The Queen's Coronation

“When life seems hard, the courageous do not lie down and accept defeat; instead, they are all the more determined to struggle for a better future” — Elizabeth II (21st June, 2022)

With our dear Queen’s platinum jubilee this year, I found myself looking into her Coronation in 1953. Having been “Her Majesty” for 70 years, I can’t help thinking that Elizabeth II deserves our respect and admiration. At 96 years of age, Elizabeth is an example to us all.

The Queen was a young wife and mother of 2, and 25 years of age, when she succeeded the throne in 1952, after King George VI (her father) died. The Coronation (a year later in 1953) was held in Westminster Abbey, following a 900 year tradition, but this was the first Coronation that was watched by 27 million people just in the UK alone, through the fairly new media of television.

The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh were driven to the Coronation in the Gold State Coach, which was pulled by 8 grey gelding horses. Their names were: Cunningham, Tovey, Noah, Tedder, Eisenhower, Snow White, Tipperary and McCreery.

The Duke wore full-dress Naval uniform, and whilst in the Abbey, he wore a coronet and his Duke’s robe over the uniform. Norman Hartnell designed the Coronation dress, which was made of white satin and embroidered with the emblems of the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth in gold and silver thread. The dress has been worn 6 times during the Queen’s reign. The Coronation bouquet was made up of white: orchids, lilies-of-the-valley, stephanotis and carnations.

The actual ceremony itself began at 11.15am and lasted for 3 hours. The service used was descended from King Edgar of Bath (973), the 14th Century order of service was written in Latin and it was used until the Coronation of Elizabeth I.

The crown the Queen wore on her way to the Coronation was the George IV State Diadem. It was made in 1820, and features roses, shamrocks and thistles with 1,333 diamonds and 169 pearls. During the Coronation, it was the St.Edward’s Crown (made in 1661) which was placed on the Queen’s head. This crown weighs 4 pounds, 12 ounces and is made of solid gold. The Queen was crowned in St.Edward’s chair, which was made in 1300 for Edward I.

The Orb was another important ‘piece of regalia’. It was also made in 1661, and is a globe of gold surrounded by a cross girdled by a band of diamonds, emeralds, rubies, sapphire and pearls with a large amethyst at the summit. The Wedding Ring of England, the Coronation Ring, was placed on the 4th finger of the right hand of the Queen “in accordance with tradition”. It was made for the Coronation of William IV in 1831, and it has been used at most Coronations since then.

During the Coronation service, the Queen took an oath, was anointed with holy oil, was invested with robes and regalia, and was crowned Queen of the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Pakistan and Ceylon (now Sri Lanka). Elizabeth II was the 4th and last British Monarch to have her Coronation in the 20th Century. The Coronation is estimated to have cost £1.57million.

Roughly 8,000 guests were invited to the Coronation, from across the Commonwealth, the doors of Westminster Abbey opening at 6am on the day of the Coronation. Of course, all across the Commonwealth Nations there were “Coronation Celebrations”, with stunning pageantry and street parties. After the Second World War, “the Coronation was like a phoenix-time. Everything was being raised from the ashes — getting better and better” quoted Princess Margaret.

This “Phoenix” has risen and risen and after 70 years, ‘she’ is flying high.

God Save The Queen!