This period covers the Tudor monarchs: Henry VIII, Edward VI, Mary I, and Elizabeth I. All were crowned at Westminster Abbey, and their ceremonies reflected the profound religious and political changes of the 16th century.
Henry VIII
- Coronation Date: Sunday, 24 June 1509
- Location: Westminster Abbey
- Consort Crowned: Katherine of Aragon (Queen Consort)
- Presiding Cleric: William Warham, Archbishop of Canterbury
- Ceremony Details:
- The day before, Henry and Katherine processed from the Tower of London through the City to Whitehall.
- On coronation morning, they moved to the Palace of Westminster and walked in procession to the Abbey.
- Katherine sat on a lower chair than Henry.
- The ceremony followed traditional medieval forms, with the monarch anointed, invested with regalia, crowned, and enthroned.
- Afterwards, a magnificent banquet was held in Westminster Hall, described as “greater than any Caesar had known.”
- Several days of feasting and jousting followed.
- Henry later amended the coronation oath to reflect his evolving views on the relationship between the Crown and the Church, which would become significant during the English Reformation.
Anne Boleyn
- Coronation Date: Sunday, 1 June 1533
- Location: Westminster Abbey
- Presiding Cleric: Thomas Cranmer, Archbishop of Canterbury
- Ceremony Details:
- Anne was the only other of Henry VIII’s wives to be crowned.
- The ceremony was elaborate, intended to reinforce the legitimacy of her marriage and her unborn child (the future Elizabeth I).
- Jane Seymour’s planned coronation was cancelled due to plague.
Edward VI
- Coronation Date: Sunday, 20 February 1547
- Location: Westminster Abbey
- Presiding Cleric: Thomas Cranmer, Archbishop of Canterbury
- Ceremony Details:
- Edward, aged nine, processed from the Tower of London to Westminster amid public celebrations.
- The coronation chair was fitted with a black cushion to raise the young king.
- Cranmer preached a sermon comparing Edward to the biblical Josiah and urged him to continue the Protestant Reformation.
- The ceremony was shortened to seven hours (from the usual twelve) due to Edward’s youth.
- This was the first explicitly Protestant English coronation, with Cranmer denouncing “the tyranny of the bishops of Rome” in his sermon.
Mary I
- Coronation Date: Sunday, 1 October 1553
- Location: Westminster Abbey
- Presiding Cleric: Stephen Gardiner, Bishop of Winchester
- Ceremony Details:
- Mary was the first queen regnant (ruling in her own right) to be crowned in England.
- The ceremony was adapted from precedents for queens consort.
- Mary arrived by barge at Westminster and processed to the Abbey, with three swords carried before her (representing Spiritual Justice, Temporal Justice, and Mercy).
- Her train was carried by the Lord Chamberlain and the Duchess of Norfolk.
- The Abbey was decorated with tapestries and rushes.
- Mary was led to King Edward’s chair, mounted on a high platform, and presented to the people for their acclamation (“recognition”).
- Gardiner sought the people’s assent, who responded “God save Queen Mary.”
- The coronation included ritual acts of pardon and public spectacle, with the cost estimated at 100,000 ducats.
Elizabeth I
- Coronation Date: Sunday, 15 January 1559
- Location: Westminster Abbey
- Presiding Cleric: Owen Oglethorpe, Bishop of Carlisle (as most bishops refused to officiate due to her Protestant views)
- Ceremony Details:
- Elizabeth processed to the Tower of London for the traditional vigil, then made her royal entry through the City of London to Westminster.
- The coronation service was the last in England conducted under Catholic rites, but Elizabeth insisted on changes to reflect her Protestant beliefs, resulting in a unique blend of traditions.
- The coronation included the usual elements: recognition, oath, anointing, investiture, crowning, enthronement, and homage.
- The event was a major public spectacle, with elaborate pageantry and displays funded by the City of London.
- The coronation signaled Elizabeth’s intention to restore Protestantism while retaining some Catholic ceremonial, setting the tone for the Elizabethan Religious Settlement.
Summary Table
| Monarch | Coronation Date | Location | Presiding Cleric | Notable Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Henry VIII | 24 Jun 1509 | Westminster Abbey | William Warham, Abp. Canterbury | Procession, banquet, oath later amended, Katherine crowned |
| Anne Boleyn | 1 Jun 1533 | Westminster Abbey | Thomas Cranmer, Abp. Canterbury | Sole queen consort of Henry VIII crowned, elaborate ceremony |
| Edward VI | 20 Feb 1547 | Westminster Abbey | Thomas Cranmer, Abp. Canterbury | First Protestant coronation, shortened for child king, Cranmer’s sermon |
| Mary I | 1 Oct 1553 | Westminster Abbey | Stephen Gardiner, Bp. Winchester | First queen regnant, swords of Justice/Mercy, high platform, public acclamation |
| Elizabeth I | 15 Jan 1559 | Westminster Abbey | Owen Oglethorpe, Bp. Carlisle | Last Catholic-rite coronation, Protestant elements, major public spectacle |
Common Elements and Historical Context
- Venue: All coronations were at Westminster Abbey, the traditional site since 1066.
- Ritual: Core elements included recognition, oath, anointing, investiture, crowning, enthronement, and homage.
- Religious Change: The period saw dramatic shifts between Catholic and Protestant rites, reflecting the turbulent Reformation in England.
- Public Spectacle: Each coronation featured elaborate processions, pageantry, and feasting, designed to reinforce the monarch’s legitimacy and popularity.
This century’s coronations were not only religious ceremonies but also political statements, each marking a new phase in the English Reformation and the evolving nature of monarchy.