Features

The Queen of England who was crowned thousands of miles away from her realm

By
22nd March 2023
While they might not always be crowned alongside their kings, the consorts in the thousand years since the Norman Conquest have usually had coronations at Westminster Abbey. But one queen of England was given her crown thousands of miles from the realm.Queen Berengaria is a little known figure in English royal history but she has a place all of her own. The consort of King Richard I is the…
Read more
British RoyalsHistory

The mistake at Queen Elizabeth II's Coronation

By
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…
Read more
British RoyalsFeaturesHistory

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

By
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…
Read more
Features

The history of the Coronation Chair

By
17th March 2023
It is a chair with understated elegance and steeped in history.The Coronation Chair, also known as King Edward’s Chair or Saint Edward’s Chair, was commissioned by King Edward I in 1296. Originally, it was meant to hold the Stone of Scone, taken from Scotland by King…
British RoyalsHistory

The Coronation of Edward VII

By
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…
Features

What is the Robe of State?

By
17th March 2023
As well as wearing several crowns at his Coronation (well, this is a once only event after all), King Charles will also be clothed in a variety of robes. The first out of the royal wardrobe will be the Robe of State and while The King won’t wear it for the whole of the ceremony, it won’t be the only time this special garment is used during his reign.The Robe of State is worn by the Monarch…
Read more