The reign of King Henry IV began with usurpation and heralded a period of power struggles that would end in the War of the Roses. As he rode to his Coronation, in 1399, his predecessor languished in jail and would die in mysterious circumstances within months. Henry IV’s coronation was a show of power, designed to establish his authority at a time of turbulence and to demonstrate that he was a…
New Zealand Prime Minister discusses losing the Monarchy before heading to London for the Coronation
2nd May 2023
New Zealand’s Prime Minister Chris Hipkins has said that he sees New Zealand as potentially becoming fully independent from the British Crown in the future.
In a short press gathering preceding his departure for London on Monday, 1st May, the successor to Jacinda…
His reign would end with the toppling of the monarchy but as Charles I was crowned King of England in 1626, there was little indication that the ancient ceremony heralded a time of tumult that would lead to war and death. However, as the Archbishop of Canterbury lifted St.
With the Coronation only a few days away, the country is abuzz with speculation about what to expect from this historic event. The last Coronation took place seventy years ago, and much has changed since then. We have been given a tantalising glimpse into what the Procession will look like, what Their Majesties will be wearing, and what the actual Ceremony at Westminster Abbey will…
The Coronation of King Charles III will be filled with pomp, circumstance and regalia. Some of the regalia are worn, like robes and spurs. But other pieces of regalia are carried and presented throughout the ceremony.
Swords are a key part of the Coronation. Five of them…
With the release of the Coronation’s liturgy (or Order of Service, as it is called for other ceremonies), many of the last unknown details of this key historical moment are being revealed.
And special roles have been assigned to the Bishop of Bath and Wells, and…
On the last weekend before the Coronation, Westminster Abbey hosted a special service to mark the arrival of the Stone of Destiny, a crucial piece of the ceremony.Â
On Saturday, 29th April, on the day that also marked the 12th wedding anniversary of the Prince and Princess of Wales, the Dean of Westminster conducted a service to mark the arrival of the Stone of Destiny from…
The coronation that created the glittering image of monarchy about to be unveiled in Westminster Abbey
1st May 2023
He was a hero king who had survived an epic game of thrones and his coronation was set to be a splendid celebration at the start of a new era of royal power. The crowning of Richard I involved pomp, pageantry and chivalric splendour but it also led to riots and the deaths of…
The Gold State Coach is unique: it’s over 200 years old, solid wood, and so large it can only go at a walking pace.Â
Leading that walking pace are eight Windsor Grey Horses, the only horses allowed to pull the Gold State Coach.
Windsor Greys are not a specific breed…
King William IV and Queen Adelaide’s coronation in 1831 was a strong departure from British coronations in the past. As the oldest person to take the throne until King Charles III ascended in 2022, William’s approach to his coronation was to keep the event as budget-friendly as possible.
William’s elder brother reigned as King George IV from 1820 to 1830 after acting as Regent multiple…
