THE THRONE: 1000 Years of British Coronations

The eventful history of British coronations from 1066 to Elizabeth II, the ceremonies that continued for the present King Charles today are ancient, and some of their origins are ?veiled in the mists of the past? as Queen Elizabeth herself said on her Coronation Day, 2nd June 1953. The coronation of our monarch has always had five main elements: recognition and oath, the anointing, the investing, the crowning, the enthronement and homage, and the final procession. When the monarch enters the abbey, they are taken by the archbishop to face the east, south, west and north sides of the abbey. From the crowning of Charles III, 39 coronations have been held in Westminster Abbey since the Norman Conquest. Only two monarchs - Edward V and Edward VIII - were uncrowned, and a further 20 or so Scottish monarchs were crowned elsewhere, usually at either Scone Abbey or Holyrood Abbey. Ian Lloyd turns his quick-witted attention to fascinating anecdotes and interesting facts: William the Conqueror's Christmas Day crowning, during which the jubilant shouts were mistaken by his guards as an assassination attempt; the dual coronation of William and Mary in 1689; the pared-back 'Half Crown-ation' of William IV; and the televised spectacle of Elizabeth II's 1953 ceremony. Detailing everything from the famous Coronation Chair made for Edward I and the Crown Jewels to the infamously uncomfortable Gold State Coach, the book is organised by the Normans 1066-1154, the Plantagenets 1154-1399, House of Lancaster 1399-1461, House of York 1461-1485, House of Tudor 1485-1603, House of Stuart 1603-1714, House of Hanover 1714-1901, House of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha and House of Windsor 1901 to Present Day. This is a truly spectacular celebration of British culture and the ultimate pomp of royalty. 244pp, family trees and illus.