William and Kate join Queen for Diamond Jubilee procession

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The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge
Image caption,

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge travelled in a carriage after their wedding at Westminster Abbey

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge will accompany the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh in a carriage procession marking the Diamond Jubilee, Buckingham Palace has revealed.

Thousands are expected to watch them travel through Westminster in London.

It will be the first formal carriage ride for William and Kate since their wedding in April.

The Prince of Wales, the Duchess of Cornwall and Prince Harry will also join the procession on 5 June.

Following a Diamond Jubilee lunch in Westminster Hall, the Queen's 1902 state landau will travel along Whitehall and the Mall to Buckingham Palace.

A Sovereign's Escort will be provided for other royal members by the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment, who will wear breastplates and plumed helmets.

The Queen and the Duke will then gather with senior royals on the balcony of Buckingham Palace to greet the crowds and watch an RAF flypast.

The carriage procession is part of a four-day bank holiday weekend celebrating the Queen's 60-year reign.

'Enormous privilege'

Military bands and more than 1,000 "street-liners" from the three services will join the celebrations.

And the Queen will be given a 60-gun salute as she passes Horse Guards Parade, fired by the King's Troop Royal Horse Artillery.

The Household Cavalry's commanding officer Lt Col Dan Hughes described his pride at being included in the ceremony: "It's a huge privilege. There's a lot of hard work that goes into these events.

"To have this during my tenure is an enormous privilege and an enormous stroke of good fortune."

Lt Col Hughes, who was involved in providing a Captain's Escort for the royal wedding last year, added: "I think the phrase 'don't work with children or animals' is certainly very much in our minds when we do something like this.

"Particularly with the size of the crowds. During the royal wedding last year, the size of crowds took us all by surprise. We're expecting something similar for the Jubilee."

Before setting out in the carriage, the senior royals will be joined for lunch by 700 guests, including representatives from City livery companies and charities and schools from across the UK.

Earlier in the day, they will also attend a service of thanksgiving at St Paul's Cathedral to mark the Diamond Jubilee.

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