England has held coronations for hundreds of years and despite the country’s vast history, one might be surprised to learn that the oldest part of the Crown Jewels, is a spoon.
The silver-gilt spoon is first recorded in 1349 as being preserved among St Edward’s Regalia in Westminster Abbey. At this date in time, the spoon is described as already in its “antique forme.”…
When the whole world is watching, the pressure to pull off an event perfectly like a coronation is immense. It’s been 70 years since the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II and during the three-hour service, it’s reported the then 25-year-old made only one…
A Guide to Coronation Service: The entry of the Monarch into Westminster Abbey
20th March 2023
On 6 May, King Charles III and Queen Consort Camilla will be crowned at Westminster Abbey. For many, this will be the first coronation they have ever seen.
The ceremony will follow a pattern laid out in the Liber Regalis, kept at Westminster Abbey and which has informed…
When King Charles III and Queen Camilla are crowned on 6 May, many Coronation traditions will take place for the first time in 70 years. Among them will be the use of the Gold State Coach for a Coronation procession.
However, there is expected to be a modern twist on this centuries old part of the ceremonial. The King and Queen Consort won’t use the 260-year-old coach to travel from…
While Belgium doesn’t have jewels that belong to the Crown but to individual members of the Royal Family, some pieces are considered the most important, which we could potentially see at the Coronation of King Charles III.
First, when it comes to tiaras, the…
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…
King Charles III has often been compared to his great-great-grandfather, King Edward VII. Both ascended the throne after their mother’s enjoyed record-breaking reigns, and at the time of each king’s ascension, they both held the record for longest-serving Prince of Wales.
Edward’s coronation in 1902 was not without some difficulties, though.Â
Although his mother’s coronation in…
It is a considered a gem meant for monarchs, but there is one notable exception to the rules around St. Edward’s Crown: Anne Boleyn.
St. Edward’s Crown is the oldest and heaviest crown in use in the British collection. Worn by Edward the Confessor during his reign…
Televising the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II was a crowning achievement!
On June 2, 1953 over eight million people watched on their own televisions, 10 million people watched in the homes of friends and family who owned TVs and 1.5 million went to cinemas, pubs and…
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…
