The north front of Westminster Abbey, London, circa 1689, before the extensions designed by Christopher Wren and Nicholas Hawksmoor. All photos: Getty Images
An ancient view, circa 1700, of St James's Palace, Westminster Abbey and Westminster Hall from the village of Charing, now Charing Cross
Westminster Abbey in 1740 with the new towers and spires as designed by Christopher Wren and built by Nicholas Hawksmoor
The coronation of Edward VII in Westminster Abbey in 1902
Mourners file past the tomb of the Unknown Warrior at Westminster Abbey, London, 1920
Workmen clean the stonework of the vaulting of Henry VII's Chapel, Westminster Abbey, after the completion of masonry repairs in 1934
The interior of Westminster Abbey after a German bombing raid in 1941 during the Second World War
The verger of Westminster Abbey examines the wreckage of the magnificent canopy, lying broken in a pool of water during the Second World War in 1941
Westminster Abbey's team of bell ringers practising their royal wedding peal in 1947
Queen Elizabeth II, then Princess Elizabeth, walks up the aisle of Westminster Abbey with her father King George VI to marry Prince Philip in November 1947
A view of Westminster Abbey taken from Big Ben in 1950
Queen Elizabeth at her coronation ceremony in Westminster Abbey in 1953
A worker positioning the single hand of the Ting-Tang Quarter Turret clock after it was removed for cleaning in 1960
Westminster Abbey in 1965
Jewellery maker Mrs Hughs of Cambridge restoring the gilded collar and pendant on the effigy of Queen Elizabeth I on her tomb at Westminster Abbey in 1975
A view of Big Ben from a window in the bell tower in 2009
Prince William with his bride Kate Middleton during their wedding ceremony at Westminster Abbey in 2011
A conservator works on the framework of a window at Westminster Abbey in 2016
'The Light of the Spirit Chapter 2' by Patrice Warrener at Westminster Abbey, part of the Lumiere London festival of light 2018
Window cleaners on the new tower at Westminster Abbey in 2018
Queen Elizabeth inspects a bouquet of flowers placed on her behalf at the grave of the Unknown Warrior in 2020 to mark the centenary of the burial of the Unknown Warrior
Prince William speaks to staff during a visit to the Covid-19 vaccination centre at Westminster Abbey in 2021
King Charles III follows the coffin of Queen Elizabeth as it leaves Westminster Abbey after her state funeral in September 2022
A 'Trees For Life' Covid-19 memorial service at Westminster Abbey in October 2022
Westminster Abbey in April 2023, where King Charles's coronation ceremony will take place next month
