• Britain's Catherine, Princess of Wales meets with the gathered public during a walkabout outside the Dog and Duck pub in Soho ahead of this weekend's coronation, in London, Britain May 4, 2023. Jamie Lorriman / Pool via REUTERS
    Britain's Catherine, Princess of Wales meets with the gathered public during a walkabout outside the Dog and Duck pub in Soho ahead of this weekend's coronation, in London, Britain May 4, 2023. Jamie Lorriman / Pool via REUTERS
  • Catherine travelled to the Soho area with her husband Prince William on London Underground's Elizabeth Line. AP
    Catherine travelled to the Soho area with her husband Prince William on London Underground's Elizabeth Line. AP
  • The royal couple on an Elizabeth Line carriage. AP
    The royal couple on an Elizabeth Line carriage. AP
  • The prince and princess smile on the Elizabeth Line. PA
    The prince and princess smile on the Elizabeth Line. PA
  • They make their way through the London Underground. PA
    They make their way through the London Underground. PA
  • A large crowd gathered in Soho to catch a glimpse of the prince and princess. PA
    A large crowd gathered in Soho to catch a glimpse of the prince and princess. PA
  • The princess admires a dog in the crowd. AP
    The princess admires a dog in the crowd. AP
  • Prince William is surrounded by camera phones in Soho. AFP
    Prince William is surrounded by camera phones in Soho. AFP
  • The couple walk through Soho. AP
    The couple walk through Soho. AP

Prince William and Kate go on walkabout in London to see coronation preparations


Gillian Duncan
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Follow the latest news from the coronation of King Charles here

The Prince and Princess of Wales were met by cheering crowds on a walkabout in central London on Thursday following a trip on public transport.

Prince William and his wife Kate took the Elizabeth Line -which opened last yea and is named after his late grandmother Queen Elizabeth - to visit a business in Soho to see how it was preparing for the coronation of King Charles III and Queen Consort Camilla.

The royal couple spoke to representatives from the hospitality industry in the area about their preparations for Saturday, as well as the crowds waiting outside, who cheered after catching a glimpse of Prince William and Kate through the window. The pair then took selfies with the cheering crowds.

The couple boarded the Tube at Acton Main Line in west London and chatted to Transport for London workers about their plans for the busy bank holiday weekend, when tens of thousands of people are expected in the capital.

At one point the princess of Wales, who was wearing a pillarbox red coat, was asked about the coronation on Saturday and replied: "Yes, it's going to be a busy time. We're getting there. I still feel like we're trying to get ducks in a row."

The royal couple travelled three stops and got off at Tottenham Court Road.

Kate was spotted using an Oyster card as she left the station and the couple walked the short distance to the Dog and Duck pub in Soho, one of the many businesses hoping for a bumper weekend thanks to the coronation.

Prince William and Kate, Princess of Wales, travel on London Underground's Elizabeth Line in central London. AP
Prince William and Kate, Princess of Wales, travel on London Underground's Elizabeth Line in central London. AP

The couple, with their children, attended a coronation rehearsal at Westminster Abbey on Wednesday with the king and queen consort.

The royal family was greeted by the Dean of Westminster and shown inside the gothic church, where King Charles and Queen Consort Camilla will be anointed and crowned on Saturday in front of 2,300 guests and a global audience of millions.

Prince George, 9, and second in line to the throne, has the duty of being one of his grandfather's pages of honour and is expected to be tasked with holding the train of his grandfather's regal robes.

Prince William will kneel before his father and vow to be his "liege man of life and limb" in the only homage of royal blood of the ceremony.

He will also help clothe the king in his golden robe royal, also known as the mantle, before the crowning.

Prince Louis, 5, was spotted next to William in the back of a car as they left the rehearsal.

Also there were the queen consort's grandsons, who will act as her pages of honour.

The Dean of Westminster said rehearsals for the big day went well and the king was not at all anxious about the ceremony.

The Very Reverend Dr David Hoyle told Sky News: “The King was relaxed and very gracious.

"He took time to thank all the people around him who are making this happen.

“So whilst he has a huge burden on him, there’s a lot for him to do, he doesn’t give the sense of being a man who’s really anxious about this, not at all.”

The dean, who will take part in the ceremony conducted by the Archbishop Canterbury, said: “I’m the Dean of Westminster. I’m used to ceremony on a national level. Even I think this is pretty jaw-dropping.”

He described the ceremonial dress and Crown Jewels being used as “extraordinary” and the music as “spine-tingling”.

The dean, who will have to handle the crown, said he has been practising its movements to ensure it is put on the King’s head the correct way.“Our secret is not to tie bits of thread to it because someone removes them,” he added.

The king's sister, the Princess Royal, also attended after visiting soldiers from The Household Division at Wellington Barracks in the morning as they prepared for their roles in the military processions.

With last-minute preparations ramping up, early morning rehearsals were staged in the capital earlier in the week, revealing the first glimpses of the grandeur of the coronation processions.

People wearing ceremonial clothes walk outside the Westminster Abbey during a rehearsal, ahead of the coronation. Reuters
People wearing ceremonial clothes walk outside the Westminster Abbey during a rehearsal, ahead of the coronation. Reuters

Hundreds of soldiers, many on horseback, marched from Buckingham Palace past Trafalgar Square and Downing Street to Westminster Abbey shortly after midnight on Wednesday.

The diamond jubilee state coach and gold state coach travelled down The Mall as part of the dry run for the full event.

Royal fans waited for more than three hours for the parade to make a return trip.

Crowds ran through St James's Park to find the best spots near the palace, with many trying to spot relatives in their military outfits.

The UK prepares for the coronation of King Charles III - in pictures

  • Royal enthusiasts at their impromptu campsite on The Mall in London, where they await the May 6 coronation procession of King Charles III. Getty
    Royal enthusiasts at their impromptu campsite on The Mall in London, where they await the May 6 coronation procession of King Charles III. Getty
  • Police officers patrol near Westminster Abbey as security is heightened for the coronation. AFP
    Police officers patrol near Westminster Abbey as security is heightened for the coronation. AFP
  • A telephone box in the village of Compton, Surrey, decorated with the ears, nose and crown of King Charles. AFP
    A telephone box in the village of Compton, Surrey, decorated with the ears, nose and crown of King Charles. AFP
  • A royal fan takes a break after booking his spot on the coronation route in London. AP
    A royal fan takes a break after booking his spot on the coronation route in London. AP
  • Town crier Tony Appleton takes the train into central London. AFP
    Town crier Tony Appleton takes the train into central London. AFP
  • The drum major's state coat, adorned with the new CR III cypher, to be worn during the coronation. AFP
    The drum major's state coat, adorned with the new CR III cypher, to be worn during the coronation. AFP
  • Decorations are put up outside Number 10 Downing Street in London. AP
    Decorations are put up outside Number 10 Downing Street in London. AP
  • A royal fan gets into the spirit of the coronation on the Mall outside Buckingham Palace. Reuters
    A royal fan gets into the spirit of the coronation on the Mall outside Buckingham Palace. Reuters
  • Yeoman of the Guard, the British sovereign's bodyguards, prepare to board a bus in London. Getty
    Yeoman of the Guard, the British sovereign's bodyguards, prepare to board a bus in London. Getty
  • The UK's military held a full dress rehearsal for the coronation ceremony of King Charles III on Tuesday night. Reuters
    The UK's military held a full dress rehearsal for the coronation ceremony of King Charles III on Tuesday night. Reuters
  • A royal fan sleeps at The Mall outside Buckingham Palace as the countdown to the coronation continues. Reuters
    A royal fan sleeps at The Mall outside Buckingham Palace as the countdown to the coronation continues. Reuters
  • Big Ben, in central London, is lit up during a rehearsal for the ceremony. PA
    Big Ben, in central London, is lit up during a rehearsal for the ceremony. PA
  • An art installation in London depicts St Edward's Crown. AP
    An art installation in London depicts St Edward's Crown. AP
  • Madame Tussauds in Sydney, Australia, unveils a waxwork figure of King Charles, alongside figures of Prince William and his wife Kate. Reuters
    Madame Tussauds in Sydney, Australia, unveils a waxwork figure of King Charles, alongside figures of Prince William and his wife Kate. Reuters
  • Royalists have slept out on The Mall in London for days for the best view of the ceremony. EPA
    Royalists have slept out on The Mall in London for days for the best view of the ceremony. EPA
  • A knitted coronation-themed postbox topper in Isleworth, London. AP
    A knitted coronation-themed postbox topper in Isleworth, London. AP
  • Tailor William Skinner with a ceremonial uniform on Savile Row, London, before the coronation of King Charles III and Queen Consort Camilla, on May 6. Reuters
    Tailor William Skinner with a ceremonial uniform on Savile Row, London, before the coronation of King Charles III and Queen Consort Camilla, on May 6. Reuters
  • Caroline de Guitaut, deputy surveyor of the King's Works of Art, adjusts the imperial mantle, a part of the coronation vestments, in the Throne Room at Buckingham Palace. AFP
    Caroline de Guitaut, deputy surveyor of the King's Works of Art, adjusts the imperial mantle, a part of the coronation vestments, in the Throne Room at Buckingham Palace. AFP
  • A banner celebrating the coronation at Kings Cross Station in London. AP
    A banner celebrating the coronation at Kings Cross Station in London. AP
  • Upholsterer Beatrice Ekwalla works on restoring a throne chair for the coronation at the Marlborough House workshops in London. AFP
    Upholsterer Beatrice Ekwalla works on restoring a throne chair for the coronation at the Marlborough House workshops in London. AFP
  • Royal fan Margaret Tyler poses for a portrait in the living room of her home in north London. EPA
    Royal fan Margaret Tyler poses for a portrait in the living room of her home in north London. EPA
  • Parliament Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle with the Speaker's State Coach. PA
    Parliament Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle with the Speaker's State Coach. PA
  • Violinist Adrianna Forbes-Dorant, 17, takes part in a rehearsal with the Brixton Chamber Orchestra for coronation performances in London. AP
    Violinist Adrianna Forbes-Dorant, 17, takes part in a rehearsal with the Brixton Chamber Orchestra for coronation performances in London. AP
  • British Army soldiers rehearse at RAF Odiham for a coronation parade. Getty
    British Army soldiers rehearse at RAF Odiham for a coronation parade. Getty
  • Shoppers browse souvenirs for the coronation of King Charles III outside the Houses of Parliament in London. Reuters
    Shoppers browse souvenirs for the coronation of King Charles III outside the Houses of Parliament in London. Reuters
  • Temporary stands are constructed on The Mall outside Buckingham Palace, central London. PA
    Temporary stands are constructed on The Mall outside Buckingham Palace, central London. PA
  • Members of the military pass by Westminster Abbey in central London during a night-time rehearsal for the coronation. AP
    Members of the military pass by Westminster Abbey in central London during a night-time rehearsal for the coronation. AP
  • Britain's Prince Edward, the Duke of Edinburgh, attends a Coronation Big Lunch at Westminster Abbey. Reuters
    Britain's Prince Edward, the Duke of Edinburgh, attends a Coronation Big Lunch at Westminster Abbey. Reuters
  • The London Scottish Band in Burlington Arcade, London, at an unveiling of a celebratory installation to mark the coronation. PA
    The London Scottish Band in Burlington Arcade, London, at an unveiling of a celebratory installation to mark the coronation. PA
  • A crown is placed on top of a flagpole on The Mall in London. Getty Images
    A crown is placed on top of a flagpole on The Mall in London. Getty Images
  • The official 'Crowning of the King' souvenir programme sits on a shop shelf in central London. AFP
    The official 'Crowning of the King' souvenir programme sits on a shop shelf in central London. AFP
  • Workers prepare the balcony of Buckingham Palace for the big event. AFP
    Workers prepare the balcony of Buckingham Palace for the big event. AFP
  • Ardent monarchist Anita Atkinson sits among her 13,283 pieces of royal memorabilia at her Weardale farm near Bishop Auckland. AFP
    Ardent monarchist Anita Atkinson sits among her 13,283 pieces of royal memorabilia at her Weardale farm near Bishop Auckland. AFP
  • Members of the Household Cavalry take part in a rehearsal for the coronation at Buckingham Palace. Getty Images
    Members of the Household Cavalry take part in a rehearsal for the coronation at Buckingham Palace. Getty Images
  • King Charles and Queen Consort Camilla will travel to the coronation in the modern Diamond Jubilee State Coach and return in the Gold State Coach, pictured. PA
    King Charles and Queen Consort Camilla will travel to the coronation in the modern Diamond Jubilee State Coach and return in the Gold State Coach, pictured. PA
  • A potter works on chinaware produced for the coronation at a factory in Stoke-on-Trent. AFP
    A potter works on chinaware produced for the coronation at a factory in Stoke-on-Trent. AFP
  • The Coronation Chair, also known as St Edward's Chair or King Edward's Chair, at Westminster Abbey in London. AFP
    The Coronation Chair, also known as St Edward's Chair or King Edward's Chair, at Westminster Abbey in London. AFP
  • King Charles is presented with the first struck £5 coronation coin by Royal Mint chief executive Anne Jessopp and director Rebecca Morgan at Windsor Castle. Reuters
    King Charles is presented with the first struck £5 coronation coin by Royal Mint chief executive Anne Jessopp and director Rebecca Morgan at Windsor Castle. Reuters
  • The first struck £5 coronation coin. Reuters
    The first struck £5 coronation coin. Reuters
  • A member of staff at Fudge Kitchen puts up bunting in Windsor. PA
    A member of staff at Fudge Kitchen puts up bunting in Windsor. PA
  • A crown made by British milliner Justin Smith, created using 319 Scrabble tiles to mark the board game's 75th anniversary and the coronation. PA
    A crown made by British milliner Justin Smith, created using 319 Scrabble tiles to mark the board game's 75th anniversary and the coronation. PA
  • People browse a souvenir kiosk in London. Reuters
    People browse a souvenir kiosk in London. Reuters
  • The new commemorative 50p coin, part of the coronation coin collection. PA
    The new commemorative 50p coin, part of the coronation coin collection. PA
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Key figures in the life of the fort

Sheikh Dhiyab bin Isa (ruled 1761-1793) Built Qasr Al Hosn as a watchtower to guard over the only freshwater well on Abu Dhabi island.

Sheikh Shakhbut bin Dhiyab (ruled 1793-1816) Expanded the tower into a small fort and transferred his ruling place of residence from Liwa Oasis to the fort on the island.

Sheikh Tahnoon bin Shakhbut (ruled 1818-1833) Expanded Qasr Al Hosn further as Abu Dhabi grew from a small village of palm huts to a town of more than 5,000 inhabitants.

Sheikh Khalifa bin Shakhbut (ruled 1833-1845) Repaired and fortified the fort.

Sheikh Saeed bin Tahnoon (ruled 1845-1855) Turned Qasr Al Hosn into a strong two-storied structure.

Sheikh Zayed bin Khalifa (ruled 1855-1909) Expanded Qasr Al Hosn further to reflect the emirate's increasing prominence.

Sheikh Shakhbut bin Sultan (ruled 1928-1966) Renovated and enlarged Qasr Al Hosn, adding a decorative arch and two new villas.

Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan (ruled 1966-2004) Moved the royal residence to Al Manhal palace and kept his diwan at Qasr Al Hosn.

Sources: Jayanti Maitra, www.adach.ae

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Updated: May 05, 2023, 10:36 AM