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Contents
The Westminster Abbey coronations are well-known events. The coronations of every British Monarch has been held at Westminster Abbey since 1066. The main purpose of the ceremony is to see the monarch swear an oath, affirm in the Church, and rule with honor, wisdom, and mercy. The Coronation Chair is also an important part of this ceremony and has been in use since 1308. Read on to find out how British Monarchs get anointed to become one of the most powerful and influential people in the world.
What are British coronations?
The coronation of British monarchs take place at Westminster Abbey and is an initiation rite in which the monarch of the United Kingdom is formally invested with regalia and crowned. Coronations aren’t held for several months after the death of the previous monarch. This is because coronations are considered extremely joyous occasions. The current ruler of England, King Charles III, was crowned in Westminster Abbey on May 6, 2023.
Westminster Abbey HistoryBritish coronations at Westminster Abbey
There are several elements involved during the coronations of every British Monarch, each with its own significance.
Location
Ceremonies and traditions hold a lot of importance for the British Sovereign. One such tradition is conducting British coronation ceremonies at Westminster Abbey. The last Anglo-Saxon Monarch, Harold II, was coronated in the year 1066 at Westminster Abbey. Ever since, this location has been preserved for conducting all coronations. The Houses of Parliament and Big Ben stand directly across the street from Westminster Abbey. Symbolically, this shows how the Sovereign and the Parliament work together in the political affairs of the country.
Coronation Chair
The Coronation Chair of Westminster Abbey, which was built for King Edward I between 1297 and 1300, is one of the most remarkable and valuable artifacts to have survived the Middle Ages. It included a sandstone block that the king seized after defeating the Scots at Scone in 1296. For centuries, Scottish kings had been crowned on the symbolic 'Stone of Scone', which has been associated with a wealth of mythology. Most English monarchs have been crowned there since 14th century, the most recent being Queen Elizabeth II in 1953. Although the Coronation Chair is still in use for its purpose, the stone now sits apart from it in Edinburgh Castle.
Liber Regalis
The Liber Regalis, or Royal Book, is a manuscript that was written in 1382. The Liber Regalis explains that while the details of the coronation have changed over time, the basic running order of this Christian ceremony has remained consistent. Some sections remain unchanged in every coronation service. Before being crowned, the monarch is recognized by the people (the Recognition), makes promises to their subjects and God (the Oath), is anointed with holy oil (the Anointing), and receives royal regalia such as a sword and an orb (the Investing), after which, the monarch takes the throne (the Enthronement).
Participants
Traditional coronations are officiated by the Archbishop of Canterbury, and in his absence, another bishop appointed by the monarch may take the archbishop's position. Westminster Abbey coronation ceremony is expected to be attended by the Great Officers of State, and many landowners and others get various important duties to perform. The Prime Minister and all members of the Cabinet, all Governors-General and Prime Ministers of Commonwealth realms, all Governors of the British Crown, and the Heads of State of dependent nations attend the coronation ceremonies, along with nobility. Dignitaries and representatives from other countries are also traditionally invited.
Clothing
The sovereign wears a variety of robes and other garments throughout the Coronation Ceremony. Before the procession, the sovereign dons a crimson surcoat. Then, a simple cloth is worn at the time of anointing. It is plain white with no embellishments and fastens at the back. The supertunica is the second robe in which the sovereign is clothed. It is a long gold silk coat with wide-flowing sleeves that reaches the ankles. It is lined in rose silk, trimmed in gold lace, and fastened with a sword belt woven with national symbols. A purple surcoat is worn during the final part of the ceremony. This is when the Imperial State Crown is bestowed upon the Monarch.
Coronation service procedure at Westminster Abbey
The coronation service is divided into five sections. These include oath, anointing, investiture, crowning and enthronement.
Recognition and Oath
The sovereign enters Westminster Abbey dressed in a crimson surcoat and the crimson velvet Robe of State and takes a seat on a Chair of Estate. The Archbishop of Canterbury, Lord Chancellor, Lord Great Chamberlain, Lord High Constable, and Earl Marshal move around the coronation theater from the east, south, west, and north. The archbishops on both sides call for the recognition of the sovereign. Following the acclamation of the sovereign by the people on each side, the archbishop administers an oath to the sovereign. If the monarch has not already done so, he or she may take the Accession Declaration in addition to the oath. The Bible used in this ceremony is the entire King James Bible, including the Apocrypha.
Anointing
A holy song is sung to begin the anointing ceremony and the Archbishop says a prayer in preparation for the anointing. The choir then sings the Westminster Abbey’s coronation anthem, Zadok the Priest. Meanwhile, the sovereign removes their crimson robe and proceeds to the Coronation Chair for the anointing. After the monarch sits on the chair, a golden cover is put on top of their head, a part of the ceremony that is sacred and is not revealed to the public eye. The Archbishop then uses consecrated oil to anoint the Sovereign by drawing a cross on the hands, the head and the heart, all while reciting the sacred consecratory formula. After this, the sovereign kneels for the final prayer for anointing, and then rises and sits once again on the Coronation Chair.
Investing
The sovereign adorns the colobium sindonis, a sleeveless white robe that symbolizes leaving behind all worldly vanity and standing bare before God. The Archbishop of Canterbury presents the sovereign with the Sword of State, which he places on the altar with the help of other bishops in the abbey. The Monarch is then robed once again with the Robe Royal. The Archbishop then bestows several Crown Jewels, the first being the Orb, a hollow gold sphere encrusted with precious stones. After this, the Orb is crowned with a cross, symbolizing Jesus' rule over the world. Once received, the Orb and the cross are immediately returned to the altar. The sovereign is then presented with a ring to represent their ‘marriage’ to the country.
Crowning
The Archbishop of Canterbury prays while raising and lowering St Edward's Crown from the high altar. The Dean of Westminster then picks up the crown, and the archbishop and several other high-ranking bishops accompany them to the Coronation Chair. The crown is then handed back to the archbishop, who reverently places it on the monarch’s head. The king or queen is crowned at this time, and the abbey guests chant "God Save the King/Queen" three times in unison. The Archbishop of Canterbury then recites another prayer that is a translation of a Latin prayer, Coronet te Deus, at the end of which, all the guests bow their heads and say “Amen”. The choir then sings an antiphon along with a benediction.
Enthronement and Homage
After the benediction, the sovereign rises from the Coronation Chair and is brought to the throne. Once the monarch is seated on the throne, the statement "Stand firm, and hold fast from now on..." is recited, which is a translation of the Latin formula Sta et retine. Following the formal enthronement, archbishops and bishops perform the act of homage, in which they swear absolute loyalty to their Sovereign Lord, King or Queen of the Realm, and Defender of the Faith, as well as to their heirs and successors, in accordance with the law. After this, all the members of the royal family pay homage to the sovereign individually. If there is a queen consort, she is anointed, invested and then crowned in a rather simple ceremony after the homage.
Closing Procession
After the Enthronement ceremony, the bearers of the Sword of State, the Sword of Temporal Justice, the Sword of Spiritual Justice, and the Sword of Mercy head towards St Edward’s Chapel within Westminster Abbey itself. The sovereign then exits the coronation theater and enters the chapel. While the monarch is in the chapel, the choir sings a hymn of thanksgiving. St Edward's Crown and other regalia are laid on the chapel's High Altar. Before being enrobed in the purple velvet Imperial Robe, the sovereign removes the Robe Royal and replaces the crimson surcoat with a purple surcoat. They then wear the Imperial State Crown, take the Scepter with the Cross and the Orb, and head out of the chapel as the national anthem is sung.
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Frequently asked questions about Westminster Abbey coronations
Where do all the British Coronations take place?
Since 1066, all British Coronations have taken place in Westminster Abbey.
How many coronations have taken place at Westminster Abbey
Since William the Conqueror, apart from Edward V and Edward VIII, every monarch that has been crowned has had a coronation ceremony at Westminster Abbey. There have been 39 coronations in Westminster Abbey since 1066.
Who was the first to be coronated at Westminster Abbey?
William the Conqueror was the first monarch to get coronated at Westminster Abbey in the year 1066.
When was King Charles III coronated at Westminster Abbey?
On May 6, 2023, King Charles III was coronated at Westminster Abbey.
Can I attend a Westminster Abbey Coronation service?
Most dignitaries world-wide are invited to British coronations apart from the Royal Family and other important British dignitaries. While it may be difficult for a civilian to enter Westminster Abbey and attend the coronation live, you may still be able to see the procession that happens afterward from outside the abbey.