It is one of the most striking portraits
of George VI painted in his reign and contains all the symbols of
his kingship in a dramatic and historic setting. But this famous
image had to wait for completion because of war. The famous
portrait by Sir Gerald Festus Kelly was commissioned by the king in
early 1938, just a few months after he was crowned at Westminster
Abbey. It shows him in his…
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…
For a princess who claimed a bit of a
royal first at the baptismal font, it’s perhaps not surprising that
Patricia of Connaught – known for most of her adult life as Lady
Patricia Ramsey – ended up changing plenty of regal rules on her
way. The little…
Televising the Coronation of Queen
Elizabeth II was a crowning achievement! On June 2, 1953 over eight
million people watched on their own televisions, 10 million people
watched in the homes of friends and family who owned TVs and 1.5
million went to cinemas, pubs and halls to view this live event.
Before this coronations were limited to those invited inside
Westminster Abbey although…
The Coronation of King George I in 1714
marked the beginning of a new dynasty on the throne of Great
Britain but its crowning moment was rather a difficult affair in
more ways than one. After Queen Anne’s death in August 1714,
George inherited the throne due to the…
It’s little and often overlooked and yet
it remains one of the most important parts of the Crown Jewels. The
golden ampulla dates back to the reign of the last king called
Charles to be crowned at Westminster Abbey and it will play a vital
part in the Coronation of…
On May 6th 2023, the fortieth Coronation
of a Monarch since the Norman Conquest takes place at Westminster
Abbey. King Charles III will be crowned by the Archbishop of
Canterbury in a ceremony that is little changed through the
centuries. It will be, as it has been for the thirty nine kings and
queens before him who have been crowned, one of the most important
moments of his reign and of his…
As Queen Camilla walks into Westminster
Abbey on May 6th 2023, it is expected that she will be wearing one
of the most important sets of jewels in the Royal Family’s
collection. A spectacular necklace, worn by Queen Elizabeth II as
she was crowned and by the last three…
The Coronation of King Charles III will
involve thousands of people but, ultimately, the responsibility for
organising this historic royal event falls to one person. The job
belongs to the Earl Marshal. The Earl Marshal is one of the Great
Officers of State and for…
Queen Victoria reigned for 63 years and
lent her name to the era of political and social change, but it
began with a ‘botched’ coronation ceremony. When Victoria was
crowned on 22 June 1838, it was the third coronation ceremony of
the century; and she followed two uncles to the throne: George IV,
unpopular for his spending and his ego; and William IV, unpopular
due to the Reform…
