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Coronation of the British monarch

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In the United Kingdom, the ceremony of coronation is the ritual whereby the monarch is formally crowned and invested with the regalia. The coronation usually takes place several months after the death of the previous monarch, for the coronation is considered a joyous occasion that would be inappropriate when mourning still continues. (Queen Elizabeth II, for example, was crowned on June 2, 1953, having ascended to the throne on February 6, 1952.) A coronation need not occur for an individual to be a monarch; Edward VIII was not crowned during his brief reign, but was unquestionably king.

Time and place

Westminster Abbey serves as the location of coronations.

The time of the coronation has varied throughout British history. The first Norman monarch, William I, was crowned on the day he became King—25 December, 1066. Most of his successors were crowned within weeks, or even days, of their accession. Edward I was fighting in the Ninth Crusade when he ascended to the throne in 1272; he was crowned soon after his return in 1274. Edward II's coronation, similarly, was delayed by a campaign in Scotland in 1307. Henry VI was only eight when he succeeded; he was crowned seven years later when he was deemed of sufficient age. Under the Hanoverian monarchs in the late eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, it was deemed appropriate to extend the mourning period to several months. In the case of every monarch since, and including, George IV, at least one year has passed between accession and coronation, the sole exception being George VI, whose predecessor did not die but abdicated.

Since a period of time has often passed between accession and coronation, some monarchs were never crowned. Edward V and Jane were both deposed, in 1483 and 1553 respectively, before they could be crowned. Edward VIII also went uncrowned, as he abdicated in 1936 before the customary year of mourning could conclude.

The Anglo-Saxon monarchs used vairous locations—such as Bath, Kingston-upon-Thames, London, Oxford and Winchester—for their coronations. Harold II, the last Anglo-Saxon monarch, was crowned at Westminster Abbey; the location was preserved for all further coronations. When London was under the control of the French, Henry III was crowned at Gloucester in 1216, but he later chose to have a second coronation at Westminster in 1220.

Participants

The Archbishop of Canterbury, who has precedence over all other clergymen and over all laymen except members of the Royal Family, traditionally officiates at coronations; during his absence, another bishop may take his place. There have, however, been several exceptions. William I was crowned by the Archbishop of York, since the Archbishop of Canterbury had been excommunicated by the Pope. Edward II was crowned by the Bishop of Winchester because the Archbishop of Canterbury was not in England at the time. Mary I, a Catholic, refused to be crowned by the Protestant Archbishop of Canterbury; the coronation was instead performed by the Bishop of Winchester. When Elizabeth I was crowned, the archbishopric of Canterbury was vacant; the Bishop of Carlisle performed the ceremony. Finally, when James II was deposed and replaced with William III and Mary II jointly, the Archbishop of Canterbury refused to recognise the new Sovereigns; he had to be replaced by the Bishop of London. Hence, in almost all cases where the Archbishop of Canterbury has failed to participate, his place has been taken by a senior cleric: the Archbishop of York is second in precedence, the Bishop of London third and the Bishop of Winchester fifth. In Elizabeth I's case, the Bishop of Carlisle (to whose see is attatched no special precedence) officiated; the senior Catholic prelates objected to the Protestant Queen's religious reforms.

The Great Officers of State traditionally participate during the ceremony. The offices of Lord High Steward and Lord High Constable have not been regularly filled since the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries respectively; they are, however, revived for coronation ceremonies. The Lord Great Chamberlain enrobes the Sovereign with the ceremonial vestements, with the aid of the Groom of the Robes and the Master (in the case of a King) or Mistress (in the case of a Queen) of the Robes.

Many individuals held privileges connected with the coronation ceremony. Disputes involving such privileges are resolved by a specially constituted Court of Claims, over which the Lord High Steward traditionally presided (though in 1952, the Lord President of the Council performed the task). In 1952, for example, the Court accepted the claim of the Lord Bishop of Durham and the Lord Bishop of Bath and Wells to march beside the Queen as she entered the Abbey, the claim of Earl of Shrewsbury to carry a white staff, and the claim of the Lord Churston and the Lord Hastings to carry the spurs.

Robes

The robes of HRH The Duke of Clarence, a Royal Duke, included a train borne by a page.

Several participants in the ceremony wear special costumes, uniforms or robes. Peers's robes comprise a full-length crimson velvet coat, and an ermine cape. Rows of sealskin spots on the cape designate the peer's rank; dukes use four rows, marquesses three and a half, earls three, viscounts two and a half, and barons and lords of Parliament two. Royal dukes use six rows of ermine, ermine on the front of the cape and long trains borne by pages. Peeresses' ranks are designated not by sealskin spots, but by the length of their trains and the width of the ermine edging on the same. For duchesses, the trains are two yards long, for marchionesses one and three-quarters yards, for countesses one and a half yards, for viscountesses one and a quarter yards, and for baronesses and ladies one yard. The ermine edgings are five inches in width for duchesses, four inches for marchionesses, three inches for countesses, and two inches for viscountesses, baronesses and ladies. The robes of peers and peeresses are used only during coronations; in the House of Lords, separate parliamentary robes are used.

The Lord Mayor of London wears distinctive robes at coronations.

Peers wear coronets, as do members of the Royal Family; such coronets display heraldic emblems based on rank or association to the monarch. The heir-apparent's coronet displays four crosses-pattée alternating with four fleurs-de-lis, surmounted by an arch. The same style, without the arch, is used for the children and siblings of Sovereigns. The coronets of children of the heir-apparent display four fleurs-de-lis, two crosses-pattée and two strawberry leaves. A fourth style, including four crosses-pattée and four strawberry leaves, is used for the children of the sons and brothers of Sovereigns. The aforementioned coronets are borne instead of any coronets based on peerage dignities. The coronets of dukes show eight strawberry leaves, those of marquesses four strawberry leaves alternating with four raised silver balls, those of earls eight strawberry leaves alternating with eight raised silver balls, those of viscounts sixteen silver balls and those of barons six silver balls. Peeresses use the same design, except that they appear on smaller circlets than the peers' coronets.

Several other officers have special robes used only during coronations. The Lord Mayor of London's coronation costume includes a blue silk coat. The red robes worn above the coat bear gold and ermine stripes. The Lord Mayor also bears a ceremonial mace.

Recognition and oath

George IV's train was borne by eight eldest sons of peers and by the Master of the Robes.

The Sovereign enters Westminster Abbey wearing the Crimson Robe. The Robe consists of an ermine cape and a long crimson velvet train. After the coronation, the Robe is also used at State Openings of Parliament.

Once the Sovereign takes his or her seat on the Chair of Estate, the Garter Principal King of Arms, the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Lord Chancellor, the Lord Great Chamberlain, the Lord High Constable and the Earl Marshal go to the east, south, west and north of the Abbey. At each side, the Archbishop calls for the Recognition of the Sovereign, with the words, "Sirs, I here present unto you ..., your undoubted King. Wherefore all you who are come this day to do your homage and service, are you willing to do the same? " After the people acclaim the Sovereign at each side, the Archbishop administers an oath to the Sovereign. The oath has varied over the years; at Elizabeth II's coronation, the exchange between the Queen and the Archbishop was as follows:

The Archbishop of Canterbury: "Will you solemnly promise and swear to govern the Peoples of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, the Union of South Africa, Pakistan and Ceylon, and of your Possessions and other Territories to any of them belonging or pertaining, according to their respective laws and customs?"
The Queen: "I solemnly promise so to do."
The Archbishop of Canterbury: "Will you to your power cause Law and Justice, in Mercy, to be executed in all your judgements?"
The Queen: "I will."
The Archbishop of Canterbury: "Will you to the utmost of your power maintain the Laws of God and the true profession of the Gospel? Will you to the utmost of your power maintain in the United Kingdom the Protestant Reformed Religion established by law? Will you maintain and preserve inviolably the settlement of the Church of England, and the doctrine, worship, discipline, and government thereof, as by law established in England? And will you preserve unto the Bishops and Clergy of England, and to the Churches there committed to their charge, all such rights and privileges, as by law do or shall appertain to them or any of them?"
The Queen: "All this I promise to do. The things which I have here promised, I will perform, and keep. So help me God."

Once the taking of the oath concludes, an ecclesiastic presents a Bible to the Sovereign, saying "Here is Wisdom; This is the royal Law; These are the lively Oracles of God." At Elizabeth II's coronation, the Bible was presented by the Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland. Once the Bible is presented, the Holy Communion is celebrated, but the service is interrupted after the Apostle's Creed.

Anointment and coronation

After the Communion service is interrupted, the Sovereign is anointed by the Archbishop of Canterbury. According to legend, the Virgin Mary miraculously appeared before St Thomas à Becket and gave him a vessel of holy oil to be used for anointment1. Before the anointment with oil, the Sovereign removes the Crimson Robe and sits on King Edward's Chair, also called the Coronation Chair. The Dean of Westminster pours oil into a spoon; the Archbishop of Canterbury then anoints the Sovereign on the head, the palms of the hands and the breast. The Archbishop concludes by stating a blessing.

The Marquess of Anglesey carried St Edward's Crown at George IV's coronation.

The Crimson Robe having been set aside, the Sovereign is then enrobed in the colobium sindonis and the supertunica. The colobium sindonis is a white, loose, sleeveless gown worn beneath the supertunica. The latter is long coat reaching the ankles and made of gold silk. The supertunica derives from the uniform of imperial officials of the Byzantine Empire.

The Lord Great Chamberlain presents the spurs, which represent chivalry. The Archbishop of Canterbury, assisted by other bishops, then presents the Sword of State to the Sovereign. The Sovereign then changes robes once again, this time putting on the Robe Royal and Stole Royal, both of which are made of gold silk and are heavily decorated with floral and heraldic emblems. The Archbishop then delivers several Crown Jewels to the Sovereign. First, he delivers the Orb, a hollow golden sphere set with numerous precious and semi-precious stones. The Orb is surmounted by a cross, representing the purported rule of Jesus Christ over the world; it is returned to the Altar immediately after being recieved. Next, the Sovereign recieves a ring representing the "marriage" between him or her and the nation. The Sceptre with the Dove (so called because it is surmounted by a dove representing the Holy Spirit) and the Sceptre with the Cross (which incorporates Cullinan I, the largest cut diamond in the world) are delivered to the Sovereign. As the Sovereign holds the two sceptres, the Archbishop of Canterbury places St Edward's Crown (brought to him by the Lord High Steward) on his or her head. All cry "God Save the King [Queen]," taking off their coronets and caps. Cannons are fired from the Tower of London.

End of the ceremony

File:Elizabeth I coronation.jpg
Elizabeth I wore the crown and held the sceptre and orb at the end of her coronation.

The Sovereign then takes his or her place on the throne. The Archbishops and Bishops swear their fealty, saying "I, N., Archbishop [Bishop] of N., will be faithful and true, and faith and truth will bear unto you, our Sovereign Lord [Lady], King [Queen] of this Realm and Defender of the Faith, and unto your heirs and successors according to law. So help me God." The peers then proceed to pay their homage, saying "I, N., Duke [Marquess, Earl, Viscount, Baron or Lord] of N., do become your liege man of life and limb, and of earthly worship; and faith and truth will I bear unto you, to live and die, against all manner of folks. So help me God." Formerly, each peer paid homage individually, but Edward VII abbreviated the ceremony. Now, the clergy pay homage together, led by the Archbishop of Canterbury. Next, members of the Royal Family pay homage individually. The peers are led by the premier peers of their rank: the Dukes by the Premier Duke, the Marquesses by the Premier Marquess, and so forth.

If there is a Queen Consort, she is crowned in a very simple ceremony immediately after homage is paid2. A Queen Regnant's husband, however, is not separately crowned. The Communion ceremony interrupted earlier is resumed and completed.

The Sovereign then exits the Coronation Theatre, entering St Edward's Chapel (also within the Abbey), preceded by the bearers of the Sword of State, the Sword of Spiritual Justice, the Sword of Temporal Justice and the Sword of Mercy (the last has a blunt tip). The Crown and Sceptres worn by the Sovereign, as well as all other regalia, are laid at the Altar; the Sovereign removes the Robe Royal and wears the Purple Robe, which recalls the imperial purple robes of Roman Emperors, and which comprises an ermine cape and purple velvet train. The Sovereign then wears the Imperial State Crown and takes into his or her hands the Sceptre with the Cross and the Orb and leaves the chapel while all present sing the Royal Anthem.

Coronation banquet

Traditionally, the coronation was immediately followed by a banquet, held in Westminster Hall in the Palace of Westminster (which also serves as the home to the Houses of Parliament). As the Sovereign entered, the Barons of the Cinque Ports held up a canopy over his head. (Each Cinque Port elected two Barons, who sat in the House of Commons.) The King's Champion (the office being held hereditarily in the Dymoke family) rode into the hall on horseback, wearing a knight's armour, with the Lord High Constable riding to his right and the Earl Marshal riding to his left. A herald would then proclaim, "If any person, of what degree soever, high or low, shall deny or gainsay our Sovereign Lord ..., King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, Defender of the Faith, son and next heir unto our Sovereign Lord the last King deceased, to be the right heir to the Imperial Crown of this Realm of Great Britain and Ireland, or that he ought not to enjoy the same; here is his Champion, who saith that he lieth, and is a false traitor, being ready in person to combat with him; and in this quarrel will adventure his life against him, on what day soever he shall be appointed." The King's Champion would then throw down the gauntlet; the ceremony would be repeated at the centre of the hall and at the High Table (where the Sovereign would be seated). The Sovereign would then drink to the Champion from a gold cup, which he would then present to the latter. The bishops and peers would then cheer the Sovereign, and would proceed to eat numerous dishes. Their families, however, did not participate, instead just looking on from the side galleries. Banquets have not been held since the coronation of George IV in 1821.

Notes

1. The myth was most likely invented to rival a similar French legend that the Holy Spirit descended from Heaven, bringing a vessel containing anointing oil for a coronation.
2. George IV was estranged from his wife, Queen Caroline, at the time of his coronation. He not only refused to allow her to be crowned at the ceremony, but also excluded her from the entire coronation itself.

References
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