good evening, welcome to the programme. we are at buckingham palace tonight, ahead of the big event on saturday the coronation of king charles iii and queen camilla. we have a packed programme for you tonight, we will be looking ahead to this most ancient of ceremonies at westminster abbey, in the company of two people who were there in 1953, in fact one of our guests, even sang at the christening of the king in 1948. we have tv royalty on hand, as well, where katty kay is standing by for us. leaving nothing to chance on an occasion like this. we will talk about what the coronation is, what is isn t, the role the king has played in the preparations, and how the people, the commonwealth, and the different faiths will be included. and at 9pm, the royal watchers will be here robert hardman and christine ross joining us. both of them are taking part in the bbc s coverage. but let us begin with what the royals have been doing today. the king is in residence here at buckingham
down? ijust retired. we will see different stages of down? ijust retired. we will see different stages of the down? ijust retired. we will seel different stages of the ceremony, different stages of the ceremony, different parts of the cathedral. what would you particularly be looking out for and the importance of the history? of the history? well, it s remarkable. of the history? well, it s remarkable. it s - of the history? well, it s remarkable. it s actually j of the history? well, it s - remarkable. it s actually going to be slightly shorter than the queen s coronation be slightly shorter than the queen s coronation which was two and a half hours coronation which was two and a half hours this coronation which was two and a half hours. this one will probably be less. hours. this one will probably be less. but hours. this one will probably be less, but there is so much new music, less, but there is so much new music, and less, but there is so much new music, and i