The Crown Jewels will be going on tour
after the Coronation – in a rather unusual form. An immersive light
and music show will project the famous gems on to the sides of
landmarks around the UK. The spectacle starts at the Tower of
London this autumn and will make its way around the country after
that. As well as projecting the Crown Jewels on to famous
buildings, the show will cover the…
The Crown Jewels are the most sacred and
special jewellery and regalia at the disposal of the monarch, and
they are stored permanently at the Tower of London unless otherwise
needed for state occasions, such as a coronation. In total, there
are 142 objects with over…
It’s been the subject of speculation for
months now but King Charles might just have given us a clue as to
what he will wear for his Coronation. His Majesty has a number of
options, including traditional breeches and shirt or military
uniform. And as he posed for a…
The servant of the people - the symbolism in the Anointing Screen at King Charles III's Coronation
28th April 2023
King Charles III has chosen to emphasise
his role as servant of the people in one of the most important
symbols of his Coronation. The Anointing Screen which will be held
around His Majesty at the moment holy oil is placed on his head,
chest and hand features his cypher at the base of a tree covered in
symbols of the Commonwealth. It has been designed to focus on his
service to the family of…
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…
The ceremonial Sword of Offering will be
carried into the Coronation by a female officer for the first time
ever. Petty Officer Amy Taylor will bear the jewelled sword into
Westminster Abbey in The King and Queen’s Procession which will
form part of the opening rites of…
For centuries, the King’s Champion
challenged anyone who dared to question the right of a newly
crowned monarch to rule. But while he no longer takes to horseback
to issue a defiant cry to those who would deny the Sovereign’s
status, he still plays an important part in the Coronation and the
crowning of King Charles III will be no different. Francis Dymoke’s
family have held the role of…
The robe worn by monarchs at the most sacred part of the Coronation ceremony
27th April 2023
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…
It’s one of the oldest and storied item
in the Crown Jewels, the Sovereign’s Orb. Created in 1661 by Sir
Robert Vyner for Charles II’s coronation, the orb is a hollow gold
sphere with a cross on top. It symbolizes the monarch’s Christian
sovereignty and their…
Why one part of Westminster Abbey was specially designed for coronations
26th April 2023
For those who have toured London’s
Westminster Abbey, you might notice a particularly spacious area.
Or maybe you’ve seen it during other royal events at The Abbey on
TV such as the wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton, or the
funeral of Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. That area is known
as the Coronation Theatre and was specifically built spacious
enough for coronations. The…
