesday's arrest at Buckingham Palace, where a man allegedly threw shotgun cartridges into the grounds.

Early morning rehearsals

Also preparation for the royal coronation on Saturday, central London hosted a large-scale rehearsal in the early hours of Wednesday morning, featuring hundreds of soldiers, many on horseback, and the Diamond Jubilee State Coach and Gold State Coach.

The procession started at Buckingham Palace, passing through Trafalgar Square and Downing Street, before reaching Westminster Abbey.

Royal enthusiasts eagerly awaited the parade's return journey down The Mall, some having waited for more than three hours for the spectacle.

"It's a once-in-a-lifetime experience," said one onlooker as crowds raced through St James's Park to secure the best vantage points near the palace, some attempting to spot their relatives in military attire.

The procession began when soldiers dressed in bright yellow uniforms embarked on the short journey, accompanied by a brass band on horseback.

As the stage coach passed through Westminster, onlookers followed alongside, trying to keep up with the regiments of mounted soldiers.

Various regiments marched down The Mall after 1am, with Buckingham Palace relatively quiet until the sound of bagpipes could be heard shortly after 2.30am.

At least 15 tents are already set up on The Mall, as royal fans test their viewpoints in anticipation of camping out until Saturday.

Soldiers from the armed forces were seen parading in Parliament Square, practising changing positions as Big Ben chimed.

Artillery regiments rehearsed moving cannon on horseback, while others practised the mock-firing of ceremonial weapons.

The procession returned to Buckingham Palace shortly after 3am, with military bands playing in full swing.

The Gold State Coach was spotted passing Buckingham Palace at about 3.20am.

The rehearsal took place hours after a man was arrested outside Buckingham Palace, suspected of throwing shotgun cartridges into the grounds of the royal residence.

The man, who was found to be carrying a knife but not a gun, was held on suspicion of possession of an offensive weapon.

Scotland Yard cordoned off the area and a controlled explosion was carried out as a precaution due to the presence of a "suspicious bag".