Ahead of King Charles III’s coronation, here are some fun historical facts about the event

While Queen Elizabeth was quite young when she was crowned the Queen, it was Mary, Queen of Scots, who was the youngest ever monarch; she became queen at just six days old.

Since 1066, Westminster Abbey has been the setting for every coronation. However, before it was built, coronations were carried out wherever it was convenient, such as Bath, Oxford, and Canterbury. “His Majesty will be the fortieth Sovereign to be crowned at Westminster Abbey. On Christmas Day 1066, William the Conqueror became the first monarch to be crowned at Westminster Abbey,” the official website stated.

Camilla will become the first Queen Consort to be crowned alongside the king since 1937. “Queen Elizabeth, wife of King George VI, was the last Queen Consort to be crowned. The Queen Consort will wear Queen Mary’s Crown at the Coronation. It is the first time a Consort’s crown has been re-used since the 18th century – and will feature diamonds from Queen Elizabeth II’s personal jewellery collection.”

King Charles, who ascended the throne on September 8, was four years old when he received a special hand-painted children’s invitation to his mother’s Coronation. “The Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II was the first to be televised and for most people, it was the first time they had watched an event on television. 27 million people in the UK watched the ceremony on television and 11 million listened on the radio,” The Royal Family mentioned.

However, Queen Elizabeth wasn’t the only one who occupied the coronation chair on June 2, 1953. “On the morning of her Coronation, a black cat called Matins was found sleeping on the chair in Westminster Abbey,” it said, adding that the attendance at the 1953 coronation was the most substantial yet with more than 8,000 guests representing 129 nations.

It also became the first coronation to be televised with 27 million people watching it in the UK and 11 million people listening to it on the radio. “The earliest English coronation that is recorded in detail, although not the first, is the crowning of the Anglo-Saxon King Edgar in Bath in 953 CE. The first photograph of a coronation was taken during that of George V in the early 20th century by Sir Benjamin Stone, an MP and amateur photographer,” the official website added.

Did you know that for hundreds of years, the monarch stayed at the Tower of London two nights before the coronation? “The day before the coronation, the monarch then processed through London to Westminster. This last happened in 1661 with Charles II.”

While the history of coronations dates back centuries, the contemporary form of the coronation dates from 1902, when King Edward VII was crowned. This consists of a state procession from Buckingham Palace to the Abbey, another procession inside, the Recognition, the Anointing, the Coronation Oath, the Homage and finally another procession from the Abbey back to the Palace.

Do you remember the historic moment when Queen Elizabeth made an appearance on the Buckingham Palace balcony after the coronation, alongside Prince Philip and other family members? Turns out, the finale of coronation day has been a balcony appearance from the new monarch and other members of the Royal Family since 1902. This was inaugurated by Edward VII and Queen Alexandra.

At the coronation, King Charles will sit on St Edward’s Chair, made in 1300 for Edward I and used at every coronation since then. It is permanently kept in Westminster Abbey. Talking of the crown, he will be made to wear St Edward’s Crown which was made in 1661. “It weighs 4 pounds and 12 ounces, or about 2.2kg, and is made of solid gold. The St. Edward’s Crown has been used in the coronation of every British monarch since the coronation of King Charles II,” The Royal Family revealed, adding that in 1902, at the coronation of King Edward VII, the then Archbishop of Canterbury mistakenly placed the crown on the king’s head back to front.

Also known as ‘The Wedding Ring of England’, the Sovereign’s Ring has featured in every coronation since King William IV in 1831 when it was made. However, at the coronation of Queen Victoria, her fingers were so small that the ring could not be reduced far enough in size and an alternative was created.

Apart from other jewels, a coronation spoon has also been used at every coronation since 1349 to anoint the monarch with a secret mixture of oils. “The oil which will be used to anoint King Charles III has been consecrated in Jerusalem. Olive oils from the Mount of Olives, not far from His Majesty’s grandmother Princess Alice’s crypt, were mixed as part of making the chrism oil,” the official website stated.

Food and drinks form an essential part of the coronations. So much so that in 1308, guests at the coronation feast of Edward II managed to drink 1,000 casks of wine. “Coronation Chicken was invented for the guests who were to be entertained, following Queen Elizabeth II’s Coronation. Constance Spry’s recipe won the approval of the Minister of Works and has since been known as Coronation Chicken.”

Princess Marie Louise (Queen Victoria’s granddaughter) witnessed her fourth coronation in 1953. She was present for those of Kings Edward VII, George V and George VI as well. King Edward VII’s coronation, however, was postponed after he fell ill, meaning invited foreign dignitaries had left London by the time the ceremony took place.

Interestingly, in 1689, King William III and Queen Mary II were crowned as joint Sovereigns for the first and only time.

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