Far From Home
Surprisingly, Queen Elizabeth II wasn’t in Britain when she acceded to the throne upon the death of her father, George VI. On February 6, 1952, she and her husband were traveling through Kenya on their way to Australia. On the evening of the King’s death, Phillip and Elizabeth were in their Kenyan home when word reached them that she was now Queen.
The Sovereign was the first to accede to the throne while abroad in over 200 years. Though Elizabeth was technically the new monarch at 25, her coronation didn’t occur for another 16 months. Why, you ask? First and foremost, the Queen followed the royal tradition of allowing the country a long mourning period for her father. In addition, the country was still suffering from a declining economy after the war. Winston Churchill suggested the delay, stating it would have a “steadying effect” on the people.
The Devil’s in the Details
Another reason for the delayed coronation was to allow time to plan for the royal event. Logistics had to be discussed, guest lists had to be drawn, and the Queen needed the perfect gown for her crowning. So, Elizabeth commissioned British fashion designer Norman Hartwell to create the ideal coronation dress.
This was no easy feat, as the Queen dismissed his first eight designs before agreeing on a final collaboration. The gown was made of white silk with silver and gold embellishments. In addition, a floral emblem from each country of the Commonwealth was embroidered: a Tudor rose for England, a Scottish thistle, the Welsh leek, Northern Ireland's shamrock, a wattle for Australia, a Canadian maple leaf, the silver fern of New Zealand, South Africa's protea, two lotus flowers for India and Ceylon, and wheat, cotton, and jute for Pakistan.
The Royal Accessories
Of course, no coronation outfit would be complete without accessories. Designer Roger Vivier was commissioned to create a pair of jewel-encrusted gold heels for the royal event with “the fleur-de-lis" pattern on the St. Edward’s Crown and the Imperial State Crown.
The Queen also chose the Coronation necklace and earrings worn by Queen Alexandra, Queen Mary, and Queen Elizabeth I at their crownings. And finally, the most important royal accessory of all, the Coronation bouquet. Queen Elizabeth II carried an all-white floral ensemble composed of flowers to signify the four countries in the United Kingdom. Orchids and lilies of the valley represented England, additional orchids represented Wales, stephanotis represented Scotland, and carnations were used to represent Northern Ireland and the Isle of Man.
A Lengthy Affair
The coronation of Queen Elizabeth II occurred on June 2, 1953, at Westminster Abbey in front of over 8,000 guests. While that number is undoubtedly impressive, we should also mention that those guests witnessed a royal ceremony that lasted for nearly three hours! Why such a lengthy affair, you ask?
The traditional ceremony requires six steps: the recognition, the oath, the anointing, the investiture, the enthronement, and the homage. Once Elizabeth was crowned Queen of the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Pakistan, and Ceylon (now Sri Lanka), it was time for the guests to pay homage. After her family, dukes, barons, viscounts, earls, and marquesses pledged their allegiance, the entire assembly shouted, "God save Queen Elizabeth. Long live Queen Elizabeth. May the Queen live forever!"
Royal Representation
Sadly, Queen Mary, mother of King George VI and grandmother of Queen Elizabeth II, wasn’t able to attend the coronation. Though she was the first Queen Mother to witness her grandchild ascend the throne, Mary passed away 10 weeks before the royal ceremony. At age 85, the loss of her son profoundly affected her health.
Knowing her physical state was fragile, she left adamant instructions to carry on with the coronation should she die. Though Princess Marie Louise was quite close to the Queen Mother, she did attend the royal ceremony. This wasn’t the first coronation for Queen Victoria’s granddaughter; she also witnessed the crowning of King Edward VII in 1902, King George V in 1911, and Queen Elizabeth II’s father, King George VI, in 1937.
The Queen’s Biggest Fan
Princess Marie Louise wasn’t the only royal in attendance. Seated in between Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother and Princess Margaret was Elizabeth II’s greatest fan, her four-year-old son, Prince Charles. His attendance marked another historical first, as no other royal heir had ever attended a coronation.
Britain’s new King shared a vivid memory about the days leading up to the ceremony. As a boy, he walked into his mother’s study and saw her wearing the crown. Queen Elizabeth explained to Charles that the jewel-encrusted treasure was so heavy that she needed to get used to it before the coronation. And she was right; the crown was heavy. So cumbersome that prior monarchs, such as Queen Victoria and King Edward VII, refused to wear it. Even so, Elizabeth was a stickler for tradition, so she practiced holding the crown up until coronation day.
Location, Location, Location
Ask any party planner, and they will tell you that the key to a successful event is a stunning location. So, kudos to the Coronation Commission for holding the royal ceremony at Westminster Abbey, one of the most beautiful churches in the world. Queen Elizabeth II’s crowning on June 2, 1953, marked the 39th coronation at this famed location.
Westminster Abbey became the setting for the royal ceremony in 1066. Prior to that, there was no set location for coronations; a place was simply chosen out of convenience for the ascending Sovereign. Since the Abbey was erected, the stunning church has been the location for 39 coronations, 16 royal weddings, and the final resting place for 18 monarchs.
A Dignified Guest List
As you can imagine, of the 8,000 guests, most were royalty or dignitaries. One of the most notable attendees was Queen Sālote of Tonga, who won the crowds over with her cheerful disposition during the carriage ride from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Abbey. Former U.S. Secretary of State George Marshall played a pivotal role, as he was appointed the chairman of the United States delegation to the coronation.
Also in attendance were Prime Ministers Sir Winston Churchill of the U.K., Jawaharlal Nehru of India, and Mohammad Ali Bogra of Pakistan. While there are too many dignitaries to name, 129 nations and territories were represented to pay homage to the Queen on her Coronation Day. Unfortunately, Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay couldn’t make it; they were too busy reaching the summit of Mt. Everest. However, the media soon dubbed their phenomenal feat as a gift for the Queen.
The Coronation Chair
Of course, all the guests in attendance wanted to wish Queen Elizabeth II well on her new journey. However, they also witnessed the historical treasures used in the ceremony, including the Coronation Chair. Historically known as St. Edward's Chair, the wooden relic was commissioned in 1296 by King Edward I as a resting place for the captured coronation stone of Scotland.
Since then, it has been used by every monarch who has been crowned. The St. Edward's Chair is only used during the enthronement portion of the ceremony. All other steps of the coronation process require a Chair of Estate. These are typically made new for each ceremony and are more decorative and lavish than the St. Edward's Chair. Once the coronation ceremony ends, the Chairs of Estate are displayed in the royal palaces' Throne Rooms.
The St. Edward’s Crown
St. Edward's Crown is the centerpiece of the Crown Jewels of the United Kingdom. Also named after Saint Edward the Confessor, this crown was made for Charles II in 1661. Here's why it's so heavy. The St. Edward's Crown is solid gold and stands 30 centimeters high.
Additionally, it is encrusted with 444 precious stones, including rubies, amethysts, garnets, sapphires, and topaz. This is not the same crown made famous by the Queen's stamp. The crown Queen Elizabeth II wore in her depiction on the stamp is known as the George IV State Diadem. It, too, played a role in Her Majesty's coronation, as the Queen wore it during the procession from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Abbey. This crown weighs less, though it features 1,333 diamonds and 169 pearls.
The Sovereign’s Orb
The Sovereign’s Orb is a gold sphere encrusted with 18 rubies, 365 diamonds, 375 pearls, nine emeralds, nine sapphires, and one amethyst. The transference of the orb is a longstanding coronation tradition that dates back to 1509 when Henry VIII was crowned.
However, the infamous King introduced the Tudor orb, which was used in coronations until 1625, and then deposited with St. Edward’s regalia. Like the St. Edward’s Crown, the jewel-encrusted Sovereign’s Orb used today was commissioned by Charles II in 1661. Though it’s a stunning addition to the ceremony, its design reflects the religious strife within the country during the King’s reign. Atop the orb is a cross, symbolizing the Anglican church.
The Wedding Ring of England
As a monarch, you are essentially marrying your country. So, why not include a wedding ring in the coronation ceremony? All jokes aside, the Sovereign’s Ring, also known as the Wedding Ring of England, was introduced into the coronation ceremony in 1831 with the crowning of William IV.
The combination of sapphire, diamonds, and rubies represents the St. George’s Cross of England and the St. Andrew’s Cross of Scotland. The Wedding Ring of England has been bestowed at every coronation since 1831, except for one. Queen Victoria’s fingers were too small to retain the ring, so a smaller version was commissioned for her coronation. Per tradition, the Sovereign’s ring will be placed on the fourth finger. According to the Queen’s letters, she finally got it off but “with great pain.”
The Sovereign’s Scepter
As if she didn't have enough to hold, the Sovereign's Scepter was also bestowed upon the Queen. This is another symbolic piece of regalia. The scepter was originally derived from the shepherd's staff and represents the Queen's temporal power as head of state. Also commissioned in 1661, the 92 cm gold rod is encrusted with 333 diamonds, 31 rubies, 15 emeralds, 7 sapphires, 6 spinels, and 1 composite amethyst.
Though the ornamental rod was already stunning, a discovery in 1910 caused the scepter's redesign. A 530-carat diamond called the Cullinan I, aka the Great Star of Africa, was added to the top. This was no ordinary diamond either. Aside from its massive size, this gem holds the record for being the largest clear-cut diamond in the world. The original 3,106-carat diamond was found in South Africa in 1905 and named after the mining company chairman, Thomas Cullinan.
The Anointing Oil
Anointing oil, which also plays a pivotal role in the priesthood, is used at the coronations to sanctify the Sovereign, blessing their reign and declaring them holy. Originally, the sacred oil was made in large batches to be used over time at numerous coronations.
However, after a bomb destroyed their stockpile in 1941, it was determined that a unique batch be made for each occasion. At Queen Elizabeth II’s ceremony, she wore a white linen dress over her gown as she sat in King Edward’s chair. Once there, the archbishop made a cross on her forehead, hands, and breast with holy oil. Per her request, this portion of the coronation was not televised. So, what’s in the anointing oil? Unfortunately, that is a secret that may never be shared; however, rumor has it that the holy mixture contains the oil of ambergris, cinnamon, orange, musk, and roses.
Abled Hands
The brilliant chef and florist who created coronation chicken weren’t the only people who helped make the Queen’s big day a huge success. The Purple Robe of Estate Elizabeth wore in the processional back to Buckingham Palace was so heavy she required the assistance of seven maids of honor to carry it. In fact, that Robe was no easy task itself.
For the processional after the coronation, Queen Elizabeth looked quite regal, wearing the Imperial State Crown and the Purple Robe of the Estate as she rode back to Buckingham Palace. Apparently, the hand-woven velvet cloak required a team of 12 seamstresses from the Royal School of Needlework. Why? Because of the embroidered embellishments. The hand-sewn details, including the cipher of the Queen, wheat ears, and olive branches, took the professionals 3,500 hours to finish.
Lights, Camera, Action
Yes, you read that right. Queen Elizabeth II’s coronation in 1953 was the first ever to be televised. It should come as no surprise that 27 million of Britain’s population watched the BBC’s live coverage; however, it is shocking that many of those people had to buy or rent a television to do so. In addition, this was the first major world event broadcast worldwide.
With the international audience, it is estimated that the total number of viewers reached 277 million. Before Elizabeth ascended the throne, cameras were not allowed inside Westminster Abbey. So, when the subject was broached, many in the British cabinet, including Prime Minister Winston Churchill, were adamantly against the idea. Despite their steadfast advice, the Queen insisted the entire ceremony (minus the anointing) be broadcast for the world to see.
A Media Frenzy
As you can imagine, the televised broadcast motivated journalists from other mediums to try and get the scoop. Aside from the cameramen on the ground during the processional, over 2,000 members of the media from 92 nations were assigned to cover the historic event. One of those journalists was Jacqueline Bouvier, the future First Lady in the Camelot administration.
Prior to marrying John F. Kennedy, she worked for the Washington Times-Herald as an “Inquiring Camera Girl.” Jackie Kennedy didn’t get to meet the Queen at her coronation; however, in May 1965, she joined Robert and Ted Kennedy at Runnymede, England, for the dedication of the United Kingdom’s official memorial to her late husband. Of course, the Queen was there too. When the two women met, Elizabeth offered her support and condolences to the former First Lady.
An Age-Old Tradition
The United Kingdom has a longstanding tradition of hosting a celebratory ox roast during major events such as coronations. However, in 1953, the struggling economy resulted in food rationing and penny-pinching, making the tradition uncertain. Concerned that canceling the ox roast would negatively affect the population's morale, the Ministry of Food put parameters on those who qualify for free meat.
To comply with the rationing, the Ministry of Food announced that communities would be provided with an oxen if they could prove they received a license for a roasting at the King George VI coronation. In addition, the council of that community was required to provide the ox and give the meat away for free. Of 154 applications, 33 were denied, 40 withdrew, and 81 were approved.
Creating a Tradition
Speaking of food, have you ever wondered about the origin of coronation chicken? Though it is a popular sandwich filling nowadays, the chicken, curry, and mayonnaise concoction was initially invented to please foreign dignitaries at Queen Elizabeth II’s coronation.
While preparing for the coronation banquet, flower arranger Constance Spry and chef Rosemary Hume collaborated on the menu. Knowing many guests were coming from foreign lands, Spry suggested a chicken option with curry, rice, and peas. From there, the women tweaked the recipe until they came up with the dish we know and love today. Oddly enough, the Queen didn’t get to taste the coronation chicken on her coronation day. She opted for a meal of soup, steak, and salad with a bit of ice cream for dessert.
Everyone Loves a Parade
The newly crowned Queen wore the Imperial State Crown and the Purple Robe of the Estate as she rode in her carriage for the return procession. The route was 4.5 miles long, passing through historical London landmarks such as Trafalgar Square, Piccadilly, and Haymarket before returning to Buckingham Palace.
To add to the pomp and circumstance, 29,000 servicemen from the United Kingdom marched in the procession to celebrate their new Queen. An additional 15,800 lined the route, ensuring the barricades were not breached. Colonel Burrows of the War Office led the parade, followed by troops from the Royal Air Force, the Royal Navy, the British Army, and the Household Brigade. Members of the royal family, foreign leaders, and international dignitaries brought up the rear.
Celebrating a New Reign
A new Sovereign’s coronation is an event to be celebrated by the royal family and the people of the Commonwealth. And celebrate they did. Once the procession ended, Queen Elizabeth II appeared on the balcony of Buckingham Palace with her family by her side to wait for the traditional flypast.
Though the rain had briefly delayed the airshow, it didn’t disappoint. A whopping 168 jets flew over the crowd at an altitude of 1,500 feet. The show wasn’t over, either. Her Majesty appeared once again on the famed balcony at 9:45 pm on the day of her coronation to flip the switch for the Lights of London. Within seconds, the Mall, the fountains in Trafalgar, the Admiralty Arch, and the National Gallery to the Tower of London were transformed into sparkling treasures of illumination for all the crowd to see.