137-611: The Imperial Robe (also Robe of Estate or Imperial State Robe ) is a robe used in the Coronation of the British monarch . It is donned in the final stages of the ceremony for the procession of the monarch from Westminster Abbey to the waiting Gold State Coach . These Robes were last seen at the Coronation of Charles III and Camilla , with King Charles III wearing the Imperial Robe of George V , and Queen Camilla having
274-930: A blessing read by the following: Stephen Cottrell , Archbishop of York ; Nikitas Loulias , the Greek Orthodox Archbishop of Thyateira and Great Britain ; the Moderator of the Free Churches ; the Secretary General of Churches Together in England ; His Eminence Vincent Cardinal Nichols , Archbishop of Westminster ; and the Archbishop of Canterbury, representing the Anglican, Greek Orthodox, Nonconformist, ecumenical, and Roman Catholic traditions respectively. Charles moved to
411-428: A new monarch. The coronation of Charles III and Camilla was held on 6 May 2023, eight months after he acceded to the throne. Since a period of time has often passed between accession and coronation, some monarchs were never crowned. Edward V and Lady Jane Grey were both deposed before they could be crowned, in 1483 and 1553, respectively. Edward VIII also went uncrowned, as he abdicated in 1936 before
548-465: A new one, in line with tradition. There was concern that in post-war austerity Britain that sufficient material would not be found to make the robe but supplies of raw silk were sourced from the silk farm of Lady Zoe Hart Dyke in Lullingstone , Kent. The silk was woven into velvet on a hand loom . Elizabeth's Imperial Robe is 6.5 metres (21 ft) long and weighs 15 pounds (6.8 kg). It
685-649: A new robe made for her. The robe is donned at the end of the coronation when, after being crowned and receiving homage the monarch proceeds to the shrine and tomb of Saint Edward the Confessor . Here the regalia are removed and the Robe Royal and Stole Royal taken off. The monarch is enrobed with the Imperial Robe and processes out of the Abbey whilst wearing the Imperial State Crown and carrying
822-400: A number of economising measures were made which would set a precedent followed by future monarchs. The assembly of peers and ceremonial at Westminster Hall involving the presentation of the regalia to the monarch was eliminated. The procession from Westminster Hall to the Abbey on foot was likewise eliminated and in its place, a state procession by coach from St James's Palace to the abbey
959-426: A period of mourning for the previous monarch and to allow time for preparation of the ceremony. In the case of every monarch between George IV and George V , at least one year passed between accession and coronation. Edward VIII was not crowned and his successor George VI was crowned 5 months after his accession. The coronation date of his predecessor had already been set; planning simply continued with
1096-478: A person other than the reigning monarch. In 1170, Henry the Young King , heir apparent to the throne, was crowned as a second king of England, subordinate to his father Henry II ; such coronations were common practice in mediaeval France and Germany, but this is only one of two instances of its kind in England (the other being that of Ecgfrith of Mercia in 796, crowned whilst his father, Offa of Mercia ,
1233-514: A separate coronation for his bride, Catherine of Braganza . In some instances, the king's wife was simply unable to join him in the coronation ceremony due to circumstances preventing her from doing so. In 1821, George IV's estranged wife Caroline of Brunswick was not invited to the ceremony; when she showed up at Westminster Abbey anyway, she was denied entry and turned away. Following the English Civil War , Oliver Cromwell declined
1370-532: A sermon against idolatry and "the tyranny of the bishops of Rome". However, six years later, he was succeeded by his half-sister Mary I , who restored the Catholic rite. In 1559, Elizabeth I underwent the last English coronation under the auspices of the Catholic Church ; however, Elizabeth's insistence on changes to reflect her Protestant beliefs resulted in several bishops refusing to officiate at
1507-607: A service of Holy Communion . Charles and Camilla first proceeded into the abbey, then Charles was presented to the people and recognised as monarch. After this Charles took an oath stating that he will uphold the law and maintain the Church of England. He then was anointed with holy oil, invested with the coronation regalia , and crowned with St Edward's Crown. After this he was enthroned and received homage from Justin Welby , Archbishop of Canterbury , and William, Prince of Wales , and
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#17327910757821644-591: A special Court of Claims , over which the Lord High Steward traditionally presided. The first recorded Court of Claims was convened in 1377 for the coronation of Richard II . By the Tudor period, the hereditary post of Lord High Steward had merged with the Crown, and so Henry VIII began the modern tradition of naming a temporary Steward for the coronation only, with separate commissioners to carry out
1781-475: A vast amount of money being spent on it. George's brother and successor William IV had to be persuaded to be crowned at all; his coronation at a time of economic depression in 1831 cost only one sixth of that spent on the previous event. Traditionalists threatened to boycott what they called a " Half Crown -nation". The king merely wore his robes over his uniform as Admiral of the Fleet . For this coronation,
1918-584: A year, attended by representatives of the UK government , the Church of England , and Charles's staff. The organisation of the coronation was the responsibility of the earl marshal , the Duke of Norfolk . A committee of privy counsellors arranged the event. In October 2022, the date of the coronation was announced as 6 May 2023, a choice made to ensure sufficient time to mourn the death of Elizabeth II before holding
2055-462: Is anointed with holy oil , invested with regalia, and crowned, before receiving the homage of their subjects. Consorts of kings are then anointed and crowned as queens. The service ends with a closing procession, and since the 20th century it has been traditional for the royal family to appear later on the balcony of Buckingham Palace to greet crowds and watch a flypast . English coronations were traditionally held at Westminster Abbey , with
2192-444: Is customary for the supertunica and robe royal to be reused, Charles also wore vestments used by George IV , George V , George VI , and Elizabeth II. Camilla similarly reused vestments, including Elizabeth II's robe of state , but also wore a new robe of estate featuring her cypher , bees, a beetle, and various plants and flowers. She also wore a new coronation gown, created by Bruce Oldfield and embroidered with wildflowers,
2329-657: Is estimated that over 20 million people watched the broadcast in the United Kingdom. The coronation contributed to the increase of public interest in television, which rose significantly. The need to include the various elements of the British Empire in coronations was not considered until 1902, when it was attended by the prime ministers and governors-general of the British Dominions , by then almost completely autonomous , and also by many of
2466-435: Is of purple velvet trimmed with ermine. It is decorated with embroidery featuring 18 types of gold thread, seed pearls, crystals and coloured silks. The designs include national and Commonwealth symbols and crowns; the principal design is a border of wheat ears, symbolising plenty, and olive branches, symbolising peace. The embroidery took a team of 12 people 3,500 hours to make between March and May 1953. Coronation of
2603-530: Is sung by the choir; meanwhile, the crimson robe is removed, and the sovereign proceeds to the Coronation Chair for the anointing, which has been set in a prominent position, wearing the anointing gown . In 1953, the chair stood atop a dais of several steps. This mediaeval chair has a cavity in the base into which the Stone of Scone is fitted for the ceremony. Also known as the "Stone of Destiny", it
2740-551: The Church of England and the British royal family declared their allegiance to him, and people throughout the Commonwealth realms were invited to do so. Camilla was crowned in a shorter and simpler ceremony. After the service, members of the royal family travelled to Buckingham Palace in a state procession and appeared on the palace's rear and front balconies. The service was altered from past British coronations to represent
2877-604: The Commonwealth realms , all governors of British Crown Colonies (now British Overseas Territories ), as well as the heads of state of dependent nations. Hereditary peers and their spouses are also invited. For Elizabeth II's coronation in 1953, 8,000 guests were squeezed into Westminster Abbey and each person had to make do with a maximum of 18 inches (46 cm) of seating. Dignitaries and representatives from other nations are also customarily invited. Traditionally, foreign crowned monarchs and consorts did not attend
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#17327910757823014-673: The Department for Culture, Media and Sport released figures showing that it had spent just over £50million in its role coordinating the event, while the Home Office paid £22million in policing costs, totalling £72million government spend on the Coronation. The cost of the coronation was criticised by the campaign group Republic and the Scottish National Party MP Ronnie Cowan in light of
3151-592: The First Minister in 2020 that the Stone will be relocated to Perth City Hall in 2024. Coronation of Charles III and Camilla The coronation of Charles III and his wife, Camilla , as king and queen of the United Kingdom and the other Commonwealth realms , took place on Saturday, 6 May 2023 at Westminster Abbey . Charles acceded to the throne on 8 September 2022 upon
3288-642: The Holy Communion is celebrated, with a special Collect for the coronation, but the service is interrupted after the Nicene Creed . At the coronation of Elizabeth II, the Epistle was 1 Peter 2:13–17 , which instructs readers to respect and obey civil government, and the Gospel was Matthew 22:15–22 , which contains Jesus's famous instruction to "render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar's". After
3425-647: The Household Cavalry and the Fanfare Trumpeters of the Royal Air Force played the fanfares. All eight of the massed bands in the coronation procession played the same music, keeping time with each other with the help of a radio broadcast click track – the first time such technology has been used on such a large-scale ceremonial event; previously bands would march to different pieces of music starting at different times. The tempo set
3562-642: The King's Champion , Francis Dymoke, carrying the Royal Standard . The Lord High Constable of England and the Earl Marshal also took part. Charles and Camilla were each attended by four pages of honour , including Prince George of Wales and Camilla's grandsons. Camilla was also accompanied by two ladies in attendance: Annabel Elliot , her sister, and the Marchioness of Lansdowne . Unexpectedly
3699-467: The Norman Conquest . It is not known if the first recension was ever used in England, and it was the second recension which was used by Edgar in 973 and by subsequent Anglo-Saxon and early Norman kings. A third recension was probably compiled during the reign of Henry I and was used at the coronation of his successor, Stephen , in 1135. While retaining the most important elements of
3836-751: The Orb and Sceptre with Cross . During the Coronation the monarch is enrobed by the Lord Great Chamberlain who is assisted by the Groom of the Robes and the Master of the Robes or Mistress of the Robes . The monarch enters the Gold State Coach to return to Buckingham Palace where their coronation day concludes with a balcony appearance to the waiting public. The Imperial Robe of George V
3973-499: The Philharmonia Orchestra , Royal Philharmonic Orchestra , BBC National Orchestra of Wales , Regina Symphony Orchestra , English Chamber Orchestra , Scottish Chamber Orchestra , Royal Opera House Orchestra and Welsh National Opera Orchestra, which are all patronised by Charles. The orchestra, situated in the organ loft , was conducted by Antonio Pappano and led by Vasko Vasilev . The State Trumpeters of
4110-601: The Presbyterian Scots by his insistence on elaborate High Anglican ritual, arousing "gryt feir of inbriginge of poperie". Charles II underwent a simple Presbyterian coronation ceremony at Scone in 1651, but his brother James VII and II was never crowned in Scotland, although Scottish peers attended his 1685 coronation in London , setting a precedent for future ceremonies. The coronation of Charles II
4247-804: The Robe of State of crimson velvet and takes their seat on a Chair of Estate. Garter Principal King of Arms , the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Lord Chancellor , the Lord Great Chamberlain , the Lord High Constable and the Earl Marshal go to the east, south, west and north of the coronation theatre. At each side, the archbishop calls for the recognition of the sovereign, with the words: Sirs, I here present unto you [name], your undoubted King/Queen. Wherefore all you who are come this day to do your homage and service, are you willing to do
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4384-691: The United Kingdom's floral emblems , her cypher, a pair of dogs, and her grandchildren's names. St Edward's Crown , which was used to crown the King, was removed from the Tower of London in December 2022 for resizing. In February 2023 Queen Mary's Crown , which was used to crown the Queen, was also removed from display to be reset with Cullinan III, IV and V and for four of its eight detachable arches to be removed. The Crown of Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother
4521-411: The bishop of London , Sarah Mullally , respectively. This was followed by a sermon by the Archbishop of Canterbury. Charles removed his robe of state and was seated on the Coronation Chair . He then was anointed with holy oil by the Archbishop of Canterbury, using the ampulla and a medieval spoon, the latter the oldest part of the coronation regalia. The anointing emphasised the spiritual role of
4658-479: The death of his mother, Queen Elizabeth II , at 15:10 BST on 8 September 2022. He was proclaimed king by the Accession Council on 10 September, which was followed by proclamations in other Commonwealth realms . Charles's wife Camilla became queen consort . During Elizabeth II's reign, planning meetings for Charles's coronation, code-named Operation Golden Orb , were held at least once
4795-416: The death of his mother , Elizabeth II . It was the first coronation held since Elizabeth II's coronation in 1953 nearly 70 years prior. The ceremony was structured around an Anglican service of Holy Communion . It included Charles taking an oath, being anointed with holy oil , and receiving the coronation regalia , emphasising his spiritual role and secular responsibilities. Representatives of
4932-499: The 1937 coronation of her son, George VI . The general framework of the coronation service is based on the sections contained in the Second Recension used in 973 for King Edgar. Although the service has undergone two major revisions and a translation, and has been modified for each coronation for the following thousand years, the sequence of taking an oath, anointing, investing of regalia, crowning and enthronement found in
5069-479: The 19th century, however, integrated the Cinque Ports into a regular constituency system applied throughout the nation. At later coronations, barons were specially designated from among the city councillors for the specific purpose of attending coronations. Originally, the barons were charged with bearing a ceremonial canopy over the sovereign during the procession to and from Westminster Abbey. The last time
5206-558: The Abbey and to stand on either side of her through the entire coronation ritual, the claim of the Earl of Shrewsbury in his capacity as Lord High Steward of Ireland to carry a white staff. The legal claim of the Scholars of Westminster School to be the first to acclaim the monarch on behalf of the common people was formally disallowed by the court, but in practice their traditional shouts of "Vivat! Vivat Rex!" were still incorporated into
5343-789: The Anglo-Saxon rite, it may have borrowed from the consecration of the Holy Roman Emperor from the Pontificale Romano-Germanicum , a book of German liturgy compiled in Mainz in 961, thus bringing the English tradition into line with continental practice. It remained in use until the coronation of Edward II in 1308 when the fourth recension was first used, having been compiled over several preceding decades. Although influenced by its French counterpart,
5480-421: The Anglo-Saxon text have remained constant. The coronation ceremonies takes place within the framework of Holy Communion . Before the entrance of the sovereign, the litany of the saints is sung during the procession of the clergy and other dignitaries. For the entrance of the monarch, an anthem from Psalm 122 , I was glad , is sung. The sovereign enters Westminster Abbey wearing the crimson surcoat and
5617-458: The Archbishop of Canterbury and the congregation recited the Lord's Prayer , before a final blessing. At the end of the service the King changed into the Imperial State Crown , during which the congregation sang Praise, my soul, the King of heaven . Charles and Camilla then proceeded to the west door of the abbey as the national anthem, " God Save the King ", was sung. At the end of the procession
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5754-525: The Archbishop of Canterbury refused to recognise the new sovereigns; he had to be replaced by the Bishop of London , Henry Compton . Hence, in almost all cases where the Archbishop of Canterbury has failed to participate, his place has been taken by a senior cleric: the Archbishop of York is second in precedence, the Bishop of London third, the Bishop of Durham fourth, and the Bishop of Winchester fifth. From
5891-627: The Bishops and Clergy of England, and to the Churches there committed to their charge, all such rights and privileges, as by law do or shall appertain to them or any of them? The Queen: All this I promise to do. The things which I have here before promised, I will perform, and keep. So help me God. In addition to the oath, the monarch may take what is known as the Accession Declaration if they have not yet made it. This declaration
6028-436: The British monarch The coronation of the monarch of the United Kingdom is an initiation ceremony in which they are formally invested with regalia and crowned at Westminster Abbey . It corresponds to the coronations that formerly took place in other European monarchies , which have all abandoned coronations in favour of inauguration or enthronement ceremonies. A coronation is a symbolic formality and does not signify
6165-562: The Byzantine emperors, and John 's was on Ascension Day . Elizabeth I consulted her astrologer , John Dee , before deciding on an auspicious date. The coronations of Charles II in 1661 and Anne in 1702 were on St George's Day , the feast of the patron saint of England. Under the Hanoverian monarchs in the late eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, it was deemed appropriate to extend the waiting period to several months, following
6302-411: The Church of England. After this the flags of the Commonwealth realms were carried by representatives, accompanied by their governors general and prime ministers. The choir followed. Charles and Camilla arrived shortly before 11:00 and formed their own procession. It was led by four peers carrying heraldic standards displaying the arms of England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales, followed by
6439-511: The Communion service is interrupted, the anthem Come, Holy Ghost is recited, as a prelude to the act of anointing. After this anthem, the Archbishop recites a prayer in preparation for the anointing, which is based on the ancient prayer Deus electorum fortitudo also used in the anointing of French kings. After this prayer, the coronation anthem Zadok the Priest (by George Frederick Handel)
6576-493: The English Coronation Chair . Its first certain use at an English coronation was that of Henry IV in 1399. Pope John XXII in a bull of 1329 granted the kings of Scotland the right to be anointed and crowned. No record exists of the exact form of the medieval rituals, but a later account exists of the coronation of the 17-month-old infant James V at Stirling Castle in 1513. The ceremony
6713-908: The Great West Door of Westminster Abbey, a distance of 1.42 miles (2.29 km). Charles and Camilla used the Diamond Jubilee State Coach , drawn by six Windsor Greys , and were accompanied by the Sovereign's Escort of the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment . The procession into the abbey was led by leaders and representatives from non-Christian religions, including the Baháʼí , Buddhist, Hindu, Jain, Jewish, Shia and Sunni Muslim, Sikh, and Zoroastrian communities. They were followed by leaders from different Christian denominations , including
6850-480: The King received a greeting by governors-general of the realms and representatives from the Jewish, Hindu, Sikh, Muslim, and Buddhist faiths. The abbey bells rang a full peal of "Cambridge Surprise Royal". The second procession followed the same route as the first, but in reverse and on a larger scale. The King and Queen were carried in the Gold State Coach , drawn by eight Windsor Grey horses, with other members of
6987-419: The King was welcomed by one of the Children of the Chapel , to which he replied that he came " not to be served but to serve ". Paul Mealor's "Coronation Kyrie " was sung in Welsh by Sir Bryn Terfel. After this the Archbishop of Canterbury, Lady Elish Angiolini , Christopher Finney , and Baroness Amos stood facing east, south, west, and north and in turn asked the congregation to recognise Charles as king;
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#17327910757827124-417: The King's 64-year tenure as Prince of Wales the Kyrie was set in Welsh by Paul Mealor and was sung by Sir Bryn Terfel . Psalm 71 was chanted to in Greek by a Byzantine choir , which was included in the service in tribute to the King's father, Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh , who was born a prince of Greece. The director of music for the coronation was Andrew Nethsingha , the organist and master of
7261-448: The King. This was the first coronation of a consort since that of Charles's grandmother Queen Elizabeth in 1937 . The offertory followed, during which gifts of bread and wine were brought before the King and prayed over; the prayer was a translation from the Liber Regalis , which dates from c. 1382 and is one of the oldest sources for the English coronation service. Charles and Camilla then received Holy Communion from
7398-460: The Prince and Princess of Wales and their children, and the Princess Royal , attended coronation rehearsals at Westminster Abbey on 3 May. Westminster Abbey was closed to tourists and worshippers from 25 April for preparations, and did not re-open until 8 May. As at previous coronations, many attendees had an obscured view, as the abbey's nave was filled to capacity. However, on this occasion some television screens were installed in
7535-461: The Prince and Princess of Wales and their two younger children arrived at the Abbey after the King, "whose horses went a lot faster than they had in the practice", and joined the procession after the King and Queen. The choir sang Hubert Parry 's " I was glad ", during which the King's Scholars of Westminster School sang " Vivat Regina Camilla " and " Vivat Rex Carolus " ('Long live Queen Camilla' and 'Long live King Charles'). After this
7672-401: The Sovereign Grant for the Coronation came to £800,000 although that didn't include security and military costs which were paid by the government. The Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport stated that it was "unable to give costs, or a breakdown of funding" until after the coronation, but unofficial estimates of £ 50 million to £250 million have been reported. In November 2024
7809-409: The Union of South Africa, Pakistan and Ceylon, and of your Possessions and other Territories to any of them belonging or pertaining, according to their respective laws and customs?" In 2023, the oath was amended to avoid reciting the realms other than the United Kingdom during the coronation of Charles III . The timing of the coronation has varied throughout British history. King Edgar's coronation
7946-405: The United Kingdom and protect the Church of England. Subsequently, he made the statutory accession declaration . Charles then signed a written form of the oath, before kneeling before the altar and saying a prayer. The service of Holy Communion then continued. The Archbishop of Canterbury delivered the collect , and the epistle and gospel were read by the prime minister , Rishi Sunak , and
8083-409: The abbey. For the coronation of William IV and Adelaide in 1831, a state procession from St James's Palace to the abbey was instituted, and this pageantry is an important feature of the modern event. In early modern coronations, the events inside the abbey were usually recorded by artists and published in elaborate folio books of engravings, the last of these was published in 1905 depicting
8220-402: The actual crowning, live; it led to controversy in the press and even questions in parliament. The organising committee subsequently decided that the entire ceremony would be televised, except for the anointing and communion, which had also been excluded from photography at the last coronation. It was revealed 30 years later that the about-face was due to the personal intervention of the Queen. It
8357-416: The actual work of the court. In 1952, for example, the court accepted the claim of the Dean of Westminster to advise the Queen on the proper procedure during the ceremony (for nearly a thousand years he and his predecessor abbots have kept an unpublished Red Book of practices), the claim of the Lord Bishop of Durham and the Lord Bishop of Bath and Wells to walk beside the Queen as she entered and exited
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#17327910757828494-461: The barons performed such a task was at the coronation of George IV in 1821. The barons did not return for the coronations of William IV (who insisted on a simpler, cheaper ceremonial) and Victoria . At coronations since Victoria's, the barons have attended the ceremony, but they have not carried canopies. Many landowners and other persons have honorific "duties" or privileges at the coronation. Such rights have traditionally been determined by
8631-429: The ceremony and its funding by taxpayers. The events in London and Windsor drew large crowds, but were also protested against by republican groups ; 64 individuals were arrested on the day, which was criticised by the international advocacy group Human Rights Watch . The celebrations included street parties, volunteering, special commemorative church services , and a concert at Windsor Castle on 7 May. The response in
8768-439: The ceremony. A Coronation Claims Office was established within the Cabinet Office to handle claims to perform a historic or ceremonial role at the coronation, replacing the Court of Claims . The posts of Lord High Steward and Lord High Constable of England , which are now only named for coronations, were given to General Sir Gordon Messenger and Admiral Sir Tony Radakin , respectively. The holy anointing oil used in
8905-434: The child by an unknown noble or priest, and finally an oath of fealty and acclamation by the congregation. James VI had been crowned in the Church of the Holy Rude at Stirling in 1567. After the Union of the Crowns , he was crowned at Westminster Abbey on 25 July 1603 . His son Charles I travelled north for a Scottish coronation at Holyrood Abbey in Edinburgh in 1633, but caused consternation amongst
9042-486: The choristers at the abbey. During the service, the organ was played by Peter Holder , and before the service by Matthew Jorysz . Before the service John Eliot Gardiner conducted the Monteverdi Choir and English Baroque Soloists . The main choir was a combination of the choirs of Westminster Abbey, the Chapel Royal , the octet from the Monteverdi Choir, Methodist College Belfast Girls' Choir and Truro Cathedral Girls' Choir. The orchestra players were drawn from
9179-438: The coronation anthem I was glad . For the 2023 coronation of Charles III and Camilla , a Coronation Claims Office within the Cabinet Office was established instead of the court. Along with persons of nobility, the coronation ceremonies are also attended by a wide range of political figures, including the prime minister and all members of the Cabinet of the United Kingdom , all governors-general and prime ministers of
9316-403: The coronation regalia was carried in procession to the altar. At Charles's request, the sixth-century St Augustine Gospels was also carried in the procession. The service, conducted by the Archbishop of Canterbury, began with the King and Queen having a silent moment of prayer before seating themselves on their chairs of estate, made for the 1953 coronation. In a new element of the service,
9453-400: The coronation was instead performed by the Bishop of Winchester. Elizabeth I was crowned by the Bishop of Carlisle (to whose see is attached no special precedence) because the senior prelates were "either dead, too old and infirm, unacceptable to the queen, or unwilling to serve". Finally, when James II was deposed and replaced with William III and Mary II jointly,
9590-409: The coronation which had taken place three years earlier. Re-enactments of the ceremony were staged at London and provincial theatres; in 1761, a production featuring the Westminster Abbey choir at the Royal Opera House in Covent Garden ran for three months after the real event. In 1902, a request to record the ceremony on a gramophone record was rejected, but Sir Benjamin Stone photographed
9727-563: The coronations of others and were instead represented by other royals. In 1953, Prince Edward, Duke of Windsor (formerly Edward VIII) , was not invited to the coronation of Elizabeth II , with the reason given that it was contrary to precedent for a sovereign or former sovereign to attend any coronation of another. The coronation of Charles III and Camilla in 2023 broke with that precedent and 16 foreign monarchs attended. English and British queens dowager also did not traditionally attend coronations until Queen Mary broke precedent by attending
9864-562: The crowd replied "God save King Charles!" each time. Charles was then presented with a new Bible by the Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland . The Archbishop of Canterbury acknowledged the existence of multiple faiths and beliefs in the United Kingdom. Charles then took the coronation oath , in which he swore to govern each of his countries according to their respective laws and customs, to administer law and justice with mercy, and to uphold Protestantism in
10001-430: The crown but underwent a coronation in all but name in his second investiture as Lord Protector in 1657. The Archbishop of Canterbury, who has precedence over all other clergy and all laypersons except members of the royal family, traditionally officiates at coronations; in his absence, another bishop appointed by the monarch may take the archbishop's place. There have, however, been several exceptions. William I
10138-487: The elements concerning religion to the United Kingdom. Thus since 1937, the monarch has been simultaneously crowned as sovereign of several independent nations besides the United Kingdom, known since 1953 as the Commonwealth realms . Elizabeth II was asked, for example: "Will you solemnly promise and swear to govern the Peoples of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Canada, Australia, New Zealand,
10275-691: The emblem in both English and Welsh . The procession into the abbey was led by the Cross of Wales , a new processional cross commissioned by Charles to mark the centenary of the Church in Wales . It includes relics of the True Cross gifted to the King by Pope Francis . The screen which concealed the King during his anointing was designed by iconographer Aidan Hart and embroidered by the Royal School of Needlework . It includes 56 leaves embroidered with
10412-449: The end of the customary one-year period between accession and coronation. A monarch, however, accedes to the throne the moment their predecessor dies, not when they are crowned, hence the traditional proclamation: " The king is dead, long live the king! " The Anglo-Saxon monarchs used various locations for their coronations, including Bath , Kingston upon Thames , London, and Winchester . The last Anglo-Saxon monarch, Harold II ,
10549-465: The first major outside broadcast . At Elizabeth II's coronation in 1953, most of the proceedings inside the abbey were also televised by the BBC. Originally, events as far as the choir screen were to be televised live, with the remainder to be filmed and released later after any mishaps were edited out. This would prevent television viewers from seeing most of the highlights of the coronation, including
10686-515: The first time this has occurred, and then presented with the Queen Consort's Ring . The Queen then was crowned by the Archbishop of Canterbury using Queen Mary's Crown. Camilla then was presented with the Queen Consort's Sceptre with Cross and the Queen Consort's Rod with Dove (which, unlike other queens consort, she chose not to carry), before sitting on her own throne (originally made for Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother in 1937) beside
10823-457: The inauguration of Alexander II in 1214. The ceremony included the laying on of hands by a senior cleric and the recitation of the king's genealogy . The Bishop of St Andrews (from 1472 an archbishop) usually presided, but other bishops and archbishops also performed at some coronations. After the coronation of John Balliol , the Stone was taken to Westminster Abbey in 1296 and in 1300–1301 Edward I of England had it incorporated into
10960-551: The increased cost for security measures. The events of the coronation day included a procession from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Abbey, the coronation service itself, a procession back to Buckingham Palace, and an appearance by the King and Queen, with other members of the royal family, on the palace balcony for a flypast by the Royal Air Force. The coronation was conducted by the Church of England and contained several distinct elements, which were structured around
11097-442: The king and offered him wine. Similar, or even more elaborate pageants continued until the coronation of Charles II in 1661. Charles's pageant was watched by Samuel Pepys who wrote: "So glorious was the show with gold and silver that we were not able to look at it". James II abandoned the tradition of the pageant to pay for jewels for his queen and thereafter there was only a short procession on foot from Westminster Hall to
11234-431: The large choir and orchestra were badly coordinated. In the 20th century, liturgical scholars sought to restore the spiritual meaning of the ceremony by rearranging elements with reference to the medieval texts, creating a "complex marriage of innovation and tradition". The greatly increased pageantry of the state processions was intended to emphasise the strength and diversity of the British Empire . The idea of
11371-402: The leaders of the Commonwealth of Nations. In the evening, the King hosted a reception for foreign royalty and other overseas dignitaries at Buckingham Palace, and family members and guests also attended a reception at Oswald's . In a break with tradition, Charles's coronation vestments (ceremonial clothes) were largely reused from previous coronations instead of being newly made. While it
11508-420: The moment they enter the Abbey until the moment they leave, the monarch is flanked by two supporting bishops of the Church of England. The part played by two supporting bishops dates back to the coronation of Edgar in 973: two bishops led him by hand into Bath Abbey. Since the coronation of Richard I in 1189, the Bishops of Bath & Wells and Durham have assumed this duty. Custom has it that they accompany
11645-571: The monarch seated on the Coronation Chair . Main elements of the coronation service and the earliest form of oath can be traced to the ceremony devised by Saint Dunstan for King Edgar 's coronation in 973 AD at Bath Abbey . It drew on ceremonies used by the kings of the Franks and those used in the ordination of bishops . Two versions of coronation services, known as ordines (from the Latin ordo meaning "order") or recensions , survive from before
11782-469: The monarch throughout the ceremony, flanking them as they process from the entrance of Westminster Abbey and standing either side of St Edward’s Chair during the anointing. Bishops Assistant may also carry the Bible, paten, and chalice in the procession. The Bishop of Durham stands on the monarch's right and the Bishop of Bath and Wells on their left. During the Coronation of King Charles III , Queen Camilla
11919-404: The most recent coronation, some wore coronets . Many government officials and guests attend, including representatives of other countries. The essential elements of the coronation have remained largely unchanged for the past 1,000 years. The sovereign is first presented to, and acclaimed by, the people. The sovereign then swears an oath to uphold the law and the Church. Following that, the monarch
12056-407: The multiple faiths, cultures, and communities of the United Kingdom. It was shorter than Elizabeth II's coronation, and had a peak UK television audience of 20.4 million, making it the most watched television broadcast of 2023. The coronation elicited both celebrations and protest in the United Kingdom, with surveys carried out before the event suggesting that the British public was ambivalent towards
12193-499: The names of the members of the Commonwealth of Nations . The Poet Laureate of the United Kingdom , Simon Armitage , released a new poem, An Unexpected Guest , to mark the coronation. The poem follows a woman invited to attend the coronation in Westminster Abbey, and quotes Samuel Pepys ' experience at the coronation of Charles II in 1661. In a tradition dating back to the coronation of King Edward II in 1308,
12330-467: The nave to mitigate this. The coronation was a state event funded by the British government, which also decided the guest list. Approximately 2,200 guests from 203 countries were invited. They included members of the British royal family, representatives from the Church of England and other British faith communities, prominent politicians from the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth, and foreign heads of state. The number of British political attendees
12467-479: The need to gain popular support for a new monarch by making the ceremony a spectacle for ordinary people, started with the coronation in 1377 of Richard II who was a 10-year-old boy, thought unlikely to command respect simply by his physical appearance. On the day before the coronation, the boy king and his retinue were met outside the City of London by the lord mayor , aldermen and the livery companies , and he
12604-597: The new ordo focussed on the balance between the monarch and his nobles and on the oath, neither of which concerned the absolutist French kings. One manuscript of this recension is the Liber Regalis at Westminster Abbey which has come to be regarded as the definitive version. Following the start of the Reformation in England , the boy king Edward VI had been crowned in the first Protestant coronation in 1547, during which Archbishop Thomas Cranmer preached
12741-444: The number of guests, as in contrast to earlier coronations no temporary stands were erected in the building. In addition to the coronation, several dignitaries invited to the event also attended related gatherings hosted by Charles on 5 May in London. Several receptions were hosted by Charles on that day, including one for dignitaries from the Commonwealth realms at Buckingham Palace, and another reception at Marlborough House for all
12878-500: The official account of the event, the Coronation Roll, was presented to the King and Queen on 3 May 2024. The roll of hand-stitched paper is 21 metres long and contains 11,500 words, crafted by calligrapher Stephanie von Werthern-Gill and illustrated by Timothy Noad. The roll will be kept with its predecessors at The National Archives , but has been digitised and is accessible online. Twelve new pieces were commissioned for
13015-460: The official beginning of the monarch's reign; de jure and de facto his or her reign commences from the moment of the preceding monarch's death or abdication, maintaining legal continuity of the monarchy. The coronation usually takes place several months after the death of the monarch's predecessor, as it is considered a joyous occasion that would be inappropriate while mourning continues. This interval also gives planners enough time to complete
13152-488: The ongoing cost-of-living crisis in the United Kingdom . In comparison, Elizabeth II's coronation cost £912,000 in 1953, equating to £20.5m in May 2023, while George VI's cost £454,000 in 1937, equating to £24.8m in May 2023. George VI's coronation prior to the coronation of Charles III and Camilla was the most expensive in the last 300 years. The elevated expenses for Charles and Camilla's coronation has been partly attributed to
13289-487: The other Commonwealth realms was similarly mixed; while there were many celebrations, some government officials and indigenous groups took the opportunity to voice republican sentiments and call for reparatory justice . It was the first British coronation in the 21st century and the 40th to be held at Westminster Abbey since the coronation of William the Conqueror in 1066. Charles III became king immediately upon
13426-488: The people were invited to swear allegiance . Camilla then was anointed, crowned, and enthroned. The King and Queen ended the service by taking Holy Communion, and processed out of the abbey. Several public viewing spots of the procession were prepared. Tens of thousands of people from the UK and the rest of the world were estimated to have lined the procession route. Despite the forecast for rain, spectators started camping along
13563-529: The people, but also an attempt by antiquarians to recover a lost English identity from before the Norman Conquest. In 1685, James II, who was a Catholic, ordered a truncated version of the service omitting the Eucharist , but this was restored for later monarchs. Only four years later, the service was again revised by Henry Compton for the coronation of William III and Mary II . The Latin text
13700-514: The procession into the abbey. Nine years later, at the coronation of George V , Stone was allowed to photograph the recognition, the presentation of the swords, and the homage. The coronation of George VI in 1937 was broadcast on radio by the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), and parts of the service were filmed and shown in cinemas. The state procession was shown live on the new BBC Television Service ,
13837-444: The procession route days before the event. On the morning of the event, authorities announced the procession route had reached capacity at 8:29. On the day of the coronation Charles and Camilla travelled to Westminster Abbey in procession. They departed Buckingham Palace at 10:20 BST and went along The Mall , down Whitehall and along Parliament Street, and around the east and south sides of Parliament Square before reaching
13974-440: The procession. Andrew Jamieson was commissioned to create the coronation invitation, which featured the couple's coats of arms, the floral emblems of the United Kingdom , and a Green Man amid other British wildflowers and wildlife. The coronation emblem was designed by Jony Ive with his creative collective LoveFrom, and depicts the floral emblems of the United Kingdom in the shape of St Edward's Crown. There are versions of
14111-446: The required elaborate arrangements. The most recent coronation took place on 6 May 2023 to crown King Charles III and Queen Camilla . The ceremony is performed by the archbishop of Canterbury , the most senior cleric in the Church of England , of which the monarch is supreme governor . Other clergy and members of the British nobility traditionally have roles as well. Most participants wear ceremonial uniforms or robes, and before
14248-607: The rulers of the Indian Princely States and the various British Protectorates . An Imperial Conference was held afterwards. In 1911, the procession inside Westminster Abbey included the banners of the dominions, India and the Home Nations . By 1937, the Statute of Westminster 1931 had made the dominions fully independent, and the wording of the coronation oath was amended to include their names and confine
14385-901: The same". The oath has been modified without statutory authority; for example, at the coronation of Elizabeth II , the exchange between the Queen and the archbishop was as follows: The Archbishop of Canterbury: Will you solemnly promise and swear to govern the Peoples of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, the Union of South Africa , Pakistan and Ceylon , and of your Possessions and other Territories to any of them belonging or pertaining, according to their respective laws and customs? The Queen: I solemnly promise so to do. The Archbishop of Canterbury: Will you to your power cause Law and Justice, in Mercy, to be executed in all your judgments? The Queen: I will. The Archbishop of Canterbury: Will you to
14522-844: The same? After the people acclaim the sovereign at each side, the archbishop administers an oath to the sovereign. Since the Glorious Revolution , the Coronation Oath Act 1688 has required, among other things, that the sovereign "Promise and Sweare to Governe the People of this Kingdome of England and the Dominions thereto belonging according to the Statutes in Parlyament Agreed on and the Laws and Customs of
14659-552: The service and used alongside older works, including several used at previous coronations. Six of the new commissions were performed by the orchestra before the service — those by Judith Weir ; Sir Karl Jenkins ; a vocal piece by Sarah Class performed by Pretty Yende ; Nigel Hess , Roderick Williams , and Shirley J. Thompson ; Iain Farrington ; and a new march by Patrick Doyle . New compositions by Roxanna Panufnik , Tarik O'Regan , and Andrew Lloyd Webber were part of
14796-554: The service was consecrated at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre on 6 March 2023 by Patriarch Theophilos III of Jerusalem , under the supervision of Hosam Naoum , the Anglican archbishop of Jerusalem . It was based on the same formula as the oil used in the coronation of Elizabeth II , but without animal products such as civet . Military dress rehearsals took place on 17, 18, and 19 April. The King and Queen,
14933-495: The service, and Debbie Wiseman composed two related pieces, one of which was performed by the Ascension Choir. Existing works by William Byrd , George Frideric Handel , William Boyce , Edward Elgar , Walford Davies , William Walton , Hubert Parry , and Ralph Vaughan Williams were included, as they had been at previous coronations. Six pieces were performed in new arrangements by John Rutter . In tribute to
15070-578: The service, and it was conducted by the low-ranking bishop of Carlisle , Owen Oglethorpe . Scottish coronations were traditionally held at Scone Abbey in Perthshire , with the monarch seated on the Stone of Destiny . The original rituals were a fusion of ceremonies used by the kings of Dál Riata , based on the inauguration of Aidan by Columba in 574, and by the Picts from whom the Stone of Destiny came. A crown does not seem to have been used until
15207-529: The sovereign with the ceremonial vestments, with the aid of the Groom of the Robes and the Master (in the case of a king) or Mistress (in the case of a queen) of the Robes. The Barons of the Cinque Ports also participated in the ceremony. Formerly, the barons were the members of the House of Commons representing the Cinque Ports of Hastings , New Romney , Hythe , Dover and Sandwich . Reforms in
15344-463: The sovereign. It was a private part of the service; as in 1953 it was not televised, and Charles was concealed by a screen. During this the choir sang the anthem Zadok the Priest . In the next part of the service, Charles was presented with several items from the coronation regalia. The spurs , armills , Sword of State, and Sword of Offering were given to the King, who touched them with his hand, before they were removed again. During this, Psalm 71
15481-459: The taking of the oath concludes, an ecclesiastic presents a Bible to the sovereign, saying "Here is Wisdom; This is the royal Law; These are the lively Oracles of God." The Bible used is a full King James Bible , including the Apocrypha . At Elizabeth II's coronation, the Bible was presented by the Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland . Once the Bible is presented,
15618-416: The throne (originally made for George VI in 1937) and the Archbishop of Canterbury and William, Prince of Wales, offered him their fealty. The Archbishop of Canterbury then invited the people of the United Kingdom and the other Commonwealth realms to swear allegiance to the King, the first time this has occurred. The next part of the service concerned Camilla. She was anointed in public view, thought to be
15755-499: The utmost of your power maintain the Laws of God and the true profession of the Gospel? Will you to the utmost of your power maintain in the United Kingdom the Protestant Reformed Religion established by law? Will you maintain and preserve inviolable the settlement of the Church of England, and the doctrine, worship, discipline, and government thereof, as by law established in England? And will you preserve unto
15892-514: Was 108 beats per minute, slowed down from the regulation 116 beats per minute because of the size of the bands. An official coronation album, which includes all music and spoken word from the pre-service and service was recorded and released by Decca Records after the ceremony. As a state event, the event was paid for by the British government as well as Buckingham Palace through the Sovereign Grant and Privy Purse . Costs incurred by
16029-531: Was also crowned on the day he became king, 25 December 1066 , but three weeks since the surrender of English nobles and bishops at Berkhampstead , allowing time to prepare a spectacular ceremony. Most of his successors were crowned within weeks, or even days, of their accession. Edward I was fighting in the Ninth Crusade when he acceded to the throne in 1272; he was crowned soon after his return in 1274. Edward II 's coronation, similarly,
16166-534: Was chanted in Greek by an Orthodox choir in tribute to the King's father, Prince Philip , who was born a prince of Greece. The King was invested with the stole royal , robe royal , and the Sovereign's Orb , and presented with the sovereign's ring , which he touched but did not wear. He was then invested with the glove , the Sovereign's Sceptre with Cross , and the Sovereign's Sceptre with Dove . The King then
16303-538: Was conducted to the Tower of London where he spent the night in vigil . The following morning, the king travelled on horseback in a great procession through the decorated city streets to Westminster. Bands played along the route, the public conduits flowed with red and white wine, and an imitation castle had been built in Cheapside , probably to represent the New Jerusalem , where a girl blew gold leaf over
16440-500: Was crowned at Westminster Abbey in 1066; the location was preserved for all future coronations. When London was under the control of rebels, Henry III was crowned at Gloucester in 1216; he later chose to have a second coronation at Westminster in 1220. Two hundred years later, Henry VI also had two coronations; as king of England in London in 1429, and as king of France in Paris in 1431. Coronations may be performed for
16577-699: Was crowned by the Archbishop of York , since the Archbishop of Canterbury had been appointed by the Antipope Benedict ;X , and this appointment was not recognised as valid by the Pope. Edward II was crowned by the Bishop of Winchester because the Archbishop of Canterbury had been exiled by Edward I . Mary I , a Catholic, refused to be crowned by the Protestant Archbishop Thomas Cranmer ;
16714-472: Was crowned by the Archbishop of Canterbury, with the Archbishop and then the congregation chanting, "God save the King!". At the moment of crowning the church bells of the abbey rang, 21-gun salutes were fired at 13 locations around the United Kingdom and on deployed Royal Navy ships , and 62-gun salutes and a six-gun salvo were fired from the Tower of London and Horse Guards Parade . Charles then received
16851-577: Was delayed by a campaign in Scotland in 1307. Henry VI was only a few months old when he acceded in 1422; he was crowned in 1429, but did not officially assume the reins of government until he was deemed of sufficient age, in 1437. Pre-modern coronations were usually either on a Sunday, the Christian Sabbath , or on a Christian holiday . Edgar's coronation was at Pentecost , William I's on Christmas Day, possibly in imitation of
16988-515: Was first required by the Bill of Rights of 1689 and is required to be taken at either the first meeting of the parliament after a new monarch's accession (i.e. during the State Opening of Parliament ) or at their coronation. The monarch additionally swears a separate oath to preserve Presbyterian church government in the Church of Scotland and this oath is taken before the coronation. Once
17125-476: Was held in a church, since demolished, within the castle walls and was conducted by the Bishop of Glasgow , because the Archbishop of St Andrews had been killed at the Battle of Flodden . It is likely that the child would have been knighted before the start of the ceremony. The coronation itself started with a sermon , followed by the anointing and crowning, then the coronation oath, in this case taken for
17262-459: Was instituted, an important feature of the modern event. The coronation banquet after the service proper was also terminated. When Victoria was crowned in 1838 , the service followed the pared-down precedent set by her uncle, and the under-rehearsed ceremonial, again presided over by William Howley , was marred by mistakes and accidents. The music in the abbey was widely criticised in the press, only one new piece having been written for it, and
17399-503: Was made of purple silk velvet embroidered in gold. After adjustments by Ede & Ravenscroft , the Imperial Robe of George V was used by his great-grandson, Charles III , for his coronation in 2023. Most robes used in the coronation ceremony, with the exception of the historic Robe Royal and Supertunica , are made new for each monarch. Elizabeth II firstly considered reusing her grandfather's Imperial Robe, as her father did at his coronation in 1937, but instead decided to commission
17536-534: Was morning dress, a lounge suit, formal military uniform or national dress. The official photographer of the coronation was Hugo Burnand , who had previously been the official photographer for Charles and Camilla's wedding in 2005. Eileen Hogan was selected to paint the coronation ceremony, and Peter Kuhfeld and Paul Benney to paint the coronation portraits of Charles and Camilla respectively. Three alumni of The Royal Drawing School , Fraser Scarfe, Phoebe Stannard and Gideon Summerfield, were picked to document
17673-551: Was not used, to avoid a potential diplomatic dispute with India; the crown contains the Koh-i-Noor diamond, which is claimed by India. The dress code for peers without a role in the ceremony was originally lounge suits or parliamentary robes , rather than the coronets, coronation robes, and court dress traditionally worn. This was changed in the week before the coronation after protests, with peers allowed to wear coronation robes but not coronets. The general dress code for men
17810-446: Was reduced significantly from 1953, when virtually the entire Parliament of the United Kingdom attended. Invitations were extended to 850 community and charity representatives, including 450 British Empire Medal recipients and 400 young persons, half of whom were nominated by the government. Following a tradition dating from 1189, fourteen barons of the Cinque Ports were also invited. Safety regulations at Westminster Abbey restricted
17947-488: Was resurrected for the 1714 coronation of the German-speaking George I , since it was the only common language between the king and the clergy. Perhaps because the 1761 coronation of George III had been beset by "numerous mistakes and stupidities", the next time around, spectacle overshadowed the religious aspect of the service. The coronation of George IV in 1821 was an expensive and lavish affair with
18084-438: Was similarly accompanied by Bishops Assistant – the Bishops of Hereford and of Norwich – on her right and left respectively. The Great Officers of State traditionally participate during the ceremony. The offices of Lord High Steward and Lord High Constable have not been regularly filled since the 15th and 16th centuries respectively; they are, however, revived for coronation ceremonies. The Lord Great Chamberlain enrobes
18221-418: Was some 15 years after his accession in 959 and may have been intended to mark the high point of his reign, or that he reached the age of 30, the age at which Jesus Christ was baptised. Harold II was crowned on the day after the death of his predecessor, Edward the Confessor , the rush probably reflecting the contentious nature of Harold's succession; whereas the first Norman monarch, William I ,
18358-411: Was still alive). More commonly, a king's wife is crowned as queen consort . If the king is already married at the time of his coronation, a joint coronation of both king and queen may be performed. The first such coronation was of Henry II and Eleanor of Aquitaine in 1154; eighteen such coronations have been performed, including that of the co-rulers William III and Mary II . The most recent
18495-447: Was that of Charles III and his wife Camilla in 2023. If the king married, or remarried, after his coronation, or if his wife was not crowned with him for some other reason, she might be crowned in a separate ceremony. The first such separate coronation of a queen consort in England was that of Matilda of Flanders in 1068; the last was Anne Boleyn 's in 1533. The most recent king to wed post-coronation, Charles II , did not have
18632-412: Was the last to take place in Scotland, and no bishop presided as the episcopacy had been abolished; the de facto head of government, Archibald Campbell, 1st Marquess of Argyll , crowned Charles instead. The Liber Regalis was translated into English for the first time for the coronation of James I in 1603, partly as a result of the reformation in England requiring services to be understood by
18769-412: Was used for ancient Scottish coronations until brought to England by Edward I . It has been used for every coronation at Westminster Abbey since. Until 1996, the stone was kept with the chair in Westminster Abbey, but it was moved that year to Edinburgh Castle in Scotland, where it is displayed on the proviso that it be returned to Westminster Abbey for use at future coronations. It was announced by
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