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7:22am UK, Friday June 01, 2012
They gathered at Wellington Barracks in London at 3.30am for one final rehearsal ahead of Tuesdays carriage procession, which will provide the grand finale to the weekend's events.
As the rest of London was sleeping, the Sovereign's guard and the historic carriages moved through Parliament Square and up Whitehall to Trafalgar Square.
They then proceeded onto The Mall towards Buckingham Palace, following the same route they will take with the Royal family.
More than a thousand personnel from all three services lined the route, on foot and on horse back, creating an extraordinary dawn chorus through the quiet streets of the capital.
The troops were up at the crack of dawn to avoid causing any disruption
With thousands of spectators expected to gather along the route on Tuesday afternoon, this was a chance for the organisers to put the finishing touches to the military display before they are watched by a worldwide audience.
The procession will be the colourful climax to the four-day Diamond Jubilee celebrations, with carriages, cascading gunfire and military bands expected to provide a glittering display.
The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh will travel in the 1902 State Landau carriage used by The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge after their wedding.
The Prince of Wales, The Duchess of Cornwall, The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry will also take part in the procession in different carriages.
Once they arrive at Buckingham Palace the Queen will be joined on the balcony by other members of Royal family to witness an RAF fly past and the Feu de Joie (fire of joy) - a rifle display performed by the Queen's Guard set to the National Anthem.
The only time it has been performed for the Queen previously was for her 80th birthday.
Members of all the armed forces were involved in the dress rehearsal including the Royal Navy and Royal Marines, the Household Cavalry, the King's Troop Royal Horse Artillery and the Royal Air Force Colour Squadron, along with livery from the Royal Mews.
