The Queen's Platinum Jubilee celebrations are about to get underway in London - the start of a four-day weekend of pomp, ceremony and parties at the palace.
Rehearsals involving all the commonwealth countries have been ramping up over the last 24 hours - and New Zealand is right in the thick of it.
The Queen's 70 years on the throne have drawn the world's attention to London, where New Zealand will be among the countries parading in the Platinum Jubilee celebrations.
"A humbling opportunity," one person said.
"So stoked to be here," a flag bearer said.
"Yeah, huge honour aye," another person said. "It's a lot of pressure!"
What pressure? Just a million people watching in the streets, a billion watching on television and the Queen who, of course, will be watching too.
"Hopefully we do get to see her, aye," one person said.
This is why this 2000-strong military march is being drilled to perfection.
There have been hours of critiquing, marching and repeating to prepare for the 3.2-kilometre parade through the city this weekend.
The New Zealand contingent is being led by a taua, which has already inspired other countries - like Canada - to consider how they celebrate their own culture.
"They're actually trying to incorporate that stuff into their military themselves as well so huge stepping stones for them," Petty Officer Te Teira Maxwell said.
The commonwealth, finding common ground.
The New Zealand contingent is the largest of the commonwealth countries, with 40 service personnel involved.
Our Defence Force also marched at Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee in 1897, but Queen Elizabeth has gone platinum.
And better must be their best.
"Still need to lift a little bit, to make sure we're nice and smart for on the day," Chief Petty Officer Shane Dixon said. "Nothing less than perfection."
It turns out practice really does make perfection
A celebration not just fit for a queen - but fit for the longest-reigning Queen in history.
