The History of the Coronation, its Ritual, Rites and Regalia
Compiled by Rod Jenkins
In the run up to the Coronation of His Majesty King Charles III, Rod Jenkins analyses the Ritual, Rites and Regalia of the Coronation. As part of our ongoing series of FREE heritage events, supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund, a FREE talk on the Coronation will be given at St Elvan's on Friday April 28th. FREE tickets for the event are available here
The Coronation of King Charles III will also be screened FREE at St Elvan's on Saturday May 6th, with a separate Afternoon Tea also available for booking here
The Coronation of King Charles III will also be screened FREE at St Elvan's on Saturday May 6th, with a separate Afternoon Tea also available for booking here
Introduction
The Coronation of King Charles the Third will be a historic moment in the life of our nation. A coronation centred around a solemn religious ceremony that has remained largely unchanged for over 1000 years
The UK is now unique in having a coronation, no other monarchy holds one and being consecrated as a Christian King, as God's Anointed, is a unique office. Westminster Abbey has been Britain’s coronation church since 1066. King Charles III will be the 40th monarch to be crowned there in May
This presentation attempts to unwrap the history of the Coronation Ritual itself, its mixture of political and religious rites, the contract between the sovereign and the people, the traditions and symbolism that may seem odd in a modern world, but they all serve an express purpose and meaning
We should look first at the ritual itself as it has come down to us, particularly its origin, its significance, its structure, and elements
The Coronation Ritual, it’s origin and history
The Coronation Ritual, its shape and form, and in some of its actions and texts, is very ancient and it goes back over a thousand years to the late Anglo-Saxon period
It is important to say that it is very much an English Ritual Our Sovereign is Sovereign of the United Kingdom, and of his other Realms and territories etc. But the coronation ceremony itself, makes No concession at all for the Union and the coronation rite is in essence the same rite that was used in England prior to the union of England and Scotland |
Scotland had its own coronation: but the last British sovereign to be crowned in Scotland with the Scottish Crown was Charles II in 1651. no Sovereign since has done so since. The one coronation, the English coronation rite in Westminster Abbey stands in for both coronations
(*Wales of course is a separate matter it's a principality it's prince who is now The Heir Apparent to the British throne does not receive a coronation, he receives a ceremony of investiture)
It is now important to talk about an extraordinary man called Dunstan, to understand his role and life
(*Wales of course is a separate matter it's a principality it's prince who is now The Heir Apparent to the British throne does not receive a coronation, he receives a ceremony of investiture)
It is now important to talk about an extraordinary man called Dunstan, to understand his role and life
Saint Dunstan

Dunstan grew up in the early 10th Century in Glastonbury, which was the religious heart of the then Kingdom of Wessex. (In the reign of Edward, the Elder the son of King Alfred the Great)
He spent his formative years in the Royal Court, and he was a favourite of King Athelstan of Wessex. He entered the church and the monastery at Glastonbury and became its Abbot, but he continued in Royal Service. He was an able Statesman and like many courtiers in the Middle Ages was appointed a bishop, first of Worcester, then of London and finally he became Archbishop of Canterbury
Now Dunstan was not a traditionalist; he was very much a reformer and a modernizer and was European in his outlook. He wanted to bring the English church and the English political system into line with Continental ideas and political practices
So why does all this matter, you may be asking yourself...
He spent his formative years in the Royal Court, and he was a favourite of King Athelstan of Wessex. He entered the church and the monastery at Glastonbury and became its Abbot, but he continued in Royal Service. He was an able Statesman and like many courtiers in the Middle Ages was appointed a bishop, first of Worcester, then of London and finally he became Archbishop of Canterbury
Now Dunstan was not a traditionalist; he was very much a reformer and a modernizer and was European in his outlook. He wanted to bring the English church and the English political system into line with Continental ideas and political practices
So why does all this matter, you may be asking yourself...
King Edgar

Well, in 973 as Archbishop of Canterbury Dunstan was given the responsibility of crowning King Edgar, which he did at the Bath Abbey on Whitsunday, the 11th of May, AD 973
Prior to Edgar's coronation, Anglo-Saxon Kings had been appointed through election by eldermen and nobles and through enthronement and through the investiture with regalia
But Dunstan, ever the moderniser, the reformer saw Edgar's coronation as the opportunity to create a new English ceremony that included all of the Anglo-Saxon elements but also included revolutionary European ideas that would raise the status of English kings
So, Dunstan wrote a whole new coronation ritual for Edgar's coronation. He based it on the coronation rituals of Frankish Kings and the Holy Roman Emperor Charlemagne and his sons
The particular element from Frankish coronations Dunstan added to the English ceremony was...
Prior to Edgar's coronation, Anglo-Saxon Kings had been appointed through election by eldermen and nobles and through enthronement and through the investiture with regalia
But Dunstan, ever the moderniser, the reformer saw Edgar's coronation as the opportunity to create a new English ceremony that included all of the Anglo-Saxon elements but also included revolutionary European ideas that would raise the status of English kings
So, Dunstan wrote a whole new coronation ritual for Edgar's coronation. He based it on the coronation rituals of Frankish Kings and the Holy Roman Emperor Charlemagne and his sons
The particular element from Frankish coronations Dunstan added to the English ceremony was...
The Anointing of The Sovereign with Holy Oil

The anointing with oil is a sacred Rite in which the Holy Spirit was called down upon the king to hallow and strengthen him in his service to his kingdom and to convey God's blessing on him
Now Dunstan knew there was a Biblical precedent for this ritual and that was the anointing of King Solomon, the son of King David, by Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet, holy oil gave Solomon the Divine legitimacy he needed to Rule
Why is this important?
Now Dunstan was a clever political operator, and the introduction of the anointing into the Anglo-Saxon coronation ceremony was both a political and a religious master stroke....
Now Dunstan knew there was a Biblical precedent for this ritual and that was the anointing of King Solomon, the son of King David, by Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet, holy oil gave Solomon the Divine legitimacy he needed to Rule
Why is this important?
Now Dunstan was a clever political operator, and the introduction of the anointing into the Anglo-Saxon coronation ceremony was both a political and a religious master stroke....
The Divine Rule of Kings

It gave the king a new form of Divine legitimacy
From this moment on in England, the King would have a divinely consecrated rule
(D G, Deity Gratia Rex) - King by the Grace of God
From this moment on in England, the King would have a divinely consecrated rule
(D G, Deity Gratia Rex) - King by the Grace of God
- And it was much more difficult to unseat a divinely consecrated King who was God's anointed, than one who was elected
In the late Middle Ages, Dunstan’s service was further elaborated.
A highly decorated manuscript called the Liber Regalis was compiled in 1382 in the reign of Richard II as an instruction manual for the Royal Coronation Ritual
The beautifully Illustrated pages of the Liber Regalis were written in Latin containing the order of events for a coronation
A highly decorated manuscript called the Liber Regalis was compiled in 1382 in the reign of Richard II as an instruction manual for the Royal Coronation Ritual
The beautifully Illustrated pages of the Liber Regalis were written in Latin containing the order of events for a coronation
The Liber Regalis (The Royal Book)
The Liber Regalis contains not only the text of the coronation rite but detailed instructions as to how the ceremony will be performed. Many of the texts within this rite are those of Dunstan, but they have in many cases been beefed up and expanded
The medieval coronation rite of the Liber Regalis was set within the context of the Catholic mass. After the Reformation (early 16th century) it was then taken and set within the context of the communion service from the book of common prayer. For the Coronation of James I it was translated into English and remained the basis for all subsequent coronations |
Despite all these changes over many centuries and the rewriting of words of the ritual, the coronation has descended to us from the late Saxon period in more or less the same shape
The Coronation of King Charles III will also be set in the context of a service of Holy Communion
The Coronation of King Charles III will also be set in the context of a service of Holy Communion
Elements of the Ritual
There are six elements of the Coronation Ritual
Recognition
Oath
Anointing
Investiture
Crowning
Homage
Five of these are essential, and Dunstan would recognise them
Recognition
Oath
Anointing
Investiture
Crowning
Homage
Five of these are essential, and Dunstan would recognise them
1. The Recognition
The Archbishop of Canterbury will present the new Sovereign to the assembled people who represent the political establishment of the nation, he turns to each side and asks them four times to recognize their new Sovereign and they all shout ‘God Save the King’ in recognition of the Sovereign as the legitimate successor of the throne
Why is this done? |
In Saxon times when the succession to a throne was often hotly contested Kings were in essence elected to their office by the eldermen of the Kingdom and the Nobles of the Kingdom. Before commencing with the hallowing of the king to avoid dispute the Saxon Archbishop would call upon those assembled Eldermen to confirm his Election
The recognition of The Sovereign is a survivor of that Anglo Saxon election
The recognition of The Sovereign is a survivor of that Anglo Saxon election
2. The Oath
The oath is the only true legal requirement, a strict contract between the sovereign and the people in the sight of God. Right from Saxon times monarchs swore a threefold oath, laying hands on the Bible they swore to:
Respect the laws and customs of the people. To do Justice in Mercy and in Truth Vow to keep peace to the church and to his people in the sight of God Now the oath has changed the most over the course of history |
The oath is the only true legal requirement, a strict contract between the sovereign and the people in the sight of God. Right from Saxon times monarchs swore a threefold oath, laying hands on the Bible they swore to:
Respect the laws and customs of the people.
To do Justice in Mercy and in Truth
Vow to keep peace to the church and to his people in the sight of God
Now the oath has changed the most over the course of history
In 1308, King Edward 11, a very unpopular King a fourth and much more specific and contentious fourth element was added:
“To hold and keep the laws and customs which the community of your realm (Parliament) have chosen”
It now means that not only is the King under the law his law-making powers are curtailed. This fourth oath is the one that has changed the most over the course of history. Many Monarchs have challenged this, resulting in death and dethronement of at least three (Edward II, Richard II, Charles I)
In 1688 the new Coronation Oath Act binds established a single uniform oath which bound the Monarch to rule according to the law agreed in Parliament, so the Oath cannot be changed without statutory authority of Parliament
Respect the laws and customs of the people.
To do Justice in Mercy and in Truth
Vow to keep peace to the church and to his people in the sight of God
Now the oath has changed the most over the course of history
In 1308, King Edward 11, a very unpopular King a fourth and much more specific and contentious fourth element was added:
“To hold and keep the laws and customs which the community of your realm (Parliament) have chosen”
It now means that not only is the King under the law his law-making powers are curtailed. This fourth oath is the one that has changed the most over the course of history. Many Monarchs have challenged this, resulting in death and dethronement of at least three (Edward II, Richard II, Charles I)
In 1688 the new Coronation Oath Act binds established a single uniform oath which bound the Monarch to rule according to the law agreed in Parliament, so the Oath cannot be changed without statutory authority of Parliament
As in ancient tradition the sovereign will be escorted by the Bishops of Durham and Bath and Wells to the altar to lay hands on the Bible and signs the oath
(The oath still changes in response to the changing political and religious makeup of the Kingdom, a change to the coronation oath for the coronation of Charles III has been suggested)
The Bible on which the sovereign takes the oath is presented to the Sovereign and The Holy Communion Service begins
(The oath still changes in response to the changing political and religious makeup of the Kingdom, a change to the coronation oath for the coronation of Charles III has been suggested)
The Bible on which the sovereign takes the oath is presented to the Sovereign and The Holy Communion Service begins
The Coronation Anthem
Music plays a central role in Christian worship, and this is echoed in the coronation. Since 1626 monarchs have entered the Abbey to the words sung from Psalm 122
Handel’s Zadok the Priest is sung at the point of the coronation, the text is taken from the first Book of Kings in the Bible which describes the anointing of King Solomon. The words have been included at every coronation since King Edgar in 973 (Remember Dunstan). The music however was written by Handel for George II's Coronation in 1727 and has been used at every coronation since that time |
Preparing to be Crowned
In preparation for the anointing the Sovereign is de-vested of the crimson Robe of State and regalia and all symbols of status. In stark contrast to the Robe of State the sovereign is robed in a simple white anointing gown, austere and plain with no detail. It symbolises divesting oneself of all worldly vanity, to stand bare before God
Robed in white gown the Sovereign is led to the coronation chair |
Now the chair has been prominently sitting in the centre of the coronation theatre all this time. The placement of the chair is also significant. The king will be seated in the chair Facing East towards the high altar and while seated in it he'll be Anointed with holy oil
Before moving on to the anointing we should talk about the coronation chair itself, as the history of the chair is very significant indeed, and it is only used once for the crowning and is not actually the Sovereign's throne
Before moving on to the anointing we should talk about the coronation chair itself, as the history of the chair is very significant indeed, and it is only used once for the crowning and is not actually the Sovereign's throne
The Coronation Chair

Saint Edward's chair is 700 years old!
The Coronation chair, St Edwards Chair, was designed for a specific coronation purpose, it was commissioned sometime between 1297 and 1300 by King Edward First, within a very particular historical context and it is in some respects, still is a rather controversial object
Based on Saint Edward’s (the Confessor) chair, the bottom part of the chair has an integral compartment designed to both contain and to display to the viewer the Stone of Scone, the Stone of Destiny that he brought from Scotland. The chair has been in use at the coronation ceremony since 1308
Side Story
Edward the first, known to history as the Hammer of the Scots (a title that is written prominently on his tomb in Edward the Confessors Chapel in Westminster Abbey) in 1296 he invaded Scotland, and he defeated the Scottish Army
Edward set about stripping Scotland of as many of its symbols of Independence as he could get his hands on: the Scottish crown and the Scottish regalia the black root of Saint Margaret which was a relic of the True Cross of Christ were all removed to Westminster Abbey and along with them went to the most potent objects of them all the Stone of Scone, the Stone of Destiny, a stone seat on which all Scottish Kings had been crowned on and that too was removed to Westminster Abbey
One legend says that it was the stone mentioned in Genesis 28 that Jacob uses as a pillow and then set up as a pillar and altered to God after he had received his vision of the ladder rising to heaven
The Coronation chair, St Edwards Chair, was designed for a specific coronation purpose, it was commissioned sometime between 1297 and 1300 by King Edward First, within a very particular historical context and it is in some respects, still is a rather controversial object
Based on Saint Edward’s (the Confessor) chair, the bottom part of the chair has an integral compartment designed to both contain and to display to the viewer the Stone of Scone, the Stone of Destiny that he brought from Scotland. The chair has been in use at the coronation ceremony since 1308
Side Story
Edward the first, known to history as the Hammer of the Scots (a title that is written prominently on his tomb in Edward the Confessors Chapel in Westminster Abbey) in 1296 he invaded Scotland, and he defeated the Scottish Army
Edward set about stripping Scotland of as many of its symbols of Independence as he could get his hands on: the Scottish crown and the Scottish regalia the black root of Saint Margaret which was a relic of the True Cross of Christ were all removed to Westminster Abbey and along with them went to the most potent objects of them all the Stone of Scone, the Stone of Destiny, a stone seat on which all Scottish Kings had been crowned on and that too was removed to Westminster Abbey
One legend says that it was the stone mentioned in Genesis 28 that Jacob uses as a pillow and then set up as a pillar and altered to God after he had received his vision of the ladder rising to heaven
The Stone of Scone

Legends abound concerning the Stone of Scone, but it has been for centuries an object of veneration to the Scots, as upon this stone their Kings have been crowned since 1292. The placement of the stone within the chair is significant being designed to visually demonstrate King Edward’s overlordship of Scotland
The chair faces East towards the high altar and while seated in it the King will be Anointed with holy oil and invested with the symbolic garments of majesty and items of regalia associated with his office and then he will be crowned. Most English and later British sovereigns have been anointed and crowned while seated on it
Note, the stone was returned to Scotland in 1996, but it is understood that the stone will be returned and replaced in Saint Edward's chair in Readiness for the coronation in May
The chair faces East towards the high altar and while seated in it the King will be Anointed with holy oil and invested with the symbolic garments of majesty and items of regalia associated with his office and then he will be crowned. Most English and later British sovereigns have been anointed and crowned while seated on it
Note, the stone was returned to Scotland in 1996, but it is understood that the stone will be returned and replaced in Saint Edward's chair in Readiness for the coronation in May
3. The Anointing

This is the action introduced by Dunstan - the anointing of the king
The Act of Consecration is the most magical aspect of the coronation, so extraordinary that history decreed it must remain out of sight. A Golden canopy is held over the sovereign to shield this part of the ceremony from the congregation as this, and not the crowning, is the most sacred part of the service
The Chrism oil used to anoint His Majesty the King has already been consecrated in Jerusalem, at The Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem, the oil was consecrated by the Patriarch of Jerusalem. The oil was created using olives from two groves on the Mount of Olives, one at the Monastery of Mary Magdalene, which is the burial place of Prince Philip’s mother, Princess Alice of Greece. It has been perfumed with essential oils including sesame, rose, jasmine, cinnamon, and orange blossom
The Act of Consecration is the most magical aspect of the coronation, so extraordinary that history decreed it must remain out of sight. A Golden canopy is held over the sovereign to shield this part of the ceremony from the congregation as this, and not the crowning, is the most sacred part of the service
The Chrism oil used to anoint His Majesty the King has already been consecrated in Jerusalem, at The Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem, the oil was consecrated by the Patriarch of Jerusalem. The oil was created using olives from two groves on the Mount of Olives, one at the Monastery of Mary Magdalene, which is the burial place of Prince Philip’s mother, Princess Alice of Greece. It has been perfumed with essential oils including sesame, rose, jasmine, cinnamon, and orange blossom
Ampulla and Spoon

The Archbishop of Canterbury pours the oil onto the Coronation Spoon from the Ampulla and anoints the sovereign on the hands, breast and head and becomes the consecrated hallowed Sovereign of the nation
This solemn ritual reflects the hallowing and ordination of priests and Bishops and has of course the biblical precedent. (Remember Solomon)
Only after being consecrated, being hallowed does The Sovereign become fully who they are. The spoon is the only relic that survived the Civil war
This solemn ritual reflects the hallowing and ordination of priests and Bishops and has of course the biblical precedent. (Remember Solomon)
Only after being consecrated, being hallowed does The Sovereign become fully who they are. The spoon is the only relic that survived the Civil war
4. Investiture of the Regalia
Following the anointing the Sovereign removes the gown of white and is invested with the robes and regalia that symbolise their change of status
The Sovereign is getting ready to be crowned in the traditional medieval understanding, an understanding that still continues to the present day. This is the most complicated part of the ritual set out in the Liber Regalis
Kings are given a quasi-Priestly role and the garments reflect that at their anointing and at their garbing in these robes they are set apart as God's Vice general on Earth
The Sovereign is getting ready to be crowned in the traditional medieval understanding, an understanding that still continues to the present day. This is the most complicated part of the ritual set out in the Liber Regalis
Kings are given a quasi-Priestly role and the garments reflect that at their anointing and at their garbing in these robes they are set apart as God's Vice general on Earth
The Coronation Robes
The Robes have a distinct role to play and the order in which the robes are worn was established for King Edward the Second in 1308 coronation in the Liber Regalis.Kings are given a quasi-Priestly role and the garments reflect that at their anointing and at their garbing in these robes they are set apart as God's Vice General on Earth
The Robes are of ancient design and are also Priestly and sacerdotal in character
Colobium Sindonis - the king is firstly dressed in a simple white linen robe called the Colobium Sindonis, it symbolises divesting oneself of all worldly vanity and stand bare before God.
Supertunica of Gold – over the top is the Supertunica a long flowing coat of golden silk, inspired by the Byzantium Emperors
Stole Royal - the Sovereign is also invested with the long narrow scarf like vestment called the stole this too is a garment worn only by priests and Bishops
Robe Royal (Pallium Regale) – finally worn at the moment of crowning. Referred to in the coronation rite as the Imperial Robe, it's again made of a cloth of gold, the present coronation mantle was made for the coronation of George IV in 1821 and is embroidered with emblems of England Scotland and Ireland (but not Wales)
The Robes are of ancient design and are also Priestly and sacerdotal in character
Colobium Sindonis - the king is firstly dressed in a simple white linen robe called the Colobium Sindonis, it symbolises divesting oneself of all worldly vanity and stand bare before God.
Supertunica of Gold – over the top is the Supertunica a long flowing coat of golden silk, inspired by the Byzantium Emperors
Stole Royal - the Sovereign is also invested with the long narrow scarf like vestment called the stole this too is a garment worn only by priests and Bishops
Robe Royal (Pallium Regale) – finally worn at the moment of crowning. Referred to in the coronation rite as the Imperial Robe, it's again made of a cloth of gold, the present coronation mantle was made for the coronation of George IV in 1821 and is embroidered with emblems of England Scotland and Ireland (but not Wales)
Presentation of the Regalia
After the robing the objects of important spiritual significance are presented to the sovereign while seated in the coronation chair. Many of them including the crown and other garments were holy relics associated with the penultimate Saxon King Saint Edward the Confessor
The use of holy relics, including the crown, was a way of symbolizing the legitimacy of later medieval dynasties in England and their continuance with the late Anglo-Saxon State
The use of holy relics, including the crown, was a way of symbolizing the legitimacy of later medieval dynasties in England and their continuance with the late Anglo-Saxon State
The Emblems of Majesty

Golden Spurs - The Lord Chamberlain presents Golden spurs to represent of chivalry. First included in the coronation of Richard 1 to symbolise knighthood. The Ritual derives directly from the ceremony of creating a knight
Sword of Offering - presented by the Archbishop of Canterbury should be used for the protection of good and the punishment of evil. A cruciform gold hilt, decorated with roses, thistles, and shamrocks
The Armillas - the bracelets of sincerity and wisdom, the symbols of knighthood
Sword of Offering - presented by the Archbishop of Canterbury should be used for the protection of good and the punishment of evil. A cruciform gold hilt, decorated with roses, thistles, and shamrocks
The Armillas - the bracelets of sincerity and wisdom, the symbols of knighthood

Sceptre with cross – representing temporal power and justice., comprises the huge Cullinan shaped, star of Africa diamond. In 1820 an enamelled rose, thistle and shamrock were added
Sceptre with Dove – represents the sovereign’s spiritual role with the dove symbolising the Holy Spirit, the Rod of equity and mercy
The Ring of Sapphire & Ruby Cross – representing their marriage to the nation, made for William IV in 1831
The Orb – under the cross, reminding us that the world is subject to Christ our Redeemer
Sceptre with Dove – represents the sovereign’s spiritual role with the dove symbolising the Holy Spirit, the Rod of equity and mercy
The Ring of Sapphire & Ruby Cross – representing their marriage to the nation, made for William IV in 1831
The Orb – under the cross, reminding us that the world is subject to Christ our Redeemer
5. The Crowning
We have eventually arrived at the crowning. It reflects the crowning of Byzantine Emperors) is simply the culmination of the sovereign's investiture. The crown will be the most visible item of the Royal Regalia during the King’s. Coronation
St Edward's Crown

The sovereign is crowned with Saint Edward's Crown, and it is only worn once in the lifetime of the sovereign
King Charles will also wear it only once in his lifetime too
To explain the significance of the crown we must once again need explore the life of a medieval king...
King Charles will also wear it only once in his lifetime too
To explain the significance of the crown we must once again need explore the life of a medieval king...
Edward the Confessor
From 1274 to 1621, the crown was used in the coronation of every English Monarch. The crown was not simply a practical object, it was now a spiritually charged sacred and Holy Relic
Side Story - Anne Boleyn
On one unusual occasion, the medieval Crown was used to crown a queen Consort, Ann Boleyn at Westminster Abbey in 1533, Anne’s coronation was part of Henry the Eight’s elaborate quest to have her seen as a legitimate queen. She was heavily pregnant at the time and it was suggested that St Edwards Crown was used because she was carrying Henry’s long awaited male heir (it wasn’t however, as the baby was Queen Elizabeth I)
The Crown's Significance
As the crown and the body of the Confessor both lay together in the Confessors coffin, it transferred to that Crown some of the confessors own spiritual power and his sanctity, so, to be crowned with the confessor's crown was to impart symbolically on the King the same blessing and spiritual power. All monarchs up to Charles I were crowned with St Edwards crown
Note, we had the very curious spectacle for the next Century after the English Reformation of a series of protestant kings and queens ending with Charles the first being crowned effectively with a Catholic Relic
Now the first Saint Edward's Crown along with the regalia was destroyed during the Commonwealth (Cromwell) in the middle of the 17th century
When the monarchy was restored in 1660 and Charles II returned to his throne there was therefore no Royal Regalia for him to wear for his coronation and it was necessary to start from scratch and create new crowns and new regalia. Now Charles II was not a minimalist, despite England having been a republic for some years the new monarchy was not going to be a paired down affair.
A new St Edwards crown was created, but not a direct replica
Saint Edward's Crown was only to be used for the coronation and it was decided that it would not be set with its own permanent collection of stones, but a hired set of stones and then returned to their owners, it was splendour on the cheap and this would happen at every single coronation until 1911
Before we move on to the final parts of the ritual, we should also talk about why we have two crowns. Prior to the English Civil War there were in fact two separate sets of English regalia and crowns each with a distinct function. One set of regalia was kept in Westminster Abbey permanently and this was used only for the coronation, including Saint Edward's Crown
In contrast to St. Edward’s crown the Imperial State Crown will be worn by the King as Sovereign when he leaves the Abbey. And this is the crown we see worn annually by the monarch at the state opening of parliament, and we saw it at the late Queen's funeral
The Imperial State Crown has a very fascinating and much more complex history and meaning...
Side Story - Anne Boleyn
On one unusual occasion, the medieval Crown was used to crown a queen Consort, Ann Boleyn at Westminster Abbey in 1533, Anne’s coronation was part of Henry the Eight’s elaborate quest to have her seen as a legitimate queen. She was heavily pregnant at the time and it was suggested that St Edwards Crown was used because she was carrying Henry’s long awaited male heir (it wasn’t however, as the baby was Queen Elizabeth I)
The Crown's Significance
As the crown and the body of the Confessor both lay together in the Confessors coffin, it transferred to that Crown some of the confessors own spiritual power and his sanctity, so, to be crowned with the confessor's crown was to impart symbolically on the King the same blessing and spiritual power. All monarchs up to Charles I were crowned with St Edwards crown
Note, we had the very curious spectacle for the next Century after the English Reformation of a series of protestant kings and queens ending with Charles the first being crowned effectively with a Catholic Relic
Now the first Saint Edward's Crown along with the regalia was destroyed during the Commonwealth (Cromwell) in the middle of the 17th century
When the monarchy was restored in 1660 and Charles II returned to his throne there was therefore no Royal Regalia for him to wear for his coronation and it was necessary to start from scratch and create new crowns and new regalia. Now Charles II was not a minimalist, despite England having been a republic for some years the new monarchy was not going to be a paired down affair.
A new St Edwards crown was created, but not a direct replica
Saint Edward's Crown was only to be used for the coronation and it was decided that it would not be set with its own permanent collection of stones, but a hired set of stones and then returned to their owners, it was splendour on the cheap and this would happen at every single coronation until 1911
Before we move on to the final parts of the ritual, we should also talk about why we have two crowns. Prior to the English Civil War there were in fact two separate sets of English regalia and crowns each with a distinct function. One set of regalia was kept in Westminster Abbey permanently and this was used only for the coronation, including Saint Edward's Crown
In contrast to St. Edward’s crown the Imperial State Crown will be worn by the King as Sovereign when he leaves the Abbey. And this is the crown we see worn annually by the monarch at the state opening of parliament, and we saw it at the late Queen's funeral
The Imperial State Crown has a very fascinating and much more complex history and meaning...
When King Edward was canonised in 1161 by the pope of Rome and was granted the title of a Confessor, (someone who had lived an exemplary chaste life of faith and Holiness
His crown and regalia became Holy relics and therefore a deep spiritual and symbolic significance is attached to themHenry the Third, (1207-1272) had a deep devotional relationship with the sainted Anglo-Saxon King Edward and removed the coronation regalia from his coffin and used them in 1274, including the crown of St Edward at the coronation of his son King Edward I |
The Imperial State Crown

In contrast to St. Edward’s crown the Imperial State Crown will be worn by the King when he leaves the Abbey. And we see this crown worn annually by the monarch at the state opening of parliament, and we saw it at the late Queens funeral, it has a fascinating and much more complex history
First, let's consider what the title of this crown the Imperial State Crown actually means as this meaning is not immediately plain and self-evident
You might assume that the state part refers to the crown being the symbol of the British state, but it doesn’t. The earlier meaning of the word state comes from the old French word estat which means the position, condition, status, or stature of a person. so, the state of a person who was a monarch was their kingliness or queenliness. They best expressed that state was when they were wearing the symbolic trappings of their royal office - The Crown
When the late queen opened parliament, this is was referred to as the state opening of parliament, becausethe Queen attends in her full state, she wears her crown
Now the Imperial aspect of the name of the crown has nothing whatsoever to do with the British Empire it is concerned with the form of the crown
Again, we need to look back to a Middle Ages King and tell another story
In the early 1530s King Henry viii was divorcing Catharine of Aragon got rather tired of the pope and other outside forces meddling in his affairs. In 1533, Thomas Cromwell pushed through parliament a bill called the act in restraint of appeals, which made it illegal for people in England to appeal to the pope to overturn the king's decisions on church matters
Now the premise of this act declares that England is and always was an Empire and that the King of England functioned as an Emperor). Therefore, if England was an Empire, the English King must appear as an emperor and wear an appropriate crown
Emperors across Europe wear what is called a closed crown where the top of the crown is enclosed by arches and then topped by what's called a Mond, a globe with a cross on top
So, an imperial crown is a crown with arches and Mond, as was worn by an emperor
So, when worn in state the imperial state crown with its arches makes a statement about the English and subsequently the British monarch in sense of their particular kingly status as the head of a self-determining imperial kingdom free from outside political interference
In 1685 rafter the restoration James had an iconic jewel added to the front a that still takes pride of place on the modern state crown known as the Black Prince's ruby ……. the stone has a bloody history that befits its colour. In the 14th century the ruby was taken from Abu Saeed the Arab prince of Granada. It was worn by King Henry V at the battle of Agincourt and Richard III at the Battle of Bosworth
First, let's consider what the title of this crown the Imperial State Crown actually means as this meaning is not immediately plain and self-evident
You might assume that the state part refers to the crown being the symbol of the British state, but it doesn’t. The earlier meaning of the word state comes from the old French word estat which means the position, condition, status, or stature of a person. so, the state of a person who was a monarch was their kingliness or queenliness. They best expressed that state was when they were wearing the symbolic trappings of their royal office - The Crown
When the late queen opened parliament, this is was referred to as the state opening of parliament, becausethe Queen attends in her full state, she wears her crown
Now the Imperial aspect of the name of the crown has nothing whatsoever to do with the British Empire it is concerned with the form of the crown
Again, we need to look back to a Middle Ages King and tell another story
In the early 1530s King Henry viii was divorcing Catharine of Aragon got rather tired of the pope and other outside forces meddling in his affairs. In 1533, Thomas Cromwell pushed through parliament a bill called the act in restraint of appeals, which made it illegal for people in England to appeal to the pope to overturn the king's decisions on church matters
Now the premise of this act declares that England is and always was an Empire and that the King of England functioned as an Emperor). Therefore, if England was an Empire, the English King must appear as an emperor and wear an appropriate crown
Emperors across Europe wear what is called a closed crown where the top of the crown is enclosed by arches and then topped by what's called a Mond, a globe with a cross on top
So, an imperial crown is a crown with arches and Mond, as was worn by an emperor
So, when worn in state the imperial state crown with its arches makes a statement about the English and subsequently the British monarch in sense of their particular kingly status as the head of a self-determining imperial kingdom free from outside political interference
In 1685 rafter the restoration James had an iconic jewel added to the front a that still takes pride of place on the modern state crown known as the Black Prince's ruby ……. the stone has a bloody history that befits its colour. In the 14th century the ruby was taken from Abu Saeed the Arab prince of Granada. It was worn by King Henry V at the battle of Agincourt and Richard III at the Battle of Bosworth
The Enthronment

Having been crowned The Sovereign now moves from the Coronation chair to the Throne chair
This is yet another ancient ceremony. This throne is on a raised floor, being on a raised floor is descended from 1500 years ago when the early Anglo-Saxon kings sat for their crowning upon a mound of earth and then lifted high upon the shoulders of nobles so that all the people might see them
The king will be symbolically lifted by the archbishop and Earl Marshall into the Throne
Now seated upon the throne, the sovereign takes possession of their Kingdom
The words of archbishop’s exultation are virtually unchanged from the coronation of William the Conqueror
This is yet another ancient ceremony. This throne is on a raised floor, being on a raised floor is descended from 1500 years ago when the early Anglo-Saxon kings sat for their crowning upon a mound of earth and then lifted high upon the shoulders of nobles so that all the people might see them
The king will be symbolically lifted by the archbishop and Earl Marshall into the Throne
Now seated upon the throne, the sovereign takes possession of their Kingdom
The words of archbishop’s exultation are virtually unchanged from the coronation of William the Conqueror
6. The Homage

With the Sovereign now upon the throne, the Bishops and Nobles having witnessed the hallowing now pay their allegiance to him. This element of the service is the only one that Dunstan would not recognise
It's a development from the 14th century and it's not essential to the rite, given that it reflects ideas of the relationship between King and subject that are feudal in character. Homage is paid by peers placing their hands between the King’s and swearing allegiance
It's a development from the 14th century and it's not essential to the rite, given that it reflects ideas of the relationship between King and subject that are feudal in character. Homage is paid by peers placing their hands between the King’s and swearing allegiance
Holy Communion
The first thing that the newly crowned monarch does is receive Holy Communion as a sign of his dependency on God
This is a reminder that coronations take place within a Communion service or Eucharist and that the monarch is crowned in the name of God, surrounded by prayer The King removes his crown and the orb given to a peer to hold before he takes communion |
The Recession

The Sovereign recesses to St Edwards Chapel and delivers the Regalia to the Archbishop and removes the Robe Royal and changes to the Robe of Purple Velvet and dons the Imperial State Crown. The sovereign entered the Abbey as one person and now leaves as another
The purpose of the rite is to transform, through the work of the Holy Spirit, being consecrated as a Christian King. The writers of the Liber Regalis intended to affect a real transformation and the robes reflect that transformation, visually every element of the coronation rite, every ornament, every robe exists to make that point
The transformation of the Sovereign in this rite, is now rather unique among all heads of state, being consecrated as a Christian King, as dare I say it as God's Anointed, with a very unique office an office that is transformed into through the work of the Holy Spirit now.If we filter it out and do away with that spiritual element and understanding, you're left with the ceremony of empty pointless worldly pomp
When the King leaves the abbey – the transformation will be complete, and he now wears the Imperial Robe and Imperial State Crown. He is King
The purpose of the rite is to transform, through the work of the Holy Spirit, being consecrated as a Christian King. The writers of the Liber Regalis intended to affect a real transformation and the robes reflect that transformation, visually every element of the coronation rite, every ornament, every robe exists to make that point
The transformation of the Sovereign in this rite, is now rather unique among all heads of state, being consecrated as a Christian King, as dare I say it as God's Anointed, with a very unique office an office that is transformed into through the work of the Holy Spirit now.If we filter it out and do away with that spiritual element and understanding, you're left with the ceremony of empty pointless worldly pomp
When the King leaves the abbey – the transformation will be complete, and he now wears the Imperial Robe and Imperial State Crown. He is King
Coronation Events at St Elvan's
As part of our ongoing series of FREE heritage events, supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund, a FREE talk on the Coronation will be given at St Elvan's on Friday April 28th
FREE tickets for this event are available here The Coronation of King Charles III will also be screened FREE at St Elvan's on Saturday May 6th, with a separate Afternoon Tea also available for booking Tickets for the Coronation Afternoon Tea at St Elvan's can be booked online here |