HistoryKing Charles III

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

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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…
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British RoyalsHistoryInterestsState & Ceremonial

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

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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…
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Features

The Coronation of King George V and Queen Mary

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23rd March 2023
King George V and Queen Mary, like King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra, were crowned as King and Queen of the United Kingdom (and Dominions) and as Emperor and Empress of India. Their 1911 coronation was luckily less eventful than that of George’s parents. George…
Features

The Coronation Dress of Queen Alexandra

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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…
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British RoyalsHistory

The Coronation of Edward VII

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17th March 2023
King Charles III has often been compared to his great-great-grandfather, King Edward VII. Both ascended the throne after their mother’s enjoyed record-breaking reigns, and at the time of each king’s ascension, they both held the record for longest-serving Prince of…
FeaturesSweden

A look at the Order of the Polar Star

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17th March 2023
Each royal house has its own royal chivalric orders. Sweden has several royal orders; the Order of the Polar Star is one of the oldest orders in Sweden. The Order of the Polar Star was established on 23 February 1748 by King Frederick I, along with the Order of the Sword and the Royal Order of the Seraphim. Although some orders date back as far as 1606, they were only codified in 1748 by…
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