Watch: Armed Forces fill the streets with iconic red tunics as spectacular Coronation Day gets under way

Members of the Armed Forces have been speaking about their once-in-a-lifetime roles as they arrived in London's streets to play their part in the coronation of King Charles III.

Personnel spoke to Forces News as a sea of iconic red tunics and bearskins began filling the capital's streets with colour, to the sound of the beat from the drummers of the footguard regiments, as members of the Household Division marched past the Houses of Parliament and other London landmarks to make their way to their positions for the start of today's Royal ceremony.

Earlier, the Household Cavalry rounded the side of the Queen Victoria Memorial and came to a stop at the top of the Mall.

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Members of the public sitting in a grandstand nearby were warned not to wave flags or throw items to avoid disturbing the horses.

Armed service personnel began gathering in front of Buckingham Palace this morning ahead of the Coronation Procession to Westminster Abbey.

The day is now under way with a display of pomp and pageantry, with the nation's Armed Forces promising a "spectacular" event when the King and Queen make their way through the streets of the capital.

Staff Sergeant Richard Flattery had the challenging job of making sure the troops arrived and alighted at the right time.

Despite being a complex task, he described his role in the day as a "once-in-a-lifetime achievement".

He said: "It's not going to happen again, not in my lifetime anyway, or even in my career, so it's a big achievement really to be part of it."

Mark Killick, Wessex Route Director, Network Rail, said: "A huge amount of detailed planning has gone into arranging these special trains.

"South Western Railway running seven trains into Waterloo this morning, and two special charter trains coming in from north of London."

He added that the planning had been done down to the Nth degree to make sure the day goes smoothly.

Members of the Royal Navy, British Army, Royal Air Force and Commonwealth forces arrived on seven South Western Railway trains and two chartered West Coast Railways trains.

When the newly crowned King Charles and Queen Camilla ride in the Gold State Coach back to Buckingham Palace following the coronation, their coronation procession, featuring thousands of ceremonial troops, will stretch for a mile.

Six months of planning followed by extensive rehearsals have laid the groundwork for the military event which will also see a King's Procession take the couple from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Abbey – featuring a Sovereign's Escort of about 200 troops.

A Ministry of Defence (MOD) spokesperson said: "It will be spectacular and, with the precision and detail you would expect, we have taken key lessons and best bits from previous coronations, the Platinum Jubilee, Her Late Majesty's funeral and added them to our plan."

The ceremonial route has been lined by 45 half companies from the Royal Navy, Royal Marines, British Army and Royal Airforce.

Ahead of the King setting off from Buckingham Palace, the Foot Guards of the Household Division lined the Mall, the Royal Navy lined the Admiralty Arch, the Royal Marines lined Trafalgar Square and the Royal Air Force were stationed on Whitehall and Parliament Square.

The street liners were placed at five pace intervals along the procession route – with each half company comprising of one officer and 20 other ranks.