Coronation

The basic English coronation service was devised by St Dunstan for the coronation of King Edgar in 973.

At the Coronation of William the Conqueror in 1066, the guards stationed outside Westminster Abbey became alarmed by the noise of the jubilant crowd and set fire to nearby buildings as a supposed distraction, as recounted in the enthralling study by Ian Lloyd. The congregation quickly rushed outside, seizing the opportunity to engage in some looting.

King John was known for his impish behavior, treating his Coronation in 1199 with an unseemly levity by departing before its conclusion.

Following the traditional ceremony, a week-long celebration ensued, including jousting and a grand feast. Edward I spared no expense, ordering an incredible 60 oxen, two boars, 40 pigs, and a staggering 22,460 chickens, along with swans and peacocks for the festivities.

Edward II's closest confidant, Piers Gaveston, delighted in showering the monarch with kisses and repeated embraces while wearing more jewelry than the queen.

Edward V (abducted) and Edward VIII (abdicated) were the only English monarchs who never had coronations.

Wary of potential danger, Richard III employed a formidable force of 6,000 troops to ensure his safety. Henry VIII's banquet was equally noteworthy, as servants crawled under the table to assist the ladies in their personal needs. Queen Mary Tudor, who was notably displeased throughout her Coronation, rested her feet on two of her ladies, serving as an uncomplaining human footstool.

The lavish velvet and satin robes of the monarchs were a significant challenge to wear, with their trains so heavy they could scarcely be lifted from the ground. Charles I had a circus strongman stationed underneath his train to bear the weight on his head.

However, the greatest expense of all was incurred by Charles II of England  who had to have the regalia remade after Cromwell melted them down and sold them. The new Imperial State Crown boasted 890 diamonds, ten rubies, 20 emeralds, 549 pearls, and 18 sapphires, with a price tag of £1.8 million. He also wore stilettos to the ceremony. 

The coronation of Napoleon as Emperor of the French took place on Sunday December 2, 1804 at Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris (see below). It was was a sacred ceremony held in the great cathedral in the presence of the Pope Pius VII. Napoleon was vested in a long white satin tunic embroidered in gold thread and Josephine similarly wore a white satin empire style dress embroidered in gold thread.

At George III's Coronation, the Queen was accidentally locked out of the Abbey, leading to a lull in the ceremony. The congregation opened their picnic hampers, and the festivities continued with the sound of clinking glasses and rattling cutlery, as everyone enjoyed their meat pies.

In 1821 George IV excluded his unpopular wife Queen Caroline from his coronation.

At Queen Victoria's Coronation, which lasted a grueling five hours, the lords could be seen with their coronets askew, knocking back champagne.

As Queen Victoria was being crowned on June 28, 1838, the Archbishop of Canterbury forced the Coronation Ring on to the wrong finger. She didn't complain, but had to ice her bruised finger later.

Victoria had neglected to rehearse, causing several mishaps during the ceremony. The bishops frequently lost their place in the Order of Service and in the procession back to Buckingham Palace, Victoria was displeased by the "distressing oscillations" of the Gold State Coach.

During Edward VII's Coronation in 1902, the Archbishop placed the crown on the monarch's head backward, adding to the ceremony's already considerable eccentricities. Afterward, ushers discovered numerous jewels, including ropes of pearls, bracelets, and twenty gold balls knocked off coronets, left behind in the pews. During the procession, two young royal princes had a brawl in their carriage.

An emergency royal appendectomy led to the postponement of Edward VII’s coronation in 1901.

The Stone of Scone, traditional coronation stone of British monarchs, was taken from Westminster Abbey by Scottish nationalist students on Christmas Day 1850. It later turned up in Scotland three and a half months later.

The first outside broadcast on UK television was the Coronation of George VI in 1937.

At George VI's Coronation, a dean fell down the steps while carrying the crown, causing a minor scandal. Despite these eccentricities, each Coronation remains an essential part of British history, a testament to the majesty and peculiarities of the monarchy.

Queen Elizabeth II of Britain was crowned in Westminster Abbey, 16 months after the death of her father, King George VI in 1953. It was the first coronation to be televised and millions watched worldwide.

The Coronation of King Charles III took place on Saturday, May 6, 2023, at Westminster Abbey in London. Charles acceded to the throne on September 8, 2022, upon the death of his mother, Queen Elizabeth II. The Coronation was a traditional ceremony, with many of the same elements as previous coronations. The King was anointed with holy oil, crowned with the St Edward's Crown, and invested with the other regalia of the realm. He swore an oath to uphold the law and the Church of England.

Coronation Chicken was first made for the coronation of Elizabeth II in 1953.

 A “coronation spoon” has been used at every English coronation since 1349 to anoint the monarch with a secret mixture of oils.

On June 30, 1963, we witnessed the coronation of Pope Paul VI, marking the end of an era. This sacred ceremony turned out to be the final one of its kind, as later popes decided to do away with this tradition. It was a significant moment in history, filled with deep symbolism and religious importance. 

Only one of the 17 wives of Emperor Bokassa of the Central African Republic was allowed to attend his lavish coronation in 1977.

For weeks leading up to the coronation of a Thai king, officials collect water from more than 100 sources across the country. The water is then blessed before it is used to purify and anoint the monarch.

Sources Daily Express, Daily Mail, New York Times