Londoners were treated to a first look of the King's coronation as rehearsals took place in central London in the early hours of Wednesday morning (May 3).

The rehearsals saw hundreds of soldiers march down from Buckingham Palace past Trafalgar Square and Downing Street to Westminster Abbey.

Along with the hundreds of service men and women, the Diamond Jubilee State Coach and Gold State Coach were marched down the Mall as part of the preparations for the full event on Saturday, May 6.

The Diamond Jubilee State Coach was accompanied by hundreds of soldiers on horseback as it travelled along the Mall, setting off shortly after 12.20am on Wednesday.

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Rehearsals take place in London for the King's coronation

Some royal fans were seen waiting for more than three hours for the parade to make a return journey down the Mall.

Crowds ran through St James’ Park to find the best spots near the palace with many trying to spot their relatives in their military outfits.

Hundreds of soldiers from the military, navy and RAF marched through central London before stopping along Whitehall and standing in silence.

Many carried a wide range of instruments such as saxophones, trumpets, horns and cymbals but only the drums were played by marching soldiers until they returned down the Mall after 3am.

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The parade began when soldiers dressed in bright yellow uniforms began the short journey and the brass band on horseback practised as they accompanied the stagecoach as it passed through Westminster.

Onlookers skipped along next to the stagecoach and ran after the regiments of mounted soldiers that followed.

Buckingham Palace remained mostly silent with soldiers quietly maintaining protocol until a regiment playing the bagpipes brought the area to life shortly after 2.30am.

The procession returned to Buckingham Palace shortly after 3am with bands in full swing.