Well they have been packed away in either Victoria or New South Wales for 70 years so I may as well dust them off and share with you some of my beautiful 1953 Coronation books and clippings. These were collected by my late mother and the late mother of another friend who kindly gifted them to me.
I will start the series with "Coronation" a novel by Paul Gallico which I read several times as a child and still love today. So much so that it has been on display in my bedroom bookshelf for any years. My copy is a 1962 first edition and the cover shows wear but the magic of the story inside is the same.
Front Cover
From Goodreads:
Coronation Day, June 2nd, 1953. A humble,
working-class family from Sheffield is desperate to see the Queen’s
coronation—a once-in-a-lifetime event—even at the expense of their
annual seaside holiday. After scrimping and saving, and a family meeting
in which the enthusiasm of the children eclipses the skepticism of
their mother and grandmother, the Clagg family takes the plunge and buys
premium tickets to the big day.
But in classic Gallico fashion,
twists and turns await them on the way. Will their tickets be everything
they hoped and dreamed? Will granny stop grumbling that it's all a
waste of money? Most importantly, will they ever get to see their
beloved Queen? In this tender and heartwarming story, Paul Gallico
brings to life the joy and fervor that swept the nation during the last
royal coronation—and provides delightful historical perspective on the
upcoming coronation of King Charles III and Queen Consort Camilla."
Newer reprints are available, so look online for paperbacks or even a Kindle version.
Having seen the Coronation Chair behind glass in Westminster Abbey, I can tell you it seems too fragile to use but apparantly not! It will be used in just a few weeks time for the Coronation Of King Charles III.
Here is the amazing history of the Stone Of Scone and it's relationship to the Coronation Chair and more. From Westminster Abbey website:
The Coronation Chair
The
Coronation Chair in St George’s Chapel ( Westminster Abbey) is one of the most precious and
famous pieces of furniture in the world. It has been the centrepiece of
coronations for over 700 years when it is placed in the centre of the
Abbey, in front of the High Altar.
The Coronation Chair was made by order of King Edward I
to enclose the famous Stone of Scone, which he brought from Scotland to
the Abbey in 1296, where he placed it in the care of the Abbot of
Westminster. The King had a magnificent oaken chair made to contain the
Stone in 1300-1301, painted by Master Walter and decorated with patterns
of birds, foliage and animals on a gilt ground. The figure of a king,
either Edward the Confessor
or Edward I, his feet resting on a lion, was painted on the back. The
four gilt lions below were made in 1727 to replace the originals, which
were themselves not added to the Chair until the early 16th century. The
Stone was originally totally enclosed under the seat but over the
centuries the wooden decoration had been torn away from the front.
Coronation chair gilding
History
At coronations, the Chair - height 2.05m (6 feet 9 inches) - with the
Stone stands facing the High Altar. The Chair has been in use at the
coronation ceremony since 1308 although opinion is divided as to when it
was actually used for the crowning, but this was certainly the case
from 1399 when Henry IV was crowned in the Chair.
There have been thirty eight coronation ceremonies for reigning monarchs held at the Abbey (William and Mary were crowned in one ceremony. Edward V,
one of the "Princes in the Tower" and Edward VIII, who abdicated, were
never crowned). Fifteen queen consorts also had separate coronation
ceremonies.
Joint coronation
At the joint coronation of William III and Mary II in 1689 a special
chair was made for Mary, as William used the ancient chair. Mary's chair
is on display in the new Queen's Diamond Jubilee Galleries at the Abbey.
Removal
The ancient Chair was taken out of the Abbey when Oliver Cromwell was installed upon it as Lord Protector in Westminster Hall. It was used by Queen Victoria
at the 1887 Golden Jubilee Services in the Abbey. During the Second
World War the Chair was evacuated to Gloucester Cathedral and the Stone
was secretly buried in the Abbey.
Graffiti and damage
Most of the graffiti on the back part of the Chair is the result of
Westminster schoolboys and visitors carving their names in the 18th and
19th centuries. One of the tourists carved "P. Abbott slept in this
chair 5-6 July 1800" on the seat.
A bomb attack in 1914 thought to be organised by the Suffragettes even knocked a small corner off it.
A close up of the chair
Move to St George's Chapel
The Chair was kept in the Chapel of St Edward the Confessor for many
centuries until that chapel was closed to general visitors in 1997. In
February 1998 the Chair was moved out to the ambulatory and raised on a
modern pedestal near the tomb of Henry V.
In April 2010 it was moved to a specially-built enclosure within St
George's Chapel at the west end of the Nave for essential conservation
work. During conservation and cleaning, under the supervision of the
Hamilton Kerr Institute, a rare pigment called orpiment was discovered
in the compartment which housed the Stone. Tiny traces of vivid colour
were found on the Chair. New wooden tracery was put in at the front of
the Chair (the original had been missing since the 18th century). It was
discovered that originally there was no seat and a cushion on top of
the Stone was probably used in earlier times.
Coronation chair following restoration in 2012
A new plinth and canopy display for the Chair in St George's chapel was designed by the Abbey's Surveyor Ptolemy Dean in 2013
Stone of Scone
Legends abound concerning the Stone of Scone. Tradition identifies it
with the one upon which Jacob rested his head at Bethel - "And Jacob
rose up early in the morning, and took the stone that he had put for his
pillows, and set it up for a pillar, and poured oil upon the top of it"
(Genesis chapter 28, verse 18). The legend then says that Jacob's sons
carried it to Egypt and from thence it passed to Spain with King
Gathelus, son of Cecrops, the builder of Athens. About 700 BC it was
said to be in Ireland, whither it was carried by the Spanish King's son
Simon Brech, on his invasion of the island. There it was placed upon the
sacred Hill of Tara, and called "Lia-Fail", the "fatal" stone, or
"stone of destiny", for when the Irish kings were seated on it at
coronations the Stone groaned aloud if the claimant was of royal race
but remained silent if he was a pretender. Fergus Mor MacEirc (died
501?), the founder of the Scottish monarchy, and one of the Blood Royal
of Ireland, received it in Scotland, and Kenneth MacAlpin (died 860)
finally deposited it in the monastery of Scone in Perthshire (846).
Setting aside the earlier myths it is certain that it had been for
centuries an object of veneration to the Scots. Upon this Stone their
kings, down to John Balliol in 1292, were crowned, and it is said that
the following words were once engraved on the Stone by Kenneth:
Ni fallat fatum, Scoti, quocunque locatum Invenient lapidem, regnare tenentur ibidem
[If Fates go right, where'er this stone is found The Scots shall monarchs of that realm be crowned]
The prophecy was fulfilled at the accession of James VI of Scotland and I of England in 1603. The Stone weighs 152 kg (336 pounds) and is composed of sandstone.
Theft and return to Scotland
It was stolen by Scottish Nationalists on 25th December 1950. After
its recovery in April 1951 it was kept in the vault in which it had been
stored during the Second World War and was not replaced in the Chair
until February 1952, after elaborate precautions had been taken for its
future safety.
The Stone of Scone under the Coronation Chair
However, on 3rd July 1996 the Prime Minister (John Major) announced
that the Stone of Scone would be returned to Scotland by the end of the
year, returning to the Abbey for coronations. On the evening of 13th
November 1996 the Stone was removed from the Chair by representatives of
Historic Scotland and put in a specially made crate. It was transported
by stretcher to stand in the Lantern of the Abbey overnight and was
removed in silence to the waiting police escort early on the morning of
14th November to make the long journey to Scotland by road. It can now
be seen in Edinburgh Castle.
So the Coronation Chair, once the oldest piece of furniture in
England still used for the purpose for which it was originally built,
now stands empty after 700 years.
Note from Blog Author: The Stone Of Scone will be transported to Westminster Abbey for the upcoming Coronation and then returned to Scotland.
In the past some of us have made the trek to the Tower of London to see the Crown Jewels. Currently a number of valuable items have been removed from display in preparation for the Coronation. From Historic Royal Palaces website:
"The Crown Jewels have been stored and displayed at the Tower
of London since 1661, continuing a long tradition of storing precious
objects here.
This magnificent world-famous collection of 23,578 gemstones is part
of the Royal Collection and boasts items that are still used in royal
ceremonies today.
Under guard and still in use
You'll find the Crown Jewels under armed guard
in the Jewel House at the Tower of London. These gems are a unique
working collection of royal regalia and are still regularly used by the
monarch for important national ceremonies, such as the State Opening of
Parliament. Make sure to look out for the 'in use' signs.
The Crown Jewels and the Coronation ceremony
Since 1066, coronation ceremonies have taken place in Westminster
Abbey, the great church founded by Edward the Confessor. The displays in
the Jewel House at the Tower of London examine how the royal regalia
are used during the ceremony and explore the symbolism of each object."
In addition- from HM Royal Collection Trust:
The Coronation Regalia
At the heart of the Crown Jewels are the Coronation Regalia. These
are the sacred objects used in the coronation ceremony. The collection
includes St Edward's Crown, the Imperial State Crown, the Sovereign’s
Sceptre with Cross and the Sovereign’s Orb.
St Edward’s Crown
This spectacular solid gold crown is used at the moment of crowning during the coronation ceremony.
It weighs 2.3kg (nearly 5lb) and is decorated with rubies, amethysts and sapphires.
It was made for the Coronation of Charles II in 1661 as a replacement
for the medieval crown melted down in 1649, after the execution of
Charles I.
The lost medieval crown dated back to the 11th century and belonged to the royal saint, Edward the Confessor.
St Edward's Crown was last used for crowning Queen Elizabeth II in 1953.
The Imperial State Crown was made for the Coronation of King George VI in 1937 replacing a crown made for Queen Victoria.
The crown is set with 2,868 diamonds, as well as several famous jewels.
It includes St Edward's Sapphire, said to have been worn in a ring by Edward the Confessor.
The crown also includes the Cullinan II diamond, the second largest
stone cut from the great Cullinan Diamond. The Cullinan Diamond is the
largest diamond ever discovered.
The Imperial State Crown is worn by the monarch to leave Westminster Abbey after the coronation ceremony.
The Sovereign’s Sceptre was made for the Coronation of Charles II in 1661 and has been used at every coronation since.
The Sceptre includes the magnificent Cullinan I diamond, the largest colourless cut diamond in the world.
In 1911 the Crown Jeweller, Garrard, mounted the diamond in the
Sovereign's Sceptre. The diamond is so large that the Sceptre had to be
reinforced to take its weight.
Queen Mary’s stunning Crown is set with 2,200 diamonds.
The crown was designed for the Coronation of Queen Mary in 1911.
At the 1911 Coronation the crown contained three large diamonds -
the Koh-i-nûr, Cullinan III and Cullinan IV. These were later replaced
with crystal replicas.
The crown will be reset with the Cullinan III, IV and V diamonds for
the Coronation of His Majesty The King and Her Majesty The Queen
Consort.
The magnificent Cullinan Diamond is the largest diamond ever found,
weighing 3,106 carats. The diamond was discovered in modern-day South
Africa in 1905. It was named after the chairman of the mining company,
Thomas Cullinan.
Over a period of eight months, three polishers worked for 14 hours a
day to cut and polish nine large stones from the original diamond. In
total 97 small brilliants were also created.
The two largest stones are Cullinan I and Cullinan II. They are set
in the Sovereign’s Sceptre with Cross and the Imperial State Crown.
The medieval Crown Jewels were sold or destroyed in the mid-seventeenth century.
In 1649, at the close of the English Civil War, Charles I was
executed, and items from the Royal Collection were sold by Parliament to
fund the new government. Jewels were sold and items of silver and gold
were melted down and turned into coins.
By 1660 the monarchy was restored, and Charles II ordered the
creation of new regalia for his Coronation in 1661. These make up a
large proportion of the Crown Jewels which can be seen today.
The children of The Prince and Princess of Wales will attend the Coronation of King Charles III. Prince George, as a future King himself will have a role in the Coronation but it is likely to be fairly small considering he is still 9 year old.
Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis will be in Westminster Abbey and join in the spectacular carriage procession back to Buckingham Palace before the Palace balcony appearance.
The photos of the young Wales children in their Coronation finery will be worth waiting for!
A long time, avid reader of my Royal Children Blog reached out this week to ask very interesting questions:
Will Camilla be crowned with King Charles and will she be Queen or Queen Consort?
In answer to the first question, yes Camilla, whilst not a reigning Queen, is still Queen due to her being married to the King.
The next question about whether Camilla will be Queen or Queen Consort appears to have two answers!
As best as I can find from the steady trickle of factual information that appears each week, Camilla will be officially crowned as Her Majesty Queen Consort Camilla.
But on a day to day basis it is looking as if she will be known as Queen, not Queen Consort. Camilla's charity was formerly known as Duchess Of Cornwall's Reading Room. It has been changed to The Queen's Reading Room ( note: not Queen Consort).
How do we know what a
medieval coronation would have looked like? Watch Dr Matthew Payne,
Keeper of the Muniments, uncover what we know, and don’t know, about the
Liber Regalis.
The Liber Regalis, or Royal Book, is a medieval manual which explains
how coronations are staged. The manuscript, which is currently on
display in the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Galleries at Westminster Abbey,
provides ceremonial instructions and the order of service for the
coronation. Similar to other 14th century manuscripts, it is written on
parchment and in Latin.
Along with the informative text, this
manuscript contains four beautiful full-page illuminations, three of
which relate to coronations. They illustrate the act of crowning
monarchs; including a king alone, a queen alone, and a king and queen
together. Each monarch is surrounded by religious and secular figures,
highlighting the coronation as a ceremony of both church and state.
The Liber Regalis is one of
the very few books left at the Abbey after the dissolution of the
monasteries in the reign of King Henry VIII. Its usefulness for people
in charge of planning coronations is likely to have ensured its
survival.
While there are other sources to help with planning
coronations in the present, the Liber Regalis does demonstrate the core
parts of the Coronation service which have always been and will continue
to be essential. Although over time there have been some substantial
changes, such as the shift from the service being in Latin to English,
the Liber Regalis is a reminder that this Christian service has largely
remained the same for hundreds of years.
The ceremony traditionally features music, prayers, and hymns in several parts:
Recognition and Oath
The people in the Abbey are asked if they recognise the new monarch
and respond with 'God Save The King’ or ‘God Save The Queen’. The
monarch then signs an oath where they promise to rule according to the
law and with mercy. The monarch is traditionally wearing the crimson
Robe of State.
Following the oath, the monarch sits in the Coronation Chair, made
for King Edward I in 1300. The chair historically housed the Stone of
Scone, also known as "the Stone of Destiny". This Stone is an ancient
object associated with the kings of Scotland. Since 1996 it has been
kept at Edinburgh Castle unless required at a coronation.
The monarch is then anointed using the Coronation Spoon with holy oil
contained in the Ampulla. The Coronation Spoon is the most ancient item
of Coronation regalia.
The choir traditionally sings Handel’s ‘Zadok the Priest’ during this most sacred moment of the coronation.
Investiture and Crowning
The anointing is followed by dressing of the monarch in the
spectacular robe of cloth of gold called the Supertunica and the longer
Imperial Mantle. The monarch is then presented with other items from the
Coronation Regalia.
These includes the gold spurs, the jewelled Sword of Offering and the
Armills. The Armills are gold bracelets representing sincerity and
wisdom. The monarch also receives the Sovereign’s Orb, a gold globe
topped by a cross, as well as a ring and two sceptres.
The ceremony culminates with the placing of the magnificent St
Edward’s Crown on the monarch’s head. The monarch then changes into the
robe of purple velvet and wears the lighter Imperial State Crown for the
rest of the service.
This is the final part of the coronation. The new monarch moves to
the throne chair and senior officials of the United Kingdom pay homage
to the newly crowned monarch. They place their hands on the monarch’s
knees, swear an allegiance, touch the crown and kiss the monarch's right
hand.
In 1953, Queen Elizabeth II’s husband Prince Philip was the first to pay homage to his wife, pledging his service to her.
Procession
The coronation day starts with a procession from Buckingham Palace to
Westminster Abbey in the Gold State Coach. This coach has been used at
every coronation since George IV's in 1821.
After the service there is traditionally a procession through the
streets of London. This allows as many people as possible to see the
newly crowned monarch.
Queen Elizabeth II was the most recent British monarch to be crowned
at Westminster Abbey, following her succession. The queen succeeded to
the throne on 6 February 1952 on the death of her father, King George
VI.
The coronation took place on 2 June 1953 and it was the first to be
broadcast live on television. Twenty-seven million people in the United
Kingdom tuned in to watch the ceremony.
“I am sure that this, my Coronation, is not the symbol of a power
and a splendour that are gone but a declaration of our hopes for the
future, and for the years I may, by God's Grace and Mercy, be given to
reign and serve you as your Queen.”
Queen Elizabeth II on her Coronation Day, June 2 1953.
The
Gold State Coach is a dazzling, living part of British history. The
iconic carriage which featured spectacularly at Queen Elizabeth II’s
Platinum Jubilee pageant, is on display at the Royal Mews, the working
stables of Buckingham Palace.
The coach has a fascinating history. Find out more with these 6 interesting facts.
1. It has been used at every coronation since 1821
The Gold State Coach has been a splendid sight at royal coronations,
jubilees, and events since it was built in 1762 to transport British
kings and queens. It was designed by William Chambers and made by the
coachmaker Samuel Butler. At 260 years old it has been used at every
coronation since that of George IV in 1821.
The coach is actually made of giltwood, which is a thin layer of gold
leaf over wood. The interior is lined and upholstered with velvet and
satin. It also features magnificent painted panels of Roman gods and
goddesses.
It features gilded sculptures including three cherubs on the roof,
which represent England, Scotland, and Ireland. And above each wheel
there is a massive triton figure.
3. It is only ever used at walking pace
The huge coach is seven metres long, 3.6 metres tall, weighs four
tonnes, and needs eight horses to draw it. Because of its age and and
how heavy it is, it is only ever used at a walking pace.
4. Queen Elizabeth II used it on her Coronation Day
Queen Elizabeth II used it on her Coronation Day in 1953 to travel
from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Abbey, and to return. It has been
reported that Royal Mews staff strapped a hot water bottle under the
seat, as the day was unseasonally cold and wet.
Most recently the coach appeared as part of the Platinum Jubilee
Pageant, fitted for the day with a hologram of Queen Elizabeth II in the
coach windows.
The coach was also used at the State Openings of Parliament, by
George III, George IV and William IV. Queen Victoria, however, was not
fond of the coach and after Prince Albert’s death in 1861, only opened
Parliament seven times and did not make use of the State Coach.
6. The Gold State Coach is the third oldest surviving coach in the UK
There are only two older coaches in the UK: The Speaker of the House
of Common’s Coach is the oldest dating from 1698 and the Lord Mayor of
London’s Coach was built in 1758.
This year will see the Coronation of King Charles III on Saturday 6th May 2023.
We invite people to observe and record any activities or events in
their local area so we can piece together a picture of the country as it
commemorates the Coronation of King Charles III.
Mass Observation has recorded royal events since 12th May 1937. This was the day of George VI's Coronation.
Mass Observation also recorded Queen Elizabeth II's Coronation on 2nd June 1953
We are keen to find out how the 2023 Coronation is
commemorated in your local area, whether you take part in any events or
activities yourself and what you think and feel about the occasion.
To take part, please observe and record events in your local area
over the bank holiday weekend. Your account can be written in any style
and include drawings and photographs. You can also record any plans or
preparations for the following events, which may include;
6th May Coronation of King Charles III
7th May Coronation Big Lunch, will see parties and community lunches held in streets, gardens, parks and public spaces across the country.
8th May Big Help Out, intended to create a
lasting legacy of the coronation weekend with people encouraged to
spend a day volunteering in their communities.
Your account will inform research and teaching activities and be kept
alongside Mass Observation’s records of all royal events from 1937
onwards and provide an invaluable record of this historic occasion for
future generations.
The Coronation
of His Majesty The King and Her Majesty The Queen Consort is also a
time for celebration across the nation and the Commonwealth, over a
weekend of special events:
Saturday 6 May the Coronation Ceremony takes place at Westminster Abbey ( pictured above), London.
6-8 May will see Coronation Big Lunches up and down the country and across the Commonwealth.
Sunday May 7 a spectacular Coronation Concert will
be performed at Windsor Castle with iconic locations across the UK lit
up using projections, lasers, drone displays and illuminations.
Monday 8 May a special Bank Holiday has been
proclaimed by the Prime Minister in honour of the Coronation, giving
everyone the opportunity to join in with their communities and good
causes through Big Help Out activities.
