British Royals

Why the Dame told the Duke - ''no soggy bottom''

Have you heard the one about the Duke, the Dame and the Archbishops? A very special Coronation Big Lunch brought together faith leaders who were treated to one of the UK’s most famous dames telling its newest duke that he had ”no soggy bottom”. For anyone who hasn’t seen The Great British Bake Off, there is no need to be alarmed. Dame Prue Leith used one of the…
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Features

The Coronation of King Charles III: what Is 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 basically a Coronation guide book that dates back to 1382 when Richard II reigned. The ‘Liber Regalis’ says the Supertunica…
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British Royals

Westminster Abbey's Coronation Theatre

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…
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British Royals

What are the Crown Jewels?

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…
HistoryKing Charles III

What are coronation banquets and why aren't they held anymore?

King Charles III is making considerable changes to the coronation to modernise the ceremony and recognise the monarchy’s position in the twenty-first century. Both the coronation ceremony and procession will look quite different from his mother’s coronation in 1953. However, Charles is not the only monarch to make changes to coronation traditions.  Historically newly–crowned monarchs…
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