King Charles IIIState & Ceremonial

Coronation ceremony: The recognition

By
13th April 2023
King Charles III has reportedly made several changes to his coronation service.While his mother’s 1953 coronation service was nearly four hours, The King’s will reportedly be closer to an hour. However, some elements are included in every coronation regardless. The recognition is one of those elements. The King and Queen will enter Westminster Abbey in their Robes of State (their…
Read more
HistoryKing Charles III

What are coronation banquets and why aren't they held anymore?

By
12th April 2023
King Charles III is making considerable changes to the coronation to modernise the ceremony and recognise the monarchy’s position in the twenty-first century. Both the coronation ceremony and procession will look quite different from his mother’s coronation in 1953.However, Charles is not the only monarch to make changes to coronation traditions. Historically newly–crowned monarchs…
Read more
British RoyalsHistoryInterestsState & Ceremonial

What happened to the first St. Edward's Crown?

By
1st April 2023
On 6 May at Westminster Abbey, King Charles III will be crowned with St. Edward’s Crown at the moment of coronation. The design dates back to the eleventh century, but the crown itself that will be used is much younger.The original St. Edward’s Crown reportedly dates back to Edward the Confessor’s reign but can first be found in sources in the thirteenth century. He reigned from…
Read more
Features

The Coronation Dress of Queen Alexandra

By
23rd March 2023
While there is a traditional uniform for kings at their coronation, there is not for queens. This has allowed each queen to wear a gown specifically created for their coronation day. Queen Alexandra’s coronation dress remains one of the most sumptuous in British history. King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra’s coronation encountered some serious issues. Originally planned for the 26th of…
Read more