My Coronation Viewing "Throne"

In planning my time in London for the Coronation I have come up with a loose itinerary:

4th wandering, visiting favourite places and shopping

5th I have tickets to the Queen's Gallery at Buckingham Palace to view an exhibition:

https://www.rct.uk/whatson/event/1077944/Style-&-Society:-Dressing-the-Georgians 

Style & Society: Dressing the Georgians

Our exciting exhibition explores what the Georgians wore, from the practical dress of laundry maids to the glittering gowns worn at court.

Discover what fashion can tell us about life in the 18th century, a revolutionary period of trade, travel and technology which fuelled fashion trends across all levels of society. Delve into the Georgians’ style story and get up close to magnificent paintings, prints and drawings by artists including Gainsborough, Zoffany and Hogarth, as well as luxurious textiles, sparkling jewellery, and a range of accessories from snuff boxes to swords.

Dunkirk's Little Ships

I will also go to St Katharine's Docks near the Tower of London to see a special gathering of 35 "Little Ships". The boats will arrive on the 4th and will be available to see on 5th and 7th as part of Coronation celebrations. These carefully maintained boats actually took part in Dunkirk in 1940!

Union jack bunting and signal flags at the ready. The Coronation of His Majesty The King and Her Majesty The Queen Consort will take place at Westminster Abbey on Saturday 6th May. In celebration, St Katharine Docks will be hosting what is thought to be 'the largest UK gathering of Dunkirk Little Ships in years'.

The Dunkirk evacuation​, code-named Operation Dynamo, saw the evacuation of Allied soldiers during World War II from the beaches and harbour of Dunkirk, in the north of France, between 26 May and 4 June 1940. A collection of approximately 850 private boats and 20 warships participated in Operation Dynamo and more than 200 ships were lost. Known as 'Little Ships', many of these courageous vessels live on, privately owned and exquisitely preserved.

St Katharine Docks Marina is very proud to be hosting 35 examples over the Coronation Weekend. The Association of Dunkirk Little Ships fleet will be arriving on Thursday 4th and opening doors to the public during the long weekend. The annual May Tea Dance will also be held on Marble Quay over the weekend (date TBA), with lessons and toe-tapping fun with dance troop, the Ragroof Players.

Read about the Little Ships here: 

https://www.adls.org.uk/

6th Coronation Day. I am yet to work out exactly where I would like to watch the Procession. The Mall would be my preference and close to the Palace so I can see the the Procession in both directions and the Balcony appearance of the King and family. 

I did this with Trooping The Colour in 1992 ( yes Diana!!) and secured a good spot but this is a much bigger event.

But, no doubt campers will have secured these places days earlier. I will just have to get there early and try to squeeze into the best place I can find. This leads me to the topic of my post.

I was looking on Ebay for some for sort of folding camping chair to help my poor legs while waiting on the big day. And success! A "collapsing" stool. It collapses into the size of a small disk and isn't heavy to carry. Here is what it looks like!

7th I intend to spend the day in Windsor wandering around as that is where the Concert will take place that night. There is so much to see in walking distance and it is a 30 minute bus ride from my hotel. Eton, Thames River and it's swans, geese and other wildlife, The Long Walk outside the Castle and much more.

8th and 9th Not sure yet...

Historical Book From My Collection: "Coronation" By Paul Gallico

 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.

Stone Of Scone And The Coronation Chair

 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.

Crown Jewels Used In The Coronation

 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.

St Edward's Crown, 1661 (RCIN 31700) ©

Imperial State Crown

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 Imperial State Crown, 1937 (RCIN 31701). St Edward's Sapphire can be seen here on the reverse of the crown. ©

Sovereign’s Sceptre with Cross

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.

The Sovereign's Sceptre with Cross, 1661 (RCIN 31712). ©

Sovereign’s Orb

The Sovereign’s Orb is a representation of the monarch’s power. It symbolises the Christian world with its cross set on a globe.

• The gold Orb weighs 1.32kg and is mounted with emeralds, rubies and sapphires surrounded by diamonds and pearls. 

• During the coronation service, the Orb is placed in the right hand of the monarch. It is then placed on the high altar before the moment of crowning.

The Sovereign's Orb, 1661 (RCIN 31718). ©

Coronation Spoon & Ampulla

The oldest item in the Coronation Regalia is the 12th-century Coronation Spoon.

• It is the only piece of royal goldsmiths' work to survive from that century.

• During the coronation ceremony the spoon is used to anoint the monarch with holy oil.

• The gold Ampulla or flask holds the holy oil. The head of the eagle is removable with an opening in the beak for pouring the oil into the spoon.

Ampulla, 1661 (RCIN 31732) and Coronation Spoon, 12th century (RCIN 31733) ©

Queen Mary's Crown

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.

Queen Mary's Crown, 1911 (RCIN 31704). The three rock crystal replicas are shown here. ©

The Cullinan Diamond

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.

Close up detail of the Cullinan II diamond in the Imperial State Crown. ©

What happened to the earlier Crown Jewels?

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.

 

 

George, Charlotte & Louis To Attend Coronation

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!

Camilla- Queen or Queen Consort?

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).

 Royal Reading Room

Image taken by:HRH The Princess of Wales

The Liber Regalis Explained By Westminster Abbey

 

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.

 

Westminster Abbey You Tube- The Liber Regalis

https://youtu.be/XKv5T4iBeao