The Coronation in Focus: Anointing, Crowning, Enthroning

A final sequence of excellent videos by Dr. Allan Barton on the most solemn and significant parts of the coronation service. 

 

A reminder: the coronation service begins at 11 a.m. tomorrow (6 a.m. New York time, 5 a.m. Texas time) in Westminster Abbey. I will post a live feed in the Blue Truck, but of course you can find several of those from different broadcasters on YouTube.

The Order of Service can be downloaded from the Church of England website here.

Bonus:  In case you are wondering, here is a list of all British sovereigns since the last time we had a king to acclaim here in what became the United States, together with the dates of their reigns.

George III        1760 - 1820, succeeded by his son,

George IV        1820 - 1830, succeeded by his brother,

William IV       1830 - 1837, succeeded by his niece,

Victoria            1837 - 1901, succeeded by her son,

Edward VII      1901 - 1910, succeeded by his son,

George V         1910 - 1936, succeeded by his son,

Edward VIII    1936 (abdicated), succeeded by his brother,

George VI       1936 - 1952, succeeded by his daughter,

Elizabeth II     1952 - 2022, succeeded by her son,

Charles III       Whom God preserve.

For more details, see the family tree of the British royal family.

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The Coronation in Focus: Crowns, Robes, and Thrones

More fascinating information about the coronation from English historian Dr. Allan Barton.

 

The Church of England has published the Order of Service as a PDF you can download here. 

Westminster Abbey has links to more details about the service and its setting here.

And many more links about all things royal at the Official Site of the royal family.

I do pray everything goes well and safely and happily on the day.

God Save the King.

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The Coronation in Focus: The Imperial State Crown

English historian Dr. Allan Barton explains the history and design of the Imperial State Crown:

Your Head Trucker was fortunate enough to see this magnificent crown close up in the Tower of London on my one trip to Britain in the 1970s.  No photograph conveys the impression it makes, being completely encrusted with diamonds - a breathtaking sight.

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The Coronation in Focus: St. Edward's Crown

Two very informative videos by English historian Dr. Allan Barton:

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A Guide to the Coronation

English historian Dr. Allan Barton has a video channel on YouTube,  entitled The Antiquary.  He has created some excellent videos explaining various aspects of the coronation ceremony, past and present, and I'll be posting more of those in the coming days.

But my fellow Americans, let us understand one thing from the outset:  there is no such word as coronated.  

However, the King will be crowned at his coronation on May 6th.  You got that?

It should also be understood that the coronation is a deeply serious and solemn religious service:  the monarch is anointed and consecrated, and in turn dedicates his life to the service of his people.  It bears no resemblance to the hoopla attendant on, say, crowning a Miss America or other temporary celebrity. 

King Charles will be the 40th monarch since William the Conqueror to be crowned in Westminster Abbey - a line of continuity reaching back a thousand years.  There is nothing wrong with that; we could use a little more continuity and dignity over here, in my view.

Here is a snippet from a recent BBC documentary with some scenes of the late beloved Queen's coronation in 1953, and her thoughts on what it meant.

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