Prince Andrew looked left out in the cold today as he took a solo ride around the grounds of Windsor Castle as the rest of the royals practiced for the coronation.
The 63-year-old Duke of York was photographed this morning in his Range Rover at the historic Berkshire site, just 24 hours before his brother is crowned king.
It came as Charles, Queen Consort Camilla and Prince William were all back at Westminster Abbey for more rehearsals for the big day on Saturday.
Although Andrew will be attending tomorrow, he will not play a ceremonial role – along with Prince Harry – as he is no longer a working member of the royal family.
Nor are they expected to appear on the balcony of Buckingham Palace after the service – while the Duke of Sussex hopes to fly back to Montecito, California to celebrate his son Archie’s birthday with wife Meghan Markle.
Prince Andrew looked left out in the cold today as he took a solo ride around the grounds of Windsor Castle as the rest of the royals practiced for the coronation
The 63-year-old Duke of York was photographed this morning in his Range Rover at the historic Berkshire site just hours before his brother is crowned king.
King Charles imagined being driven through the Mall this morning as final rehearsals for the coronation began
William will be the sole royal vassal at the ceremony, and he alone will kneel to “pay homage” to the king, before touching the crown and kissing his father’s right cheek.
The action is usually performed by all royal dukes, but Charles scrapped the traditional obligation, effectively absolving Harry and Andrew from all ceremonial duties.
Charles and Camilla waved to the crowd as they were driven down The Mall to the church for further Friday preparations for a series of diplomatic duties, including hosting a Buckingham Palace luncheon for VIPs.
The monarch was also joined by working royals from midday onwards at a special luncheon for prime ministers and governors-general at the palace.
The king was due to attend a meeting of Commonwealth heads of government and a garden reception at London’s Marlborough House this afternoon.
William, the Prince of Wales, was also photographed today in the back of a car being driven to the Abbey.
Meanwhile, Prince Harry may have already landed in the UK for his 24-hour visit before the coronation – leaving his wife and two children at home.
The Duke of Sussex plans to fly back to California tomorrow afternoon, right after the historic ceremony ends, so he can come back to see Archie on his fourth birthday.
This morning, a private jet from California’s Van Nuys Airport landed at Farnborough, the closest airport to Windsor Castle. Van Nuys is just an hour’s drive from Harry and Meghan’s mansion in Montecito, but it’s not yet known if he was on board.
Some 100 heads of state will come to London for the coronation on Saturday, with representatives from 203 countries.
Japan’s Crown Prince Akishino and Crown Princess Kiko were among those who checked into their London hotel this morning.
King Charles III is expelled from St James’s Palace on The Mall and waves to the crowds gathering for his coronation
Prince William, Prince of Wales leaves Westminster Abbey
Queen Consort Camilla was all smiles as she went to Westminster Abbey with her husband
A private jet that may have transported Harry to the UK is photographed at Farnborough Airport today
Westminster Abbey staff and police are taking cover from the rain in central London today
Pedestrians are caught in a heavy downpour in Westminster a day before the coronation
On the eve of the coronation, the king and the royal family will host a reception for foreign royalty and other foreign dignitaries at the palace tonight.
French President Emmanuel Macron, the ceremonial presidents of Germany and Italy Frank-Walter Steinmeier and Sergio Mattarella, and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will be among those in Westminster Abbey.
Chinese Vice President Han Zheng, who led the crackdown on civil liberties in Hong Kong, is also on the King’s guest list, a move labeled “outrageous” by Conservative MPs.
Excitement for the coronation threatens to be overshadowed by a furious row over China’s involvement.
Japanese Crown Prince Akishino and Crown Princess Kiko arrive at their London hotel. About 100 heads of state will come to London on Saturday for the coronation of the king and queen
A huge crowd has gathered on The Mall, where people have been sleeping in tents or on the ground for several days
Royal fans dressed in various Union Jack colored items pose for photos along the processional route on The Mall today
Beijing confirmed yesterday that it would send Mr Han, accused of overseeing a brutal crackdown on freedom in Hong Kong, to tomorrow’s event.
Lord Patten, the last British governor of Hong Kong, said China’s decision to nominate Mr Han to come to London for the celebration does not give “two hoots” about the UK.
The Daily Mail also revealed today that Chinese-made surveillance cameras banned from British government departments will “spy” on coronation crowds.
Some 38 of the Hikvision devices have been placed over the parade route from Buckingham Palace to Trafalgar Square, fueling national security fears.
Charles has a long day of engagements on the eve of the biggest day of his life
Czech President Petr Pavel and his wife Eva fly economy to London for the coronation
Hikvision has worked closely with the Chinese military in the past, and British MPs have said its cameras have been deployed in Uyghur internment camps in Xinjiang province.
The US government has banned the company from all federal agencies and the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster Oliver Dowden last November ordered all government departments to remove Hikvision cameras over security concerns.
Lord Patten said the decision to send Mr Han, and the Foreign Office’s offer to meet with him, reflected how China views the UK.
“It’s indicative of the fact that no matter how much you cringe at China, no matter how much you try to give them face, they don’t give a damn about giving us a face because they could have sent a lot of other people,” he said. he told the BBC. Radio 4’s World At One programme.
“It’s 1.4 billion, after all, and they chose to send the man responsible for breaking their word on Hong Kong.
“If it wasn’t intentional, then it shows how casually they actually treat us. So no matter how hard we try to sit back, sometimes horizontally, to accommodate their own political narrative, I don’t think they really care about us.”