A Coronation Fit For A King

Longtime readers may recall that I have been writing about the British Royal family since 2011. (You can read the very first post on Royal Residences HERE.) Like so many others I fell in love with Lady Diana Spencer when I was just 12 years old. To this day I am interested in “Diana’s boys and her grandchildren”. I’ll be honest in that the man who will crowned this Saturday is far from my favorite. But, this is history in the making. In my opinion, no one does Pomp and Circumstance better than the British. So I bring you all of the wonderful details for A Coronation Fit For A King.

The Invitation

The invitation was designed by Andrew Jamieson, a heraldic artist and manuscript illuminator.  The invitation features an abundance of wildflowers, wildlife and the head of the Green Man, an ancient folklore figure. According to Buckingham Palace it is a symbol of spring and rebirth celebrating a new reign.

A Coronation Fit For A King

The coronation will take place on Saturday, May 6, 2023, at 11am in Westminster Abbey. Every English and British coronation since 1066 has happened here. Charles Philip Arthur George will be the 40th monarch to be crowned in the Abbey. I wrote a very extensive historical/architectural post on the Abbey HERE.

The Gold State Carriage

Charles will travel to Westminster Abbey in the Gold State Coach which is rarely brought out. It was last seen in 2022 at Queen Elizabeth’s historic Platinum Jubilee in a nod to her coronation in 1953. The cumbersome coach has been used by the monarchy for over 260 years. It was commissioned in 1760 for George III. The coach was designed by William Chambers and made by the coachmaker Samuel Butler. It was first used on November 25, 1762 by King George for the State Opening of Parliament. It has been used on every Coronation Day since the 1800s to bring the new King or Queen from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Abbey.

The coach is covered in gold leaf. At the front are two tritons which honor several British naval victories. The three cherubs at the top represent the guardian spirits of England, Scotland and Ireland. The façade of the carriage is covered in fruits of peace panels painted by Giovanni Cipriani. The coach is twenty-six feet long. It weighs almost 8,000 pounds. It requires eight Windsor Grey horses to slowly pull the coach. 

Sustainability and Efficiency

I do have to tip my hat to King Charles in his efforts for sustainability and efficiency. He will reuse items from previous coronations throughout the ceremony. His Majesty will wear vestments worn in the previous Coronation Services of King George IV in 1821, King George V in 1911, King George VI in 1937 and Queen Elizabeth II in 1953. They include the Colobium Sindonis, the Supertunica, the Imperial Mantle, the Coronation Sword Belt and the Coronation Glove. 

You can see additional photos of all the garments to be used HERE.

The Coronation Robes

The King and Queen Consort will each wear two different robes during the coronation. They are the Robes of State and the Robes of Estate. Robes of State are worn on arrival at Westminster Abbey while the Robes of Estate are worn on departure. The King’s Robe of State is made of crimson velvet and was worn by King George VI, King Charles’ grandfather, at his 1937 coronation.

For his second robe, King Charles will change into the King’s Robe of Estate, made of purple silk velvet embroidered in gold. It too was worn by King George VI in 1937.

The Royal School of Needlework has conserved the velvet, with the lining and gold lace conserved by Ede and Ravenscroft.

Queen Consort Camilla will wear the Robe of State that was originally made for Queen Elizabeth II, King Charles’ mother, for her 1953 coronation. It is made of crimson velvet and also has been conserved by Ede and Ravenscroft. A new Robe of Estate was created for the Queen Consort by The Royal School of Needlework. 

The Service

There are five stages to the service. It will begin with the recognition. The Archbishop of Canterbury will present the monarch to the congregation. They will respond with God Save the King to the accompaniment of trumpets. The King will then swear an oath to defend the Church of England and the law. The King then sits in the wooden Coronation Chair.

The Coronation Chair was commissioned by Edward I in 1300 and used by subsequent royals, for the anointing. It was made to enclose the famous Stone of Scone, which King Edward I brought from Scotland to the Abbey in 1296. The chair is decorated with patterns of birds, foliage and animals on a gilt ground. The figure of a king, either Edward the Confessor or Edward I, his feet resting on a lion, is painted on the back. The four gilt lions  at the base were made in 1727 to replace the originals. They were themselves not added to the chair until the early 16th century.

Chairs of Estate

In addition to the Coronation chair, the King and Queen Consort will sit in Throne Chairs for the Enthroning and the Homage. The Chairs of Estate will be used during the early parts of the Service and for the Coronation of Her Majesty They were originally made in 1953 by the London firm White, Allom and Company for the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II on June 2, 1953. The Chairs of Estate are made from carved and gilded beechwood in the seventeenth century-style. The cyphers of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip are featured in the carving of the giltwood stretcher joining the front legs, together with the national emblems of a rose, thistle, and shamrock.

The new cyphers for the Chairs of Estate have been hand embroidered by the Royal School of Needlework, and created with cloth of gold, woven with a metal thread. The cyphers were then applied onto red silk damask with an appliqué technique. The original braid and trimmings were reused. 

Throne Chairs

The throne chairs were also made by White, Allom and Company. For the 1937 coronation of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth (King Charles’ grandparents.). They are designed in a seventeenth century style based on X-framed Tudor stools. The Throne Chairs were recently reupholstered in crimson velvet. They received new silk braid and trellis fringe that replicates the original trimmings.

 

The Crown Jewels

The King’s head, chest and hands will be anointed with holy oil while he sits in the chair. The 12th-century Coronation Spoon is used to anoint the monarch with holy oil. The gold Ampulla or flask holds the holy oil. The head of the eagle is removable with an opening in the beak for pouring the oil into the spoon.

Following this is the investiture, in which the King will be given the objects symbolic of his power. They include the orb and scepter. The Sovereign’s Scepter with Cross is meant to represent the crown’s power and governance. It was created for the coronation of King Charles II by the royal goldsmith, Sir Robert Vyner. It has been used in the coronation of every British monarch since 1661. 

Over the years the piece has been altered when other stones and adornments were added to it. 

I do want to take a moment to acknowledge that there is some controversy surrounding some of the Crown Jewels to be used in the Coronation. Some individuals feel that certain gemstones, such as the Cullinan diamond, should be returned to its country of origin. They view Britain’s acquisition of the jewels as ill gotten. You can read more on the subject HERE.  

The second scepter, the Sovereign’s Scepter with Dove, features an enameled dove alighting on a golden cross at its peak. Traditionally it has been known as the Rod of Equity and Mercy. It represents the monarch’s spiritual role and was also created for the 1661 coronation of Charles II. However, the piece’s function as part of the coronation services dates back at least to the 1066 coronation of William the Conqueror.

The Sovereign’s Orb is also plays a significant part of the traditional coronation regalia. The orb is designed as a symbol that the monarch’s power is derived from God. At too was created in 1661. 

The orb is generally presented to the monarch toward the end of the coronation ceremony. It is held in their right hand before being placed on the altar so they can accept the two scepters.

St. Edward’s Crown

Then St. Edward’s Crown will be placed on the King’s head. Once again, Charles II commissioned the crown from the Royal Goldsmith, Sir Robert Vyner, in 1661. It features four crosses-pattée (arms with a narrow center) four fleurs-de-lis, and two arches. The solid gold frame is set with rubies, amethysts, sapphires, garnet, topazes and tourmalines. The crown has a velvet cap with an ermine band.

One does get the feeling that King Charles II, who had all of these magnificent pieces created, thought quite highly of himself. 

These pieces from the Crown Jewel collection may all feel very familiar. They featured prominently in Elizabeth II 1953 portrait, by Sir Cecil Beaton, in her coronation robe.

They were also placed on the Queen’s casket and at the altar during her recent funeral. 

Lastly, the King moves to the throne, and the peers of the realm will kneel to pay homage to him.

The Queen Consort will also be anointed and throned in the same way. She will wear a crown designed for the Coronation of George V in 1911.  It was worn by his Queen Consort Mary and made by by Garrard.

There will be other pieces from the collection used during the service. Such as swords, spurs, bracelets and rings. You can read more about them all HERE.

The historic Sovereign’s Ring and Queen Consort’s Ring.

After The Service

After the service, the King and Queen Consort will proceed back to Buckingham Palace in an even more elaborate procession known as The Coronation Procession. Upon leaving Westminster Abbe King Charles will wear the Imperial State Crown. The crown was created for the Coronation of King George VI in 1937 and replaced a crown made for Queen Victoria. 

The King and Queen Consort will appear on the balcony at the front of the palace with members of their family much like Elizabeth II did in 1953.

How To Watch

The coronation will be televised across Britain’s main broadcasters, including BBC, ITV and Sky. In the United States BBC America and the major US networks CNN, NBC and ABC will cover the coronation. Coverage will start in the United States at 5 am Eastern Time which means I’ll be up at 4 am. 

Please Note: In years past I have done a follow up post of fashions worn by the Royal family, etc for the ceremony/event. This will be the only post I do on the coronation. My son’s engagement party is also this Saturday. A flurry of preparations for the retro themed cocktail party are currently underway to make the happy couple feel like a King and Queen. 

I’ll be back on Friday with another post. 

Laura