Historic rites, rituals and conventions explained
Written by Jonathan Gordon
Image source: wiki/Royal Collection (UK) ID: 2153177 In 1066, William I (the Conqeuror) was the first English monarch to be crowned at Westminster Abbey. 957 years later, Charles III is the 40th monarch to hold their coronation in the iconic Central London church – and not much about the ceremony will have changed. From the days of the Norman Conquest to now, the way in which England and then Great Britain has chosen to celebrate its new monarchs has remained largely the same. The rites and rituals have long histories, many dating back long before 1066, and so do many of the objects and artefacts that play key symbolic roles in the ceremony. It’s not all just pomp and pageantry, as we’re about to reveal.
Coronation FAQ
The key questions answered
Why is there a coronation?
Going back to at least 1066, the coronation of the English/British monarch has been an initiation right; a symbolic ceremony where the new monarch is invested with the symbols of rule to mark their taking on of these new responsibilities.
Isn’t a monarch automatically king/queen?
Yes. As soon as a monarch dies, their heir becomes the new monarch. The ceremony does not mark the beginning of their reign. Historically it was about making that succession official before God and the people.
Why the long wait for the coronation?
This is mainly a question of respect for the deceased and wanting the coronation to be a moment of celebration, not of mourning.
Why is it a religious ceremony?
We just mentioned God and that religious aspect has remained important since 1066. A monarch’s right to rule derives from their being ‘chosen by God’ so they must make promises to God about they reign. They must also make them to the people, which is why it’s a largely public event.
Where do coronations take place?
Since 1066 they have taken place at Westminster Abbey, but before then they were performed in a number of different places, such as Kingston-upon-Thames, Bath and Winchester.
When was the first coronation?
Details of ceremonies before 1066 are unclear. We believe Alfred the Great was crowned around 871. We do know that the kings of Wessex and early English kings were mostly crowned in Kingstonupon-Thames in Surrey on the Kings’ Stone. A ceremony was developed from one used by the Franks in 973.
Who performs the coronation?
The archbishop, as far back as we have records, has always been the one to lead the coronation ceremony and place the crown on the new monarch’s head.
What happens to the Crown Jewels?
The crowns used in the coronation ceremony and the regalia will all be returned to the Tower of London, where they have been safely kept since the 1600s.
Who attends the coronation?
As an event of national and global significance, leading political figures, international heads of state and other prominent citizens are all invi
