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 RoyalsHistory

Queen Victoria's Coronation Dress

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4th April 2023
Queen Victoria’s reign is notable for its length, for its innovations and revolutions, and for her steadfastness in navigating the Crown through to modern times. Her fashion was legendary both contemporarily—she helped popularise white wedding dresses—and today as a study not only of the woman but also the kingdom she reigned over. The morning she ascended the throne, 20 June 1837, she…
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British RoyalsHistory

The mistake at Queen Elizabeth II's Coronation

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21st March 2023
When the whole world is watching, the pressure to pull off an event perfectly like a coronation is immense. It’s been 70 years since the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II and during the three-hour service, it’s reported the then 25-year-old made only one mistake. It was a first-of-its-kind event as modern technology meant that this was the first British coronation to be televised…
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British RoyalsFeaturesHistory

The coronation of a consort who might have been England's first queen regnant

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18th March 2023
In another lifetime, perhaps she’d be recognised as England’s first queen regnant, but Elizabeth of York was fated to be a consequential queen consort instead, with her popularity helping to sow peace in the aftermath of the Wars of the Roses. Elizabeth holds a unique position in English history: she is the only woman to be daughter, niece, sister, wife, and mother to kings. The long and…
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