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The Coronation 2023
INTRODUCTION:
Millions of people across the UK and beyond celebrated the coronation of King Charles III – a symbolic ceremony combining a religious service and pageantry.
It was held at Westminster Abbey on 6 May and the King, was crowned along with Camilla, the Queen Consort, it was the 40th reigning monarch crowned there since 1066.
The day of splendour and formality featured customs dating back more than 1,000 years.
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SECTION ONE:
What is the regalia?
The UK is, according to the Royal Family website, the only European country that still uses regalia – the symbols of royalty like the crown, orb and sceptres – in coronations.
The individual objects symbolise different aspects of the service and responsibilities of the monarch.
Charles will be presented with the Sovereign’s Orb, the Sovereign’s Sceptre with Cross, and the Sovereign’s Sceptre with Dove and other items at key moments in the ceremony.
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SECTION TWO:
Stage one: The recognition
King Charles will be presented to “the people” – a tradition dating back to Anglo-Saxon times. Standing beside the 700-year-old Coronation Chair, the King will turn to face the four sides of the abbey and be proclaimed the “undoubted King” before the congregation is asked to show their homage and service.
Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby will make the first declaration but, for the first time, the subsequent declarations will be made by the Lady of the Garter and the Lady of the Thistle – representing the oldest orders of chivalry in England and Scotland respectively – and a George Cross holder from the armed forces.
The congregation will shout “God Save the King!” and trumpets will sound after each recognition.
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SECTION THREE:
It was originally made by order of England’s King Edward I to enclose the Stone of Destiny, which had been taken from near Scone in Scotland.
The stone – an ancient symbol of Scotland’s monarchy – was returned to Scotland in 1996 but has been transferred back to London for use in the service.
During the Coronation, the oak chair is placed in the centre of the historic medieval mosaic floor known as the “Cosmati pavement”, in front of and facing the high altar, to emphasise the religious nature of the ceremony.
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Video listening section:
Watch the video and answer the questions below.
Questions:
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- Where was the coronation held?
- How many coronations have there been there?
- How many royal weddings have there been there?
- How many key sections are there in the coronation?
- What is the name of the crown that is placed on his head?
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SECTION FOUR:
Stage two: The oath
Just before the oath, the Archbishop of Canterbury will acknowledge the multiple faiths observed in the UK by saying the Church of England “will seek to foster an environment in which people of all faiths may live freely”.
The archbishop will then administer the Coronation Oath – a legal requirement. He will ask King Charles to confirm that he will uphold the law and the Church of England during his reign, and the King will place his hand on the Holy Gospel and pledge to “perform and keep” those promises.
The King will also take a second oath – the Accession Declaration Oath – stating that he is a “faithful Protestant”.
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SECTION FIVE:
Stage three: The anointing
The King’s ceremonial robe will be removed and he will sit in the Coronation Chair to be anointed, emphasising the spiritual status of the sovereign who is also the head of the Church of England.
The archbishop will pour special oil from the Ampulla – a gold flask – on to the Coronation Spoon before anointing the King in the form of a cross on his head, breast and hands.
The Ampulla was made for Charles II’s coronation, but its shape harks back to an earlier version and a legend that the Virgin Mary appeared to St Thomas a Becket in the 12th Century and gave him a golden eagle from which future kings of England would be anointed.
The Coronation Spoon is much older, having survived Oliver Cromwell’s destruction of the regalia after the English Civil War
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SECTION SIX:
The Coronation Concert
The biggest stage ever constructed in the UK was built for the Coronation Concert on Sunday 7th May where world stars performed for His Majesty. Here is one act from the show: TAKE THAT as they perform “SHINE”
SECTION SEVEN:
King Charles III will be only the seventh monarch to wear it after Charles II, James II, William III, George V, George VI and Elizabeth II – who last wore it at her own coronation in 1953.
First the King will be given a shimmering golden coat to wear called the Supertunica, and be presented with items including the Sovereign’s Orb, the Coronation Ring, the Sovereign’s Sceptre with Cross and the Sovereign’s Sceptre with Dove.
Then the archbishop will place St Edward’s Crown on the King’s head and the abbey bells will ring for two minutes, trumpets will sound and gun salutes will be fired across the UK.
A 62-round salute will be fired at the Tower of London, with a six-gun salvo at Horse Guards Parade. Twenty-one rounds will be fired at a further 11 locations around the UK, including Edinburgh, Cardiff and Belfast, and on deployed Royal Navy ships.
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SECTION EIGHT:
Stage five: The enthronement
The final part of the ceremony will see the King take the throne. He may even be lifted into it by the archbishop, bishops and other peers of the kingdom.
Traditionally, a succession of royals and peers would then have paid homage by kneeling before the new king, swearing allegiance and kissing his right hand.
However, Prince William will be the only Royal Duke to kneel and pay homage to King Charles.
And instead of peers, for the first time the archbishop will invite people in the abbey, and those watching and listening at home, to pledge allegiance in what is called a “new and significant moment in the tradition of the coronation” by organisers.
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SECTION NINE:
The Queen Consort
After the homage, Queen Camilla will be anointed, crowned and enthroned in a simpler ceremony – although she will not have to take an oath.
She will be crowned with Queen Mary’s Crown – originally made for Queen Mary’s coronation alongside George V – but it is being modified to remove some of the arches and reset with the Cullinan III, IV and V diamonds.
Communion
The final part of the service will see the King and Queen taking Holy Communion – the principal act of worship of the Christian church.
Full details of the service for the Coronation can be found on the Church of England website.
The departure
The King and Queen Consort will descend from their thrones and enter St Edward’s Chapel behind the high altar – here Charles will remove St Edward’s Crown and put on the Imperial State Crown before joining the procession out of the abbey as the national anthem is played.
Highlights Of The Complete Event