An evening at the Palace before Charles’ big day

VIPs, including foreign royals, world leaders and other overseas dignitaries, have begun arriving at Buckingham Palace this evening for a glittering reception hosted by King Charles III and Queen Camilla on the eve of his historic coronation at Westminster Abbey.

About 100 heads of state will be in London tomorrow for the ceremony, with international representatives from 203 countries.

Among the world leaders who arrived at the palace on Friday was Ukraine’s First Lady, President Zelensky’s wife, Olena Zelenska. She will represent Ukraine at the coronation while her husband stays at home and fight against Putin’s illegal invasion.

Queen Letizia of Spain, French President Emmanuel Macron, the Presidents of Germany and Italy Frank-Walter Steinmeier and Sergio Mattarella, and Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will be among those in Westminster Abbey.

Chinese Vice President Han Zheng, who led the anti-civil liberties crackdown in Hong Kong, is also on the King’s guest list, a move described by Conservative lawmakers as “outrageous.” Jill Biden represents her husband, US President Joe Biden.

Previously, Charles met with leaders from the Commonwealth of Nations, the voluntary associations of 56 countries he also heads, and held a luncheon for prime ministers and royal representatives from the 14 other realms where he is head of state, including Australia and Canada.

He later took a surprise walk on The Mall, met royal fans with the Prince and Princess of Wales, shook dozens of outstretched hands and laughed when one man asked if he was “nervous for tomorrow,” while another royal fan said in a strong accent : ‘I love you, I am from Italy’, and a third said to the king: ‘Good luck tomorrow’.

Charles took a break from a busy schedule of meetings and official appointments, including a final coronation rehearsal at Westminster Abbey, to walk for more than 20 minutes with his son and daughter-in-law. Charles automatically became king when his mother, Queen Elizabeth, died in September at the age of 96.

King Charles reacts as he meets benefactors while walking the Mall

Queen Letizia of Spain (left) and Grand Duchess Maria Teresa and Grand Duke Henri of Luxembourg (right) arrive at Buckingham Palace

Crown Prince Haakon of Norway and Crown Princess Mette-Marit (left) and Hassanal Bolkiah, Sultan of Brunei (right), arrive at King Charles’ reception at Buckingham Palace

Secretary of State James Cleverly and his wife Susannah Sparks arrive at King Charles’ reception

The leaders of Australia and New Zealand will pledge their allegiance to Charles at the coronation, even though both are lifelong Republicans who are not afraid to make their views clear.

Preparations for the coronation are nearing completion with The Mall adorned with huge union and other Commonwealth flags and guardrails and other crowd control measures.

During the ceremony itself, the St. Edward’s Crown, which weighs approximately 4 pounds 12 oz and dates back to 1661 and the reign of its namesake King Charles II, will be placed on Charles’ head during the ceremony. Among the other historical items involved will be the gold Sovereign’s Scepter with Cross, which contains the 530-carat Cullinan 1 diamond, also known as the Star of Africa and the world’s largest colorless cut diamond.

After the ceremony, there will be a mile-long procession with some 4,000 soldiers, with the newly crowned King Charles III and Queen Camilla returning to Buckingham Palace in the four-ton Gold State Coach, drawn by eight horses.

Thousands are expected to line the route and millions to watch on giant screens set up at 30 locations in Britain or at home, with the event broadcast live around the world.