Daniel Sandford
Home affairs correspondent

Around six people from the anti-monarchy group Republic have been arrested. The Metropolitan Police have not confirmed the exact number of those detained.

Those arrested include the leader of Republic, Graham Smith, and Matt Turnbull, who the BBC team saw being led away in handcuffs.

You can watch that moment below.

Image source, Reuters

Final preparations are being made before an expected appearance of the royals on the Buckingham Palace balcony later.

Lyse Doucet
Chief international correspondent

To be part of our history – that’s how many of us feel as we broadcast from Canada Gate today.

"In Afghanistan, we have the baggage of three Anglo-Afghan wars but we have a saying about the British monarchy that whether you like or dislike it, you cannot ignore it," remarks Yama Bariz, who will be reporting in Pashto on the BBC World Service.

Our colleague Faren Taghizadeh, broadcasting in Persian, says there's a great interest in the monarchy. "Some in Iran, during the current protests, are saying they’d like to see the return of a King or something close to it.”

It’s the pageantry too. "I told my children you will tell your children their grandfather was at the Coronation,” comments Bariz.

For me, as a Canadian, being part of our BBC team also has meaning. I've flown from covering the Sudan crisis in the Saudi kingdom and am now broadcasting from this kingdom on the BBC World Service’s Newshour today.

James FitzGerald
Live reporter

It's just under an hour until the King's Procession is set to start.

We're expecting that to begin from Buckingham Palace at 10:20 BST (09:20 GMT).

The King and queen consort will be taken to Westminster Abbey for the service itself at 11:00.

They're then due to return to Buckingham Palace in the larger Coronation Procession at 13:00 - with an expected appearance on the palace balcony to follow.

As we've been reporting, guests have already been filling the abbey - and crowds have been gathering trying to get a glimpse of royals.

There have also been anti-monarchy protests in central London, with some arrests.

A recent YouGov poll for the BBC’s Panorama found 58% of people supported the monarchy, with 26% backing an elected head of state. Across the UK, there are many differing views on whether we need still need a monarchy.

With that in mind, last month the BBC held a panel discussion, taking in differing views of the role of the monarchy in modern Britain. Here is flavour of what some of the panellists had to say:

• Guardian columnist Polly Toynbee thinks the monarchy should go, and describes it as a symbol of inherited wealth in a society that is becoming less equal
• Singer and activist Billy Bragg thinks we should keep the monarchy, but wants to end its constitutional role. He is hoping to see a written constitution one day, with the people made sovereign. He also says Buckingham Palace should become a museum
• Prof Jason Arday questions how connected people still feel to the monarchy, and notes the changing attitudes of young people. He says there is an opportunity to redistribute the wealth of the monarchy, especially in the context of today's cost-of-living crisis
• Newspaper columnist Charles Moore disagrees, suggesting the benefit of redistributing money from the monarchy would be trivial in the context of public spending. He says the monarchy is a guarantee of legitimacy, and suggests the UK wouldn't be united if it was not a kingdom
• Times columnist Juliet Samuel says the monarchy does change, but slowly over time. She believes the rituals and dramas of the monarchy contribute to a sense of a collective identity

Image source, Reuters

It has now been tweeted , externalby Republic that the group's leader was one of six people arrested about an hour ago.

Its post said said: "This morning, Graham Smith and five members of our team were arrested. Hundreds of placards were seized.

"Is this democracy?"

We are still waiting to hear from the Met Police, but we know there is a huge security operation in place with over 11,000 officers deployed.

Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley warned on Friday there would be a "very low tolerance for disruption" on the streets.

Inside the abbey, guests are taking their seats while listening to music by internationally renowned conductor - Sir John Eliot Gardiner - who is also a Dorset farmer.

Sir John Eliot, from Fontmell Magna, became friends with Charles after meeting him at an event at Sandringham.

The pair share an interest in classical music and sustainable agriculture - and Sir John Eliot even gave the King two heifers (young cows) for his 60th birthday.

In advance, the conductor described the gig as a “wonderful honour”.

Image source, PA Media

Image source, Reuters

Here's the first image we've seen of King Charles III today ahead of his coronation.

He was pictured in a car ahead of the ceremony in a short while.

Sean Coughlan
Reporting inside Westminster Abbey

There’s no mistaking it now.

On the front cover of the order of service it says: “The Coronation of Their Majesties King Charles III and Queen Camilla.”

No more queen consort. That transition, between the late queen and the new queen, is over.

From now on she’ll be officially known as Queen Camilla.

And we’ll see her crowned beside her husband the King.

Marie Jackson
Reporting from Westminster Abbey

A fresh wave of arrivals now.

US singer Katy Perry, who’s performing at the concert tomorrow, is in a purple fascinator and pearl Vivienne Westwood choker. She's deep in conversation with British Vogue editor Edward Enninful.

British actor Dame Joanna Lumley joins Lord Coe, Olympic champion, on the lawn.

Image source, Getty Images

Marie Jackson
Reporting from Westminster Abbey

Image source, PA Media

Chancellor Jeremy Hunt chats to Defence Secretary Ben Wallace as they head for the abbey door. Deputy PM Oliver Dowden, security minister Tom Tugendhat and Business Secretary Kemi Badenoch are on their way in with them.

Helena Wilkinson
Reporting from Westminster Abbey

Unlike on the procession route - where thousands of people have gathered, and there’s excitement and anticipation - there are no crowds here.

It’s quiet apart from the whirring of a helicopter overhead, the ring of Big Ben and the press around me broadcasting.

The area around the abbey has been closed off to the public.

Image source, PA Media

Another recognisable face - Mayor of London Sadiq Khan.

As we've been reporting, anti-monarchy demonstrators have been protesting in central London this morning. Here's are some of the pictures we've been getting:

Image source, Reuters

Image source, Reuters

Image source, Reuters

Image source, Reuters

Image source, Reuters

Sean Coughlan
Royal correspondent

A question often asked, but to which no official answer has been given, is how much the Coronation will cost in terms of public spending?

The government has said it wouldn’t reveal a figure until after the Coronation – and that will still depend on what is included, such as the security operation.

On the other hand, there’s also an expected boost in tourism and leisure income that might counter-balance the cost.

But the questions about cost tap into the scepticism of those who have not welcomed the Coronation and have made their opposition increasingly vocal.

Polling has suggested a sizeable minority would prefer an elected head of state.

Alongside the start of King Charles’s reign the anti-monarchy movement seems to have been growing in confidence, turning up to protest at a series of recent royal visits.

Marie Jackson
Reporting from Westminster Abbey

There’s a bit of a shift in the flow of guests now. Most are now filing into another door to the abbey. It’s further from our press stand but we’ve got the binoculars out.

Latest spot is US singer Lionel Richie in a white silk tie and jewelled brooch.

He’ll be centre stage tomorrow at the big Coronation Concert in Windsor. Earlier this week, he said: “We are walking in history.”

Right now, he really is.

We've also caught sight of very happy looking Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer, now in the abbey and chatting away to others.

We’ve also just seen a bus drop off the King's Body Guard of the Yeomen of the Guard, dressed in their distinctive Tudor uniforms of red, white and yellow.

Also spotted - London Mayor Sadiq Khan in red tie, Greater Manchester's Mayor Andy Burnham and DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson.

Image source, PA Media

Marie Jackson
Reporting from Westminster Abbey

Sir Ed Davey, leader of the Liberal Democrats, has arrived at Westminster Abbey wearing a morning suit – and a big smile. (No doubt still grinning after yesterday’s local election results).

Also making his way in is Sir Chris Whitty, who helped steer the country through the pandemic.

British actor Emma Thompson, accompanied by her husband Greg Wise, is on her way in, wearing a billowing red floral coat over a little black dress.

We mentioned in our last post that Graham Smith, leader of the anti-monarchist group Republic, has been arrested.

In the lead-up to today's events, he was critical of the coronation.

Speaking to the BBC, he questioned whether tradition was a valid argument for a lavish ceremony when coronations have "changed in scale, scope and content every time".

He said: "Most people can't remember the last time, so it's not a tradition that means anything to anybody.

"It has no constitutional value, it's not required, and if we didn't do it, Charles would still be King."

The leader of the anti-monarchist Republic movement Graham Smith has been arrested by police ahead of King Charles's coronation, the group has said.