Preparations begin to transform Windsor Castle into setting for tonight’s star-studded concert

Preparations for coronation celebrations are underway across the country as royal fans eagerly anticipate street parties and neighbourhood lunches. 

Pictures from early this morning show police and contractors setting up for this evening’s Coronation Concert in Windsor, which will see 20,000 spectators flock to the castle’s East Lawn. 

The concert will feature stars including Katy Perry, Take That and Lionel Richie and will be broadcast across the BBC from 8pm. 

Police were seen walking up the castle’s Long Walk and cardboard cutouts of the monarch were being positioned near bunting-clad street party tables as decoration. 

Across the country people are getting ready to host and attend coronation lunches in celebration of the King’s crowning – with many baking the special coronation quiche that was created for the occasion. 

Ahead of the show on Sunday evening, thousands of street parties are expected to be held with people encouraged to come together across the country for the Coronation Big Lunch.

The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh will attend a big lunch in Cranleigh, the Princess Royal and Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence will attend a community street party in Swindon, and Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie will attend a big lunch in Windsor.

Many will be putting their aprons on to produce a veritable feast for lunch today – including the coronation quiche, which has broad beans, spinach and tarragon in the recipe. 

Pictures of Coronation Big Lunch preparations have shown bunting-full set-ups, with tables lined with cakes, scones and quiches. 

There have also  

For the late Queen Elizabeth II’s coronation in 1953, Coronation Chicken – cold chicken in a curry cream sauce with a well-seasoned dressed salad of rice, green peas and mixed herbs – was invented to feed the foreign guests who were entertained at Buckingham Palace after the ceremony.

Buckingham Palace said the quiche was chosen because it worked as a sharing dish, can be served hot or cold, suits a wide variety of dietary requirements and can be easily adapted to suit different tastes. 

It’s also rumoured that it features some of the King’s favourite foods, namely cheese and eggs. Millions of cakes – from Victoria sponges with cream and jam to carrot cakes with cream cheese icing – will be lovingly baked as people join their neighbours to celebrate. 

While millions across the country stayed at home yesterday to watch the coronation, people will take to the streets today.  

And the weather looks likely to be lovely for most with highs of up to 22C – the hottest day of the year so far. 

The best of the weather will be in London and the South East this afternoon, with pleasant conditions also expected in Windsor for the Coronation Concert tonight.

Most of the UK will see good periods of sunshine today and it will be mainly dry, but large areas of cloud cover will bring a threat of showers to some eastern areas.

Tonight’s show in Windsor, hosted by Paddington and Downton Abbey actor Hugh Bonneville, will include video messages from Hollywood star Tom Cruise, Dynasty actress Dame Joan Collins, adventurer Bear Grylls and Welsh singer Sir Tom Jones.

The series of pre-recorded sketches will reveal little-known facts about the monarch and will also include moments from beloved literary figure Winnie the Pooh – seemingly echoing the famous moment Paddington Bear drank tea with the Queen during her Platinum Jubilee celebrations.

There will also be performances by Paloma Faith, Olly Murs, veteran rock guitarist Steve Winwood, and Nicole Scherzinger of The Pussycat Dolls.

Classical acts including Andrea Bocelli, Welsh bass-baritone Sir Bryn Terfel and Chinese pianist Lang Lang will perform too.

The Royal Ballet, the Royal Opera, the Royal Shakespeare Company, the Royal College of Music and the Royal College of Art will come together for the first time to create a one-off performance featuring Sex Education and Doctor Who star Ncuti Gatwa and Olivier Award nominee Mei Mac.

Overnight, steel barriers standing at 10 feet high were erected around Windsor Castle’s Town Gate, where 20,000 spectators will pour through for the event.

Before entering the concert to mark the crowing of King Charles and Queen Camilla fans will undergo extensive searches watched by police snipers.

Anti-terrorist vehicle barriers, designed to stop trucks of up to seven-and-a- half tonnes, were being positioned around the castle.

Metal spikes which can pierce tyres were being brought in along with eCCTV cameras and floodlights.

Police armed with automatic rifles patrolled the streets while others took up position on rooftops.

Police have not revealed any specific threats, but will also be on guard for any intrusion by anti monarchists who were present at yesterday’s coronation procession in Trafalgar Square.

The heavy security did not deter tourists and royal well-wishers from pouring into Windsor at breakfast time to be part of the party.

The Long Walk was sealed off as giant TV screens were being installed in to allow fans to watch the concert which will be attended by the King and Queen.

Evelyn Karrier, 30, from Austria, said: ‘It is such a wonderful time to be here. The atmosphere is a happy one and anyone who is here at this historical time is very lucky.’

American royal fan Susan Keys, 55, from Houston said : ‘ being from Texas, I just love all the tradition surrounding his coronation and this historic place.

‘You Brits do pageantry, pomp, and everything else so well. It’s no surprise to me that so many people come from all over the world to visit Windsor and to be here at the coronation time is such a bonus.’

Greg and Gina Watkins travelled from Gwent to be in the Castle town with their toddler son.

Greg,47, said: ‘Charles will be a wonderful King. He was already great as a Prince, but we can expect even greater things from him, as he has such incredible foresight.’

Bartley Graham,48, from Durham walked around Windsor in his Union Jack suit and said: ‘I am a royal super fan. I will be watching the concert here tonight.

‘It’s such an important time for our country and for our own family. What we are doing, is seal in the future, everyone for centuries to come with this wonderful series of events to celebrate Charles.’

The Coronation concert features a union flag shaped stage, which was barely visible to tourists who paid for a nearby field to try to catch a glimpse.

It is set on the eastern facade of the castle with multiple levels, and will hold a 70 piece orchestra with four cat walks around Launch out like the union flag into the crowd.

As part of the Coronation Concert, choreographed lasers, projections and drone displays will radiate over historic bridges and buildings around the country.

Seven of the 10 locations involved in the event, Lighting up the Nation, have been disclosed so far, including Blackpool seafront in Lancashire, where people can join a viewing party from Blackpool Tower.

Sheffield Town Hall will showcase a display in the Peace Gardens, while Newcastle’s Tyne Bridge and Gateshead’s Millennium Bridge lights will cast riverside reflections for an audience stretching between the quays.

A drone show will light up the sky above the Eden Project in Cornwall, and its biomes will become multicoloured for spectators invited from the local volunteer community.

Light shows will also brighten up Belfast, Edinburgh and Cardiff at various locations.

The remaining three locations will be revealed during the concert.

The Coronation Concert will be broadcast on BBC One, BBC iPlayer, BBC Radio 2 and BBC Sounds from 8pm.

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