Big Ben lights up in tribute to Charles during coronation rehearsal
Big Ben has been lit up in red, white, and blue as part of the Coronation rehearsals ahead of the King’s big day this weekend.
The London landmark was lit up with images projected onto the tower in central London, some of which were a poignant tribute to the King.
Images of the national plants of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland – the rose, thistle, daffodil and shamrock – were all projected on to the 160-year-old building.
It was lit up in a myriad of colours, at one point being turned red and covered in roses and other flowers.
It was also turned blue and the word ‘King’ could be read on it as a number of the projections were poignant tributes to the King.
As part of the rehearsals hundreds of troops could also be seen taking part in practice marches outside Buckingham Palace.
The projection culminates with the Coronation emblem, designed by Sir Jony Ive, a British product designer and chancellor of the Royal College of Art.
The projections snaked on to the Elizabeth Tower, with the flowers and plants blooming on the side of the historic landmark.
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This comes with only two days to go until the Coronation on May 6.
More stunning images will be projected at sunset every day for the rest of this week between 8.30pm and 11pm, including on the evening of the Coronation.
Yesterday Royal fans were given the first glimpses of the Coronation as rehearsals took place in the early hours of the morning.
Hundreds of soldiers, many on horseback, marched down from Buckingham Palace past Trafalgar Square and Downing Street to Westminster Abbey.
The Diamond Jubilee State Coach and Gold State Coach were marched down the Mall as part of the preparations for the full event on 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.
The Department of Culture, Media and Sport showed off the amazing transformation on Twitter, saying: ‘Big Ben looking spectacular as it gets ready for the weekend’s Coronation celebrations, with projections set for sunset tomorrow, Saturday and Sunday.’
A five-year restoration on Big Ben was completed in April last year, with the tower and the clockwork and bell mechanism within it undergoing the biggest repair and conservation project in history.
The bell at the famous London landmark was barely rung and the tower was covered in scaffolding, which was removed in late 2021 to reveal a view of the clock face’s restored original paint colour.
The clock was designed and installed in 1859, with the aim of creating the most accurate public timepiece in the world.
And the last extensive conservation work on the UNESCO World Heritage site were completed between 1983 and 1985.
The tower was designed by architects Charles Barry and Augstus Wellby Pugin – although it is said there has been a clock tower on the site since the 1290s.
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