As the crowning of King Charles III nears, I can’t resist sharing this image of George IV in his full coronation glory in 1821.
Prinny’s coronation robes were so ornate he needed help in his progress down the aisles of Westminster Abbey. This 1823 painting of the King George’s coronation by Edward Scriven shows the Master of the Robes and the eight sons of various Peers of the Realm who were chosen to carry George’s train.
Charles appears to have a simpler style, so I doubt he’ll opt for a robe that’s as elaborate as his predecessor’s.
In fact, according to a recent Vanity Fair Magazine article, Charles has complained about the weight of his coronation clothes, and there’s concern at the Palace that he may find walking while wearing his heavy robes difficult. There’s even talk of building a ramp to the thrones in Westminster Abbey to make it easier for him.
Will Charles need a small army of courtiers to carry his train, the way George IV did? We’ll just have to wait and see what the newly crowned king wears on May 6!
Source:
“Report: King Charles’s Coronation Robes Are Sowing Havoc for Planners,” by Erin Vanderhoof, Vanity Fair Magazine, April 12, 2023
The Coronation Chair containing the Stone of Scotland, 1859 illustration from The History of England by D. Hume
On May 6, when Charles Philip Arthur George is crowned King Charles III in Westminster Abbey, he’ll have the best seat in the house – the Coronation Chair.
During the ceremony, both Charles and Camilla will sit on thrones especially made for them. But only Charles gets to sit on the centuries-old wooden throne.
At first glance the Coronation Chair isn’t very impressive. It’s beyond old – it’s ancient – and it’s scarred, nicked, marked with nail holes, and scribbled upon. Once gilded, painted, and inlaid with mosaics, the chair now bears only traces of its former glory.
The Coronation Chair as it looks today
When there isn’t a coronation taking place, the Coronation Chair sits behind glass near the Great West Door of Westminster Abbey. Well-guarded now, for many years it wasn’t as protected. In the 1800s tourists could sit in the chair by paying the verger a small fee. Souvenir hunters damaged the chairs’ posts, and visitors etched their initials into the wood.
There’s even a bit of Regency-era graffiti: “P. Abbott slept in this chair 5-6 July 1800” is carved into the seat.
But what makes this old chair special isn’t its appearance but rather its historical significance. It holds a unique place not just in English history, but Scottish history as well.
Since the 14th century, 27 British monarchs have sat in this chair while being crowned, including Queen Elizabeth I in 1559 and Queen Elizabeth II in 1953.
Built of sturdy Baltic oak, the six-foot-nine Coronation Chair was commissioned by King Edward I in 1296 to hold the Stone of Scotland. The stone was Edward’s trophy, seized when his army invaded Scotland.
The Stone of Scotland (also called the Stone of Scone and the Stone of Destiny) had previously been used for centuries at the coronations of Scottish monarchs. Now in England’s possession, the stone would henceforth be used at the coronations of English kings and queens, showing that the Scottish were under English rule.
Photo of the Stone of Scone in the Coronation Chair, taken circa 1875-1885
At first, English kings would just sit on the stone, placed on the seat of the chair, as they were being crowned. In the 17th century, a wooden platform was installed under the seat to hold the stone – a much more comfortable arrangement.
Understandably, the Scots resented having their precious symbol built into England’s Coronation Chair. And in 1950 a group of Scottish nationalists decided to do something about it.
That year four University of Glasgow students traveled to London on Christmas Day with a daring plan to break into Westminster Abbey and take back their national symbol. It was no easy task, since the massive piece of red sandstone stone isn’t exactly portable – it weighs about 335 pounds.
Though the stone broke apart during the heist, the students still managed to make it all the way back to Scotland with their prize. They hid the stone successfully for several months.
The bold students were celebrated as heroes by the Scottish, but the UK government was not amused. British officials scoured Scotland for the stone.
The stone was finally found in April of 1951. It had been hidden on the altar of Abroath Abbey, which is where the Declaration of Abroath was drafted in 1320, asserting Scotland’s identity as an independent, sovereign kingdom.
The stone stayed in Scotland for repairs, but not for long. In February 1952, following the death of King George V, the stone was taken back to Westminster Abbey, in preparation for Queen Elizabeth II’s coronation.
Although the stone ended up back in London, the students, who were never prosecuted, had effectively made their point. After another couple of decades, in 1996 the Stone of Destiny was officially returned to its native land, 700 years after it had been captured.
Scotland got their prized national symbol back with one condition – that the stone must be returned to London and placed in the Coronation Chair for the coronations of British monarchs.
A couple of films have been made about this adventure, most recently 2008’s Stone of Destiny. Currently, you can rent or buy this film on Amazon or stream it on Google Play or Vudu. You can also watch it for free on Plex. I found the DVD in my local library.
In September 2022, after Queen Elizabeth died, the Scottish Government announced the stone would make a temporary return to England for the coronation of King Charles III. With the Stone of Scotland firmly in place, on May 6 Charles will become the 28th monarch to be crowned in Westminster Abbey.
And if you’d like to view the Stone of Destiny in person and can’t make it to Charles’ invitation-only event, you can plan a trip to Edinburgh Castle, where the stone is on display along with Scotland’s crown jewels in the Royal Palace’s Crown Room.
For additional more information about the Coronation Chair, see:
“The Grand History of Westminster Abbey” by Peter Ross in the Smithsonian Magazine, April/May 2023. (You can also read this article online .)
“King Charles and Queen Consort Camilla will sit on brand new thrones at the King’s coronation in May,” by Kate Mansy for The Daily Mail, February 24, 2023.
George IV’s coronation on July 19, 1821, in Westminster Abbey
The Imperial State Crown of the United Kingdom
On May 6, only a few weeks away, an historic event will take place in Westminster Abbey: the coronation of Charles III.
For Regency fans, comparisons between Charles’ big day and the coronation of George IV are inevitable. And even though a little more than 200 years separates these royal milestones, there are significant similarities – and differences — between the two events.
My postings this month focus on these coronations. And I’ve decided to start at the top, with the monarchs’ crowns.
St. Edward’s Crown
Charles’ Crowns
Charles will be crowned with the historic St. Edward’s Crown, the original of which was first used when Edward III was crowned in 1220. It’s also possible, but not proven, that this crown was used even earlier King Edward the Confessor, in 1023.
The St. Edward’s Crown the Archbishop of Canterbury will place on Charles’ head was created in 1661 as a replacement for the original crown, which was destroyed in 1649 when Parliament abolished the monarchy during the English Civil Wars.
This crown is set with over 444 precious and semi-precious stones, including a glittering array of aquamarines, amethysts, and sapphires.
Charles will also put on the Imperial State Crown towards the end of the ceremony. This dazzler features the Black Prince’s Ruby, the Cullinan II diamond, the rose-cut St. Edward’s Sapphire, and the Stuart Sapphire.
Prinny’s Crown
The Prince Regent had a crown especially made for his 1821 coronation. It had a gold and silver frame, with a blue velvet cap and ermine trimming. It also had over 12,000 diamonds. It must have looked spectacular. Sadly, it no longer exists.
Though Prinny desperately wanted to keep the crown after his coronation to wear for other state occasions, the government refused to buy it for him. Prinny’s crown was judged too expensive to purchase, and was dismantled in 1823.
Queen Mary’s Crown with the Kohinoor diamond
Camilla’s Crown
One thing George didn’t have to worry about at his ceremony was a crown for his wife, Queen Caroline. He loathed her and did everything in his power to keep her away from his big day. Not only was she omitted from the ceremony, but she also wasn’t even allowed to attend. She tried to get inside Westminster Abbey through several doors, only to be denied entrance at every one of them.
In contrast, Camilla will be crowned Queen next to Charles at his coronation. She’ll have a beautiful crown, too, not nearly as old as her husband’s but certainly more controversial.
Camilla will be wearing the Crown of Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother, also known as Queen Mary’s Crown. This crown was made in 1911 for Mary of Teck when she was crowned queen next to her husband, George V, at his coronation. However, Camilla’s crown won’t look like her predecessor’s. It will be minus one very significant and controversial diamond.
The Kohinoor Diamond
No doubt about it, the centerpiece of Queen Mary’s Crown in 1911 was the fabulous Kohinoor diamond.
The Kohinoor diamond
However, over the past 100 years Queen Mary’s Crown has undergone several changes. The arches were made detachable so it could be worn open, and its three conspicuous diamonds – the Kohinoor and the Cullinan III and IV — were swapped out for quartz crystal copies.
Last February, to prepare for Charles coronation, Queen Mary’s crown was removed from the Tower of London and modified to fit Camilla. Plans include resetting it with the two genuine Cullinan III and IV diamonds and adding another, the Cullinan V.
Yet the Kohinoor diamond won’t be restored to its original place of honor. It will stay where it is, in the Tower of London with the other crown jewels.
The Kohinoor Controversy
According to some news reports, the decision to omit the Kohinoor was made to side-step controversy over how this magnificent stone came to be part of the UK’s crown jewel collection. That’s because Britain’s acquisition of the diamond during the Victorian era is still a sensitive subject today.
Weighing in at 105.6 carats, the Kohinoor is one of the largest cut diamonds in the world. Its origin is shrouded in legend, with little clear evidence of when and where it was discovered. The diamond circulated among the empires of South and West Asia until 1849, when the British Empire annexed the Punjab province. At this point the British East India Company acquired the diamond and gave it as a gift to Queen Victoria.
India has sought the return of the Kohinoor ever since that country became independent of the British Empire in 1947. The governments of Iran, Pakistan, and Afghanistan, and even the Taliban, have also claimed ownership of the gem and are demanding its return.
To some, the Kohinoor represents how indigenous resources were exploited and plundered under colonial rule. However, the stones being used in Camilla’s crown in place of the Kohinoor, the Cullinan diamonds, came from South Africa and are also criticized as symbols of British imperialism.
The 9 major stones cut from the Cullinan diamond
These diamonds were cut from the Cullinan Diamond, the largest rough-cut diamond ever discovered. It was mined in South Africa in 1905 while the country was under British rule, and eventually presented to King Edward VII in 1907.
So, no matter which fabulous gems end up sparkling in Camilla’s crown, they are sure to attract attention. We’ll just have to wait till Coronation Day to see what her crown looks like.
For more information on the controversy surrounding the diamonds in Camilla’s crown, click on the link to this NBC News story.
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Article by Maureen Mackey for the Quizzing Glass Blog
