This period covers the coronations of Queen Victoria, Edward VII, George V, George VI, Elizabeth II, and Charles III. All ceremonies took place at Westminster Abbey and reflected evolving traditions, technological advances, and changing social contexts.
Queen Victoria
- Coronation Date: 28 June 1838
- Location: Westminster Abbey
- Presiding Cleric: William Howley, Archbishop of Canterbury
- Ceremony Details:
- Victoria, aged 19, was woken at 4 a.m. by ceremonial guns. Crowds of around 400,000 flocked to London.
- The five-hour ceremony was a lavish spectacle, costing £79,000-double that of her predecessor.
- Victoria wore red and gold robes, with eight train-bearers in white satin and silver wreaths.
- The new Imperial State Crown, set with over 3,000 gems, was placed on her head.
- There were mishaps: the archbishop painfully forced the coronation ring onto the wrong finger.
- The event was marked by public festivities and widespread celebration3.
Edward VII
- Coronation Date: 9 August 1902 (originally scheduled for 26 June, postponed due to illness)
- Location: Westminster Abbey
- Presiding Cleric: Frederick Temple, Archbishop of Canterbury
- Ceremony Details:
- Edward VII and Queen Alexandra processed into the Abbey.
- The king took the coronation oath, was anointed, invested with regalia, and crowned on King Edward’s Chair.
- The queen was crowned in a shorter, simpler ceremony.
- The event was notable for its international guests and the first use of film to simulate the ceremony for public viewing4.
George V
- Coronation Date: 22 June 1911
- Location: Westminster Abbey
- Presiding Cleric: Randall Davidson, Archbishop of Canterbury
- Consort Crowned: Queen Mary
- Ceremony Details:
- Attended by representatives of the great European empires, marking the height of British imperial power.
- The ceremony followed traditional forms, with the king and queen anointed, crowned, and enthroned.
- The event was widely celebrated across the Empire, with official medals, coinage, and street parties5.
George VI
- Coronation Date: 12 May 1937
- Location: Westminster Abbey
- Presiding Cleric: Cosmo Lang, Archbishop of Canterbury
- Consort Crowned: Queen Elizabeth (later the Queen Mother)
- Ceremony Details:
- George VI became king after Edward VIII’s abdication; the date had been set for Edward’s coronation.
- The ceremony included new music and minor alterations to reflect the Dominions’ role.
- The king was anointed, crowned, and enthroned, followed by homage from peers.
- Queen Elizabeth’s coronation was shorter and simpler.
- The return procession was the longest to date, with 32,000 military participants and 20,000 police. The event was commemorated by medals, coins, and Empire-wide celebrations6.
Elizabeth II
- Coronation Date: 2 June 1953
- Location: Westminster Abbey
- Presiding Cleric: Geoffrey Fisher, Archbishop of Canterbury
- Consort Crowned: Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh (not crowned, but paid homage)
- Ceremony Details:
- The first coronation televised live, watched by millions in the UK and worldwide8.
- The ceremony followed the six traditional stages: recognition, oath, anointing (concealed from view), investiture, enthroning, and homage.
- The event included a grand procession, with extensive participation from the Commonwealth.
- The coronation emphasized the Queen’s spiritual and secular roles, and included a diverse array of guests and dignitaries78.
Charles III
- Coronation Date: 6 May 2023
- Location: Westminster Abbey
- Presiding Cleric: Justin Welby, Archbishop of Canterbury
- Consort Crowned: Queen Camilla
- Ceremony Details:
- The first coronation in nearly 70 years, Charles acceded in 2022 after Elizabeth II’s death.
- The ceremony was structured around an Anglican service of Holy Communion, with Charles taking an oath, being anointed, invested with regalia, and crowned with St Edward’s Crown.
- The service was modernized to reflect the UK’s multiple faiths and communities and was shorter than previous coronations.
- Queen Camilla was crowned in a simpler ceremony.
- The King and Queen processed to and from Buckingham Palace, with tens of thousands lining the route and a global audience of two billion2.
- The service concluded with Holy Communion and balcony appearances at Buckingham Palace27.
Key Features of Modern Coronations
- Venue: All coronations held at Westminster Abbey since 10668.
- Core Rituals: Recognition, oath, anointing, investiture, crowning, enthronement, and homage78.
- Presiding Cleric: Always the Archbishop of Canterbury.
- Consort’s Role: Consorts are crowned in a shorter, simpler ceremony immediately after the monarch.
- Public Participation: Increasingly inclusive, with mass public celebrations, processions, and, since 1953, live broadcasts.
- Evolving Tradition: Ceremonies have adapted to reflect contemporary values, technology, and the changing nature of the monarchy.
Summary Table
| Monarch | Coronation Date | Presiding Cleric | Consort Crowned | Notable Features |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Victoria | 28 Jun 1838 | William Howley | None | Lavish, 5-hour ceremony, public festivities, mishaps |
| Edward VII | 9 Aug 1902 | Frederick Temple | Alexandra | Postponed due to illness, first filmed simulation |
| George V | 22 Jun 1911 | Randall Davidson | Mary | Imperial spectacle, attended by European royals |
| George VI | 12 May 1937 | Cosmo Lang | Elizabeth | Abdication crisis, longest procession, Empire-wide celebrations |
| Elizabeth II | 2 Jun 1953 | Geoffrey Fisher | None | First televised coronation, global audience |
| Charles III | 6 May 2023 | Justin Welby | Camilla | Modernized, multi-faith, shorter, global TV audience, balcony event |
This period reflects the monarchy’s adaptation to modern society, balancing ancient ritual with contemporary relevance and inclusivity.