Features

To crown a queen - the Coronations of Britain's female monarchs

For the first time in seventy years, Britain will see a king crowned. After almost three quarters of a century of female rule, there is a whole generation who, rightly, know nothing of the pointless debate about the validity of female rule. And yet, seven decades ago, as arguably the most important monarch in British history was crowned, discussions continued about whether is was right to crown a…
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The Homage and its role in the Coronation

Historically the homage part of the Coronation has involved Archbishops, royal blood princes and senior peers. King Charles III has decided to have the homage be more inclusive and one homage, more limited. The first homage is at the beginning of the service known as…
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To crown a king - George VI's Coronation

It’s been nearly 90 years since the United Kingdom crowned its last King, King George VI. And the outfit worn by George on 12 May 1937 might give us an idea of how King Charles III may dress when he is crowned on 6 May, and how he could follow tradition. As he walked into Westminster Abbey, King George VI wore the Robe of State, also known as the Parliament Robe. The long mantle is worn by…
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The Coronation robes - the Supertunica

King Charles III’s coronation will be a blend of modern and traditional. The Supertunica he will wear is firmly in the “traditional” column. In fact, it dates back to medieval coronations and is one of the items mentioned in the ‘Liber Regalis,’ which is…
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The Crown Jewels and the State Trumpets

The Jewel House at the Tower of London is home to the Crown Jewels, part of which includes a total of sixteen silver trumpets, dating back to 1780, also known as the state trumpets. However, only one of the trumpets is on display for visitors to see. Seven of these trumpets were originally used by the 1st Regiment Life Guards, and bear engraved inscriptions indicating this. The other nine…
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Five centuries after the Conquest, how a queen finally conquered the Crown

There have only been a handful of queen regnants in Britain’s history. Queen Elizabeth II was the most recent, having reigned a historic 70 years, but 400 years before her reign began, the first queen regnant was crowned: Queen Mary I. The eldest daughter of Henry VIII and his first wife, Catherine of Aragon, Mary Tudor, lived a tumultuous life. Born as a legitimate heir, then named…
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