Armed Forces to provide extra security for coronation processions

A Contingency Stewarding Forces (CSF) unit made up of more than 500 Armed Forces personnel from across the Royal Navy, British Army and Royal Air Force will provide additional security for the coronation.

Overall, more than 6,000 Armed Forces personnel will take part in the coronation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla on Saturday 6 May.

Most of them will be in ceremonial roles accompanying Their Majesties on two processions to and from Westminster Abbey.

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The CSF will also play a vital role in ensuring the smooth running of the historic occasion by providing stewarding support in central London.

Working alongside the Metropolitan Police, the CSF will be deployed across various locations along the processional route from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Abbey and the return journey after the ceremony.

"Our Armed Forces are again involved in a momentous day for our country, and I want to commend them for their hard work and commitment to help ensure it runs as safely as possible," Armed Forces and Veterans Minister James Heappey said.

"From the thousands of personnel involved in the procession to the hundreds supporting stewarding and security, I know that they will feel immense pride being part of history, whichever role they play," he added.

The Ministry of Defence Police will also be working alongside police officers on the day with specialist officers deployed to Regents Park Barracks and the Ministry of Defence (MOD) Main Building which is a two-minute walk from Horse Guards Parade where the historic six-gun salvo will take place.

Alongside stewarding support in central London, the MOD will also support Thames Valley Police by providing Explosive Ordinance Disposal and Electronic Countermeasure security support for the concert in the grounds of Windsor Castle on Sunday.

The collaboration between the Armed Forces, military police, and civilian police is referred to as Military Aid to Civilian Authorities (MACA).

Recently, this joint effort was demonstrated during the funeral of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, when Armed Forces personnel and military police played a key role in providing security.