Donald and Melania Trump have left Blair House, the official presidential guest accommodation, in a convoy of black cars for a church service near the White House.

Trump was expected to use Blair House this morning to put the finishing touches to his inaugural address and rehearse.

Former President Jimmy Carter began the tradition of spending the eve of inauguration at Blair House. 

Other notable guests who have spent the night there include Queen Elizabeth II, Charles de Gaulle, Winston Churchill and Margaret Thatcher. 

It was also President Truman's residency when the White House was being refurbished between 1949-52.

Image source, AFP

Security is tight along the National Mall, as the BBC's Rajini Vaidyanathan found out when she had her banana confiscated "because it hadn't been chopped into pieces".

Image source, Getty Images

Other prohibited items:

• Backpacks
• Bicycles
• Drones
• Laser pointers
• Selfie sticks
• Glass containers
• Thermoses 

Free cannabis joints being handed out here. 

Might be a bit early for some stoners, though.

Overheard on the D6 bus this morning, a college student when told people were giving away marijuana: "We're going to need that today - the whole entire four years."

Protesters already calling for impeachment...

Image source, Reuters

Speaking to Russian state news agency TASS on Friday, Russian President Vladimir Putin's Press Secretary Dmitry Peskov denied claims Russia played a role in Trump's election victory and accused Western analysts of misleading people.

"This is not our man, this is America's man," he was quoted as saying.

"This is the president of the United States of America. Thinking that this is our man is, probably, Western analysts and some of our political scientists' biggest mistake."

BBC Monitoring contributed to this report.

The BBC's North America editor Jon Sopel visited the White House briefing room basement to see where departing press officers sign their names before their administration leaves office. 

The James S Brady briefing room is actually a converted swimming pool, as he explains in his video.

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Anthony Scaramucci, incoming director of public liaison at the White House, says the world has nothing to fear from Trump.

He says people don't see the "decisions and discipline" that Trump has and that it's the media who don't like his "freshness and authenticity".

People are travelling from near and far to see the ceremony.

Trump supporters planning to attend their first inauguration shared their excitement with the BBC.

Add @BBCNews on Instagram to see more livestreams from Washington on your phone throughout the day.  

Earlier today our Instagram live broadcast filmed as the sun rose over the US Capitol.

Image source, Instagram

BBC journalists are posted around Washington DC to cover the day's events. You can follow their updates on Twitter and on this live page.

Here are some other international Trump-related protests...

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

A prolific tweeter, Mr Trump has just posted his first message on the day that will see him become president.

Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was the first foreign leader Trump met after the election.

Abe told parliament on Friday that the US-Japan alliance "has been, is and will be the cornerstone of our country's diplomatic and security policies". 

He said he was hoping to visit the US again soon "to further fortify the bond of alliance together with new President Trump".

Image source, AFP

The presidential menu following the swearing-in isn't too different from a typical businessman's power lunch.

For his first meal as commander-in-chief, Mr Trump will tuck in to a first course of Maine lobster and Gulf shrimp in a saffron sauce and a second course of Angus beef from Virginia with Idaho potatoes.

And for dessert - a rich, dark chocolate sauce, and a chocolate souffle with cherry vanilla ice cream.

Image source, iStock

More than 50 Democratic members of congress will boycott today's ceremony - a huge political protest against the new president.

Many of the boycotters have said they were motivated by a feud between Mr Trump and the civil rights activist and congressman, John Lewis.

Mr Lewis, a revered veteran of the 1960s struggle who has also refused to attend the inauguration, said he viewed Mr Trump's victory as illegitimate because of alleged Russian interference in the election.

Mr Trump responded by saying Mr Lewis was "all talk, talk, talk - no action or results".

The boycott is not the largest in history. In 1973, 80 members of congress skipped Richard Nixon's swearing in.

Inauguration day begins early for President-elect Trump at the White House guest residence.

From then on it's a well-drilled day of tradition and ceremony, followed by an inaugural ball this evening.

The BBC's Rajini Vaidyanathan walks you through the plans and the places in this video.

Several demonstrations both for and against Trump will take place around the US capital over the weekend.

The Women's March on Washington on Saturday is estimated to draw crowds of up to 200,000 people.

But rallies are also taking place around the world with sister marches expected in cities including Brussels, Sydney and London today and tomorrow.

Earlier on Friday, a group of left-wing and Muslim activists protested against Trump outside the US embassy in Manila, Philippines.

Protest leader Renato Reyes told AP news agency that Trump had "shown an in-your-face kind of imperialism" and urged the country's President Rodrigo Duterte to remain independent in his foreign policy.

Image source, EPA

BBC Monitoring
News from around the globe

BBC Monitoring has been looking at Russian reaction on social media.

Alexei Pushkov, chairman of the Russian Duma's foreign affairs committee, tweeted: "The most nervous and tense inauguration in modern US history. Tensions and the split in the US ruling elite have reached their peak. Things will be difficult for Trump."

Prominent Russian blogger Ilya Varlamov wrote: "Today is a very important day in the lives of Russians. Their arch-enemy and strategic rival Barack Obama is leaving the White House and hands his sceptre and orb to the so hoped-for Donald Trump."

And pundit Andrei Nechaev tweeted: "In several hours time Trump will become president for real. We'll soon find out what his real polices are and not just his pre-election PR."

We visited Baltimore to host a heated debate between Republicans and Democrats on the eve of the inauguration. 

What will Trump's presidency mean for this divided city?

Listen to the full podcast here.

Gary Collins (above) is a strong supporter of Donald Trump, despite growing up in a family of Democrats. He said he had been physically assaulted and threatened while campaigning on behalf of his candidate. "All the hard work, time and dedication is getting ready to pay off," he said.  

Kwame took on a host of Trump supporters during the podcast. He said he had "no hope" for Trump's presidency. He believes the political slogan bandied about by city officials, One Baltimore, is simply a myth.