Millions of members of the public will take part in community events across the UK to mark the final day of the Coronation celebrations.
The Big Help Out involves people taking on volunteering roles on the extra bank holiday.
The King and Queen are not expected to attend any events – but other royals will drop in on some of the projects.
It follows Sunday’s Coronation concert which featured performances from stars including Take That and Katy Perry.
Actors Tom Cruise and Hugh Bonneville featured in the concert at Windsor Castle – watched by the King, Queen and senior royals – along with singers Olly Murs and Paloma Faith.
The Royal Family were seen dancing along to Lionel Richie during the 95-minute event as colourful images to accompany each of the acts were projected onto the castle walls.
The Prince of Wales gave a poignant speech, telling the King, “Pa, we are all so proud of you”, and adding that the late Queen “would be a proud mother”.
Prince William and the Princess of Wales are expected to join in with volunteer events for the Big Help Out on Monday.
The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh will also take part in a puppy class at the Guide Dogs training centre in Reading, while Princess Anne and her husband Sir Tim Laurence will attend a civic service recognising local volunteers at Gloucester Cathedral.
Meanwhile, the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester will meet young volunteers at a Coronation party at St Mark’s Coptic Orthodox Church in Kensington, west London.
The Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby has also been spotted helping out with other faith leaders to prepare and serve meals to the homeless at the Passage in Westminster, central London.
Matt Hyde, the co-founder of the Big Help Out and the CEO of Scouts, said it was “not too late” for people to sign up for activities in their area.
Tens of thousands of charities are taking part, with a total of 30,000 organisations putting on 55,000 events across the UK.
He told BBC Breakfast: “The whole theme of this weekend has been about service. We’re not just spectators in that, we’re part of the story.
“Go out, get involved, and we can really make this a coronation for a service nation.”
Brendan Cox, the co-founder of the Together Coalition who is also one of those behind the event, said organisations like his “desperately need” volunteers.
He told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “Over the Covid pandemic, volunteering rates dropped because organisations that normally recruit weren’t recruiting, and people got out of the habit.
“The thinking behind today was how do you make volunteering as easy to take part in as possible. Already, millions of people have said they are going to plan to take part.”
Jay Dzuira is one of the Scouts who has organised an activities session for young people in Brent, west London.
The 15-year-old told the Today programme he would “recommend volunteering to anyone”.
“Being a Scout really helped me with my socialising skills. Before I didn’t socialise a lot. Now I’m a youth leader and it is a really enjoyable experience.”
An app and website have been set up to allow people to search for volunteering opportunities, which range from helping the elderly to working with environmental charities and supporting animal welfare.
A Buckingham Palace spokesperson said the King was “wholly supportive of the Big Help Out initiatives”.
Queen Camilla is patron of the Royal Voluntary Service charity and has also been patron of the Big Lunch initiative since 2013.
The royals have been out in force over the weekend as they joined various Coronation events around the country.
Before Sunday’s concert, Edward and Sophie attended a Coronation Big Lunch in Cranleigh, Surrey, while the Princess Royal and Sir Tim Laurence went to a community street party in Swindon.
The Duke of York’s daughters Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie also attended a big lunch in Chalfont St Giles, Buckinghamshire.
The street parties and lunches followed Saturday’s coronation of the King and Queen at Westminster Abbey.
Source – BBC News
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