It’s LK Bennett for Westminster Abbey Rehearsal

I am back with a couple of quick updates as we approach the Coronation on Saturday. Earlier today, the Wales family took part in a rehearsal at Westminster Abbey. 

King Charles and his family arrive for Coronation rehearsals at Westminster Abbey. All the pictures here! 👇 https://t.co/IpSihV9WUT

— Rebecca English (@RE_DailyMail) May 3, 2023

Unfortunately, there are no photos I could license, but several of the papers have pictures. (The Daily Mail’s article is here, and a Daily Mirror piece is here.) 

Also today, the first Buckingham Palace garden party of the season.

It is the first garden party of the King’s reign. In addition to the King and Queen Consort, the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh, the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester, and the Duke of Kent were at Buckingham Palace for the celebration.

A wide shot gives you an idea of just how many people are at the function.

Also attending, Lionel Richie and his longtime girlfriend, model and entrepreneur Lisa Parigi.

The entertainer has a long history with the King. He was the first Global Ambassador of the Prince’s Trust. In this image, you see him with the Prince of Wales at a 2019 Prince’s Trust International Reception in Barbados. 

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Also, today, images from a nighttime rehearsal for the Coronation. Here you see Commonwealth troops as they arrived at Wellington Barracks.

The rehearsal started shortly after midnight this morning. 

More than 4,000 sailors, soldiers, and aviators were seen rehearsing on the empty streets of London.

The King and Queen Consort will travel from the Abbey to Buckingham Palace in the Gold State Coach.

The Gold State Coach making its way up to Westminster Abbey this morning in a rehearsal for the coronation. pic.twitter.com/fbADfi9Tct

— Michael Murphy (@michaelmurph_y) May 3, 2023

This was the final full-scale rehearsal for Saturday’s processions. 

The Diamond Jubilee State Coach will take the King and Queen Consort to Westminster Abbey. 

Another view.

Today’s obligatory photo of Séamus, the Irish Guards’ regimental mascot.

And a daytime view. 

Now for a quick look at what Kate wore to the Abbey for today’s rehearsal. With thanks to Innominate and Bojana, her dress looks like the Mortimer Ditsy Floral Print Dress ($322) by LK Bennett. 

The black and white dress is 100% silk with a polyester lining. The knee-length design features a pussy bow neckline, oversized pearl buttons, long sleeves, and a back zipper. The style looks like it is sold out at both LK Bennett and John Lewis.

If the dress name or silhouette sound familiar, it is probably because the Princess has worn the Mortimer Green & Cream Polka Dot Dress ($650). Below, you see her in the style when doing engagements in London in mid-December 2018. This version of the dress is available in all sizes.

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Now for a couple of scheduling and TV updates.

• Tomorrow the Prince and Princess of Wales will visit the Dog & Duck Pub in Soho to hear how its staff and other businesses in the area are preparing for the Coronation weekend.
• With thanks to Deliane for her comment, we know that PBS will carry the BBC’s coverage starting at 2:30am on Saturday. The network is also carrying the Coronation Concert live from 3-5pm ET. I will update the TV info on yesterday’s post but I wanted to flag it here because of the concert information.  

We’ll see you tomorrow!