03 May 2023 , 15:04
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The commander of the Coronation says he is more bothered about those taking part in the procession keeping up the pace than the threat posed by protestors.
It is feared environmental group Just Stop Oil may target the event after staging slow marches on London roads this week.
Activists have refused to rule out sabotaging the celebration with the world's eyes on Britain this weekend.
But Major General Christopher Ghika said his greater concern is a tricky section of the route at the Admiralty Arch - and not the antics of campaigners.
He said maneuvering large groups of marching troops and horses around the various turns can be troublesome, and that is weighting on his mind more than the threat of demonstrations.
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A night time rehearsal in central London for the coronation of King Charles took place in the early hours (PA)Precise timing and detail is needed to make things perfect with a tight 120 degree turn to Whitehall pin-pointed as a potential issue.
The man in charge of the procession during the funerals of Elizabeth II and Prince Philip as well as the Jubilee knows where the problems could lie.
Mr Ghika, who is also General Officer Commanding London District, said: “This is a big ceremonial event comprising four or five thousand service personnel.
“Security is the responsibility of the Metropolitan Police rather than us, but we are in very close liaison with them. I'm confident it will all be fine on the day."
Protestors are not the problems Major General Christopher Ghika (Getty Images)He told the Telegraph: “When you're moving a procession of over a mile long, because there's over 4,000 people, keeping the correct distance between the groups and also making sure that everybody moves at the same pace, so as not to bunch the procession up, is probably the main concern."
Appearing on Good Morning Britain last week, Just Stop Oil spokesman James Skeet stopped short of saying they will not target the Coronation.
He maintained the group would do “whatever is non-violently necessary to save us” from the climate crisis.
Just Stop Oil activists have refused to say they won't try and sabotage the Coronation (PA)Anna Holland, another spokesperson, was asked on GB News whether the Coronation was under threat and. said: “I can't answer that, I'm sorry.”
Royal fanatics were last night treated to a first glimpse of the Coronation as rehearsals took place down the Mall.
Soldiers dressed in bright yellow and red military uniforms paraded past Buckingham Palace towards Westminster Abbey just after 12.20am on Wednesday.
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The commander of the procession has said he is more worried about the Admiralty Arch (Ian Vogler / Daily Mirror)According to its website, Just Stop Oil is a "coalition of groups working together to ensure that the government commits to ending all new licences and consents for the exploration, development and production of fossil fuels in the UK".
The organisation was founded in April 2022 with the group staging numerous protests since with organisers from Insulate Britain and Extinction Rebellion at the helm.
Just Stop Oil is mostly funded from Climate Emergency Fund but also receives donations from the public and other environmental groups.