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…
For almost a millennium, kings and queens have been crowned at Westminster Abbey. But perhaps the king most intrinsically linked to the Abbey was never crowned there: Edward the Confessor.
Instead, Edward the Confessor was crowned at Winchester Cathedral. He succeeded his…
Following royal tradition, King Charles III will wear the Imperial State Crown as he leaves his Coronation on May 6th 2023.
The Imperial State Crown is set with an impressive 2,868 diamonds, the largest and most famous being the cushion-shaped brilliant Cullinan II…
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…
As the Coronation draws near, speculation about what King Charles III might wear increases. Kings usually opt for a version of the tunics, breeches and silk stockings that have made up the Coronation outfit for centuries. However, it’s been reported that His Majesty might…
You could not be faulted if you walked by the Stone of Scone and not even realized you were in the presence of a legendary and mysterious rock.
Pronounced ‘Scoon,’ the ancient symbol of Scottish sovereignty is an unassuming rectangular stone, made of sandstone…
For almost a thousand years, coronation services have taken place at Westminster Abbey, in times of peace and strife. The sovereign sometimes arrives at the Abbey a popular figure; sometimes, they’re deeply unpopular.
More often than not, they’re crowned by birthright and succession. On a few occasions, they’re crowned after a battle, like the first king to reign after the Norman…
