Elizabeth II was the first child of the Duke and Duchess of York who later became King George VI and Queen Elizabeth. Her father acceded to the throne on the abdication of his brother Edward VIII in 1936. George VI’s King’s health appeared to be affected by the stresses of war and exacerbated by his heavy smoking. He subsequent development of lung cancer among other ailments, including arteriosclerosis and thromboangiitis obliterans. During 1951, George VI’s health declined further and on 23 September 1951, his left lung was removed by Clement Price Thomas.
On 31 January 1952, despite being ill, the King went to London Airport to see off Princess Elizabeth, who was going on her tour of Australia via Kenya with her husband Prince Philip. On the morning of 6 February, George VI was found dead in bed at Sandringham House in Norfolk. He had died from a coronary thrombosis in his sleep at the age of 56. His daughter Elizabeth flew back to Britain from Kenya as Queen Elizabeth II. Elizabeth at 25 years of age was immediately proclaimed Britain’s new monarch but remained in seclusion for the first three months of her reign as she mourned her father. On 9 April 1952 Elizabeth issued a declaration that Windsor would continue to be the name of the royal house instead of taking her husband’s name of Mountbatten.
For the one-day coronation ceremony, there were 14 months of preparation. It poured with rain, but it was still a moment of colour, glamour and optimism watched by millions in a dreary post-war Britain. The Coronation ceremony of Elizabeth II followed a similar pattern to the coronations of the kings and queens before her but there were several parts of the ceremony were markedly different. The coronation of the Queen was the first ever to be televised and was the world’s first major international event to be broadcast on television and also filmed in colour.
About three million spectators gathered in the streets of London, some having camped overnight in their spot to ensure a view of the monarch’s procession, and others having access to specially built stands and scaffolding along the route. The procession included foreign royalty and heads of state riding to Westminster Abbey in various carriages; so many that volunteers ranging from wealthy businessmen to rural landowners were required to supplement the insufficient ranks of regular footmen.
The first royal coach left Buckingham Palace and moved down the Mall, which was filled with flag-waving and cheering crowds. It was followed by the Irish State Coach carrying Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother, who wore the circlet of her crown bearing the Koh-i-Noor diamond. Queen Elizabeth II proceeded through London from Buckingham Palace, through Trafalgar Square, and towards the abbey in the Gold State Coach. Attached to the shoulders of her dress, the Queen wore the Robe of State, a 6 yard (5.5 metre) long, hand woven silk velvet cloak lined with Canadian ermine that required the assistance of the Queen’s maids of honour—Lady Jane Vane-Tempest-Stewart, Lady Anne Coke, Lady Moyra Hamilton, Lady Mary Baillie-Hamilton, Lady Jane Heathcote-Drummond-Willoughby, Lady Rosemary Spencer-Churchill and the Duchess of Devonshire—to carry. 
Elizabeth’s coronation gown was embroidered on her instructions with the floral emblems of Commonwealth countries: English Tudor rose; Scots thistle; Welsh leek; Irish shamrock; Australian wattle; Canadian maple leaf; New Zealand silver fern; South African protea; lotus flowers for India and Ceylon; and Pakistan’s wheat, cotton, and jute.
Approximately 8,000 guests invited from across the Commonwealth of Nations, members of the Queen’s family and foreign royalty, the peers of the United Kingdom, heads of state, Members of Parliament from the Queen’s various legislatures attended the coronation. General George Marshall also attended the ceremony along with his wife, Katherine.
The details of the Coronation of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II in the Abbey Church of St. Peter, Westminster, on Tuesday, the second day of June, 1953 are as follows:
Arrival and Entry:
The LITANY was sung as the Dean and Prebend Aries and the choir of Westminster proceed from the Altar to the west door of the Church.
The Archbishops being already dressed in their Copes and Mitres and the Bishops Assistant in their Copes, formed the procession outside of the west door of the Church, and waited until notice of the approach of her Majesty, and on receiving such then began to move into the Church.
The people remain standing from the Entrance until the beginning of the Communion Service.
The Queen, entered at the west door of the Church, to Anthem, Psalm 122, 1–3, 6, 7.
The Queen then moved up through the body of the Church, into and through the choir, and so up the steps to the Theatre; and having passed by her Throne, she shall make her humble adoration, and then knelt at the faldstool already set for her before her Chair of Estate on the south side of the Altar. She gave private prayers; and after, sat down in her Chair.
The Bishops brought the Bible, Paten, and Chalice and placed them upon the Altar.
Then the Lords who carried in procession the Regalia, (except those who carried the Swords), came from their places and presented in order everyone what he carried to the Archbishop, who then delivered them to the Dean of Westminster, who placed the articles upon the Altar.
The Recognition:
The Archbishop, together with the Lord Chancellor, Lord Great Chamberlain, Lord High Constable, and Earl Marshal (Garter King of Arms preceding them), then went to the East side of the Theatre, and after then went to the other three sides South, West, and North, in that order and at every of the four sides the Archbishop spoke with a loud voice to the People: and the Queen in the meanwhile, stood up by King Edward’s Chair, turned and showed herself unto the People at every of the four sides of the Theatre as where the Archbishop was positioned. The Archbishop said:
Sirs, I here present unto you
Queen ELIZABETH,
your undoubted Queen:
Wherefore all you who are come this day
to do your homage and service,
Are you willing to do the same?
The People signified their willingness and joy, by loud and repeated acclamations, all with one voice cried out, GOD SAVE QUEEN ELIZABETH.
Then the trumpets sounded.
The Oath:
The Queen returned to her Chair. The Archbishop stood before her and administered the Coronation Oath. The Queen kissed the Book and signed the Oath.
The Queen having thus taken her Oath, returned again to her Chair, and the Bible was delivered to the Dean of Westminster.
The Presenting of the Holy Bible:
With the Queen again seated, the Archbishop went to her Chair; and the Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, receiving the Bible from the Dean of Westminster, brought it to the Queen and presented it to her, the Archbishop said these words:
Our gracious Queen:
to keep your Majesty ever mindful of the law and the Gospel of God
as the Rule for the whole life and government of Christian Princes,
we present you with this Book,
the most valuable thing that this world affords.
And the Moderator continued:
Here is Wisdom;
This is the royal Law;
These are the lively Oracles of God.
Then the Queen delivered back the Bible to the Moderator, who brought it to the Dean of Westminster, and was placed again upon the Altar. The Archbishop then returned to the Altar followed by Psalm 84, 9, 10 being sung.
The Beginning of the Communion Service:
Then, the Queen with the people kneeling, the Archbishop began the Communion Service. He said:
“Almighty God, unto whom all hearts be open, all desires known, and from whom no secrets are hid:
Cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of thy Holy Spirit, that we may perfectly love thee, and worthily magnify thy holy Name; through Christ our Lord. Amen.”
Archbishop: Lord have mercy upon us.
Answer: Christ have mercy upon us.
Archbishop: Lord have mercy upon us. Let us Pray
O God, who providest for thy people by thy power, and rulest over them in love:
Grant unto this thy servant ELIZABETH, our Queen, the Spirit of wisdom and government,
that being devoted unto thee with her whole heart, she may so wisely govern,
that in her time thy Church may be in safety, and Christian devotion may continue in peace;
that so persevering in good works unto the end, she may by thy mercy come to thine everlasting kingdom; through Jesus Christ, thy Son, our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee
in the unity of the Holy Ghost, one God for ever and ever. Amen.
1 S. Peter 2, 13 was read by one of the Bishops.
“Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme; or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well. For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men: as free, and not using your liberty for a cloke of maliciousness, but as the servants of God. Honour all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the king.”
Psalm 141, 2.
Let my prayer come up into thy presence as the incense:
and let the lifting up of my hands be as an evening sacrifice. Alleluia.
The Gospel S. Matthew 22, 15. was read by another Bishop, the Queen now standing with the people.
“Then went the Pharisees, and took counsel how they might entangle him in his talk. And they sent out unto him their disciples, with the Herodians, saying, Master, we know that thou art true, and teachest the way of God in truth, neither carest thou for any man: for thou regardest not the person of men. Tell us therefore, What thinkest thou? Is it lawful to give tribute unto Cæsar, or not? But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, Why tempt ye me, ye hypocrites? Shew me the tribute-money. And they brought unto him a penny. And he saith unto them, Whose is this image and superscription? They say unto him, Cæsar’s. Then saith he unto them, Render therefore unto Cæsar the things which are Cæsar’s: and unto God the things that are God’s. When they had heard these words they marvelled, and left him, and went their way.”
the Queen with the people standing, sang the Creed:
I believe in one God,
the Father Almighty,
maker of heaven and earth,
And of all things visible and invisible;
And in one Lord Jesus Christ,
the only-begotten Son of God,
Begotten of his Father before all worlds,
God of God, Light of Light,
Very God of very God,
Begotten, not made,
Being of one substance with the Father,
By whom all things were made:
Who for us men, and for our salvation
came down from heaven,
and was incarnate by the Holy Ghost of the Virgin Mary,
And was made man;
And was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate.
He suffered and was buried;
And the third day he rose again
according to the Scriptures,
And ascended into heaven,
And sitteth on the right hand of the Father.
And he shall come again with glory
to judge both the quick and the dead:
Whose kingdom shall have no end.
And I believe in the Holy Ghost,
The Lord and giver of life,
Who proceedeth from the Father and the Son,
Who with the Father and the Son together
is worshipped and glorified,
Who spake by the Prophets.
And I believe one Catholick and Apostolick Church.
I acknowledge one Baptism for the remission of sins.
And I look for the resurrection of the dead,
And the life of the world to come. Amen.
The Anointing:
The Creed being ended, the Queen kneeling at her faldstool, and the people kneeling in their places, the Archbishop shall begin the hymn, VENI, CREATOR SPIRITUS, and the choir shall sing it out.
Come, Holy Ghost, our souls inspire,
And lighten with celestial fire.
Thou the anointing Spirit art,
Who dost thy seven-fold gifts impart.
Thy blessed Unction from above
Is comfort, life, and fire of love.
Enable with perpetual light
The dulness of our blinded sight.
Anoint and cheer our soiled face
With the abundance of thy grace:
Keep far our foes, give peace at home;
Where thou art guide, no ill can come.
Teach us to know the Father, Son
And thee, of both, to be but One;
That, through the ages all along,
This may be our endless song:
Praise to thy eternal merit,
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
The hymn being ended, the Archbishop said Let us Pray and the following.
O Lord and heavenly Father,
the exalter of the humble and the strength of thy chosen,
who by anointing with Oil didst of old
make and consecrate kings, priests, and prophets,
to teach and govern thy people Israel:
Bless and sanctify thy chosen servant ELIZABETH,
who by our office and ministry
is now to be anointed with this Oil,
Here the Archbishop is to lay his hand upon the Ampulla.
and consecrated Queen:
Strengthen her, O Lord, with the Holy Ghost the Comforter;
Confirm and stablish her with thy free and princely Spirit,
the Spirit of wisdom and government,
the Spirit of counsel and ghostly strength,
the Spirit of knowledge and true godliness,
and fill her, O Lord, with the Spirit of thy holy fear,
now and for ever;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
On completion the choir sang I Kings 1, 39, 40.
Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet anointed Solomon king;
and all the people rejoiced and said
God save the king,
Long live the king,
May the king live for ever. Amen. Hallelujah.
In the meantime, the Queen rose from her devotions, was disrobed of her crimson robe by the Lord Great Chamberlain, assisted by the Mistress of the Robes, and being uncovered, she went before the Altar, supported and attended as before.
The Queen sat down in King Edward’s Chair (placed in the midst of the Area over against the Altar, with a faldstool before it), wherein she was anointed. Four Knights of the Garter held over her a rich pall of silk, or cloth of gold: the Dean of Westminster took the Ampulla and Spoon from off the Altar, held them ready, poured some holy Oil into the Spoon, and with it the Archbishop anointed the Queen in the form of a cross:
On the palms of both the hands, said, “Be thy Hands anointed with holy Oil.”
On the breast, said, “Be thy Breast anointed with holy Oil.”
On the crown of the head, said:”Be thy Head anointed with holy Oil: as kings, priests, and prophets were anointed: And as Solomon was anointed king by Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet, so be thou anointed, blessed, and consecrated Queen over the Peoples, whom the Lord thy God hath given thee to rule and govern, In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.
Then the Dean of Westminster laid the Ampulla and Spoon upon the Altar; and the Queen knelt down at the faldstool, the Archbishop shall said this Blessing over her:
Our Lord Jesus Christ,
the Son of God,
who by his Father was anointed with the Oil of gladness
above his fellows,
by his holy Anointing pour down upon your Head and Heart
the blessing of the Holy Ghost,
and prosper the works of your Hands:
that by the assistance of his heavenly grace
you may govern and preserve
the Peoples committed to your charge
in wealth, peace, and godliness;
and after a long and glorious course
of ruling a temporal kingdom
wisely, justly, and religiously,
you may at last be made partaker of an eternal kingdom,
through the same Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
The Queen arose and sat down again in King Edward’s Chair, while the Knights of the Garter beared away the pall; whereupon the Queen arose, the Dean of Westminster, assisted by the Mistress of the Robes, placed upon her Majesty the Colobium Sindonis and the Supertunica or Close Pall of cloth of gold, together with a Girdle of the same. Then the Queen again sat down; and after her, so too the people.
The Presenting of the Spurs and Sword, and the Oblation of the said Sword:
The Spurs were brought from the Altar by the Dean of Westminster, and delivered to the Lord Great Chamberlain; who, knelt down and presented them to the Queen, who forthwith sent them back to the Altar.
Then the Lord who carried the Sword of State, delivered to the Lord Chamberlain the said Sword (which is thereupon deposited in Saint Edward’s Chapel) received from the Lord Chamberlain, in lieu thereof, another Sword in a scabbard which he delivered to the Archbishop: and the Archbishop laid it on the Altar and said:
Hear our prayers, O Lord, we beseech thee,
and so direct and support thy servant
Queen ELIZABETH,
that she may not bear the Sword in vain;
but may use it as the minister of God
for the terror and punishment of evildoers,
and for the protection and encouragement of those that do well,
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Then the Archbishop took the Sword from off the Altar, and (the Archbishop of York and the Bishops of London and Winchester assisted and went along with him) delivered it into the Queen’s hands; and, the Queen held it while the Archbishop said:
Receive this kingly Sword,
brought now from the Altar of God,
and delivered to you by the hands of us
the Bishops and servants of God, though unworthy.
With this sword do justice,
stop the growth of iniquity,
protect the holy Church of God,
help and defend widows and orphans,
restore the things that are gone to decay,
maintain the things that are restored,
punish and reform what is amiss,
and confirm what is in good order:
that doing these things you may be glorious in all virtue;
and so faithfully serve our Lord Jesus Christ in this life,
that you may reign for ever with him
in the life which is to come. Amen.
Then the Queen, rose up and went to the Altar, offered the sword in the scabbard, and then returned and sat down in King Edward’s Chair: and the Peer, who first received the Sword, offered the price of it, namely, one hundred shillings, and having thus redeemed it, received it from the Dean of Westminster, from off the Altar, and drew it out of the scabbard, and carried it naked before her Majesty during the rest of the solemnity.
Then the Archbishop of York and the Bishops who assisted during the offering returned to their places.
The Investing with the Armills, the Stole Royal and the Robe Royal: and the Delivery of the Orb:
Then the Dean of Westminster delivered the Armills to the Archbishop, who, put them on the Queen’s wrists, and said:
Receive the Bracelets of sincerity and wisdom,
both for tokens of the Lord’s protection embracing you on every side;
and also for symbols and pledges
of that bond which unites you with your Peoples:
to the end that you may be strengthened in all your works
and defended against your enemies both bodily and ghostly,
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Then the Queen arose, the Robe Royal or Pall of cloth of gold with the Stole Royal was delivered by the Groom of the Robes to the Dean of Westminster, and by him, assisted by the Mistress of the Robes, placed them upon the standing Queen Tthe Lord Great Chamberlain fastened the clasps. Then Queen sat down again, and the Archbishop said:
Receive this Imperial Robe,
and the Lord your God endue you with knowledge and wisdom,
with majesty and with power from on high;
the Lord clothe you with the robe of righteousness,
and with the garments of salvation. Amen.
The Delivery of the Orb:
Then the Orb with the Cross was brought from the Altar by the Dean of Westminster and delivered into the Queen’s right hand by the Archbishop, who said:
Receive this Orb set under the Cross,
and remember that the whole world
is subject to the Power and Empire
of Christ our Redeemer.
The Queen then delivered the Orb to the Dean of Westminster, to lay on the Altar.
The Investiture per annulum, et per sceptrum et baculum:
Then the Keeper of the Jewel House delivered the Queen’s Ring to the Archbishop (a sapphire with a ruby cross). The Archbishop placed the ring on the fourth finger of her Majesty’s right hand, and said:
Receive the Ring of kingly dignity,
and the seal of Catholic Faith:
and as you are this day
consecrated to be our Head and Prince,
so may you continue stedfastly
as the Defender of Christ’s Religion;
that being rich in faith
and blessed in all good works,
you may reign with him who is the King of Kings,
to whom be the glory for ever and ever. Amen.
Then the Dean of Westminster brought the Sceptre with the Cross and the Rod with the Dove to the Archbishop.
The Glove having been presented to the Queen, the Archbishop shall delivered the Sceptre with the Cross into the Queen’s right hand, and said:
Receive the Royal Sceptre, the ensign of kingly power and justice.
Then he delivered the Rod with the Dove into the Queen’s left hand, and said:
Receive the Rod of equity and mercy.
Be so merciful
that you be not too remiss,
so execute justice
that you forget not mercy.
Punish the wicked,
protect and cherish the just,
and lead your people
in the way wherein they should go.
The Putting on of the Crown:
Then the people arose ; and the Archbishop, standing before the Altar, took the Crown into his hands, and laid it on the Altar, saying:
O God the Crown of the faithful:
Bless we beseech thee this Crown,
and so sanctify thy servant ELIZABETH
upon whose head this day thou dost place it
for a sign of royal majesty,
that she may be filled by thine abundant grace
with all princely virtues:
through the King eternal Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Then the Queen still sitting in King Edward’s Chair, the Archbishop, assisted with other Bishops, came from the Altar: the Dean of Westminster brought the Crown, and the Archbishop took it and placed it upon the Queen’s head.
The congregation shouted GOD SAVE THE QUEEN.
The Princes and Princesses, the Peers and Peeresses their coronets and caps on their heads, and the Kings of Arms their crowns; and the trumpets sounded , and by a signal given, the great guns at the Tower fired.
The Archbishop then said:
God crown you with a crown of glory and righteousness,
that having a right faith and manifold fruit of good works,
you may obtain the crown of an everlasting kingdom
by the gift of him whose kingdom endureth for ever. Amen.
Then the choir sang whilst everyone remained standing:
Be strong and of a good courage:
keep the commandments of the Lord thy God, and walk in his ways.
The Benediction:
Now the Queen having been anointed and crowned and having received all the ensigns of Royalty, was solemnly bless by the Archbishop and the Archbishop of York and all the Bishops, with the rest of the Peers and all the people, followed every part of the Benediction with a loud and hearty Amen.
The Lord bless you and keep you.
The Lord protect you in all your ways
and prosper all your handywork. Amen.
The Lord give you faithful Parliaments and quiet Realms;
sure defence against all enemies;
fruitful lands and a prosperous industry;
wise counsellors and upright magistrates;
leaders of integrity in learning and labour;
a devout, learned and useful clergy;
honest peaceable and dutiful citizens. Amen.
May Wisdom and Knowledge be the Stability of your Times,
and the fear of the Lord your Treasure. Amen.
The Lord who hath made you Queen over these Peoples
give you increase of grace, honour and happiness in this world,
and make you partaker of his eternal felicity
in the world to come. Amen.
Then the Archbishop turned to the people and said:
And the same Lord God Almighty grant
that the Clergy and Nobles assembled here
for this great and solemn service,
and together with them all the Peoples of this Commonwealth,
fearing God, and honouring the Queen,
may by the gracious assistance of God’s infinite goodness,
and by the vigilant care of his anointed servant,
our gracious Sovereign,
continually enjoy peace, plenty, and prosperity;
through Jesus Christ our Lord,
to whom, with the eternal Father, and God the Holy Ghost,
be glory in the Church,
world without end. Amen.
The Enthroning:
Then the Queen went to her Throne, and was lifted up into it by the Archbishops and Bishops, and other Peers of the Kingdom; and being enthroned, or placed therein, all the Great Officers, those that bear the Swords and the Sceptres, and the Nobles that carried the other Regalia, stood round about the steps of the Throne; and the Archbishop, standing before the Queen, said :
Stand firm, and hold fast from henceforth
the seat and state of royal and imperial dignity,
which is this day delivered unto you,
in the Name and by the Authority of Almighty God,
and by the hands of us
the Bishops and servants of God, though unworthy.
And the Lord God Almighty,
whose ministers we are, and the stewards of his mysteries,
establish your Throne in righteousness,
that it may stand fast for evermore. Amen.
The Homage:
All the Princes and Peers present swore their loyalty and paid Homage publicly and solemnly unto the Queen: and the Queen delivered her Sceptre with the Cross and the Rod with the Dove, to someone of her choice.
The Archbishop ascended the steps of the Throne and knelt down before her Majesty, and the rest of the Bishops knelt in their places: and they swore their loyalty togetherand the Archbishop, placed his hands between the Queen’s and said:
I, Geoffrey, Archbishop of Canterbury
and so every one of the rest,
I, N. Bishop of N.,
repeating the rest audibly after the Archbishop]
will be faithful and true,
and faith and truth will bear unto you,
our Sovereign Lady,
Queen of this Realm and Defender of the Faith,
and unto your heirs and successors according to law.
So help me God.
Then the Archbishop kissed the Queen’s right hand. After which the Duke of Edinburgh ascended the steps of the Throne, and having taken off his coronet, knelt down before her Majesty, and placed his hands between the Queen’s pronounced the words of Homage, saying:
I, Philip, Duke of Edinburgh
do become your liege man of life and limb,
and of earthly worship;
and faith and truth I will bear unto you,
to live and die, against all manner of folks.
So help me God.
He arose, touched the Crown upon her Majesty’s head and kissed her Majesty’s left cheek.
The Duke of Gloucester and the Duke of Kent also paid homage. Then the Senior Peer of each degree (of the Dukes first by themselves, and so of the Marquesses, Earls, Viscounts, and Barons in that order) ascended the steps of the Throne and, having first removed his coronet, knelt before her Majesty and place their hands between the Queen’s: and all the peers of his degree, having put off their coronets, sknelt in their places and said with him:
I, N. Duke, or Earl, etc., of N.
do become your liege man of life and limb,
and of earthly worship;
and faith and truth I will bear unto you,
to live and die, against all manner of folks.
So help me God.
The Senior Peer arose, and, all the Peers of his degree arose, he touched the Crown upon her Majesty’s head, as promising by that ceremony for himself and his Order to be ever ready to support it with all their power; and then he kissed the Queen’s right hand.
At the same time the choir sang anthems:
Rejoice in the Lord alway,
and again I say, rejoice.
Let your moderation be known unto all men:
the Lord is even at hand.
Be careful for nothing:
but in all prayer and supplication, let your petitions be manifest unto God, with giving of thanks.
And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding,
keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesu.
John Redford.
O clap your hands together, all ye people:
O sing unto God with the voice of melody.
For the Lord is high and to be feared:
he is the great King of all the earth.
He shall subdue the people under us:
and the nations under our feet.
He shall choose out an heritage for us:
even the worship of Jacob, whom he loved.
Orlando Gibbons.
I will not leave you comfortless. Alleluia.
I will go away and come again to you. Alleluia.
And your heart shall rejoice. Alleluia.
William Byrd.
O Lord our Governour:
how excellent is thy Name in all the world.
Behold, O God our defender:
and look upon the face of thine Anointed.
O hold thou up her goings in thy paths:
that her footsteps slip not.
Grant the Queen a long life:
and make her glad with the joy of thy countenance.
Save Lord and hear us O King of heaven:
when we call upon thee. Amen.
Healey Willan.
Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace,
whose mind is stayed on thee.
The darkness is no darkness with thee, but the night is as clear as day:
the darkness and the light are to thee both alike.
God is light,
and in him is no darkness at all.
O let my soul live,
and it shall praise thee.
For thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory,
for evermore.
Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace,
whose mind is stayed on thee.
Samuel Sebastian Wesley.
The drums beat and the trumpets sound, and all the people shouted out:
God save Queen ELIZABETH.
Long live Queen ELIZABETH.
May the Queen live for ever.
The Communion:
Then the Archbishop left the Queen in her Throne and went to the Altar.
Then the organ played and the people sang:
All people that on earth do dwell,
Sing to the Lord with cheerful voice;
Him serve with fear, his praise forth tell,
Come ye before him, and rejoice.
The Lord, ye know, is God indeed,
Without our aid he did us make;
We are his folk, he doth us feed,
And for his sheep he doth us take.
O enter then his gates with praise,
Approach with joy his courts unto;
Praise, laud, and bless his name always,
For it is seemly so to do.
For why? the Lord our God is good:
His mercy is for ever sure;
His truth at all times firmly stood,
And shall from age to age endure.
To Father, Son, and Holy Ghost,
The God whom heaven and earth adore,
From men and from the Angel-host
Be praise and glory evermore. Amen.
In the mean while the Queen descended from her Throne, supported and attended as before, and went to the steps of the Altar, where she delivered her Crown and her Sceptre and Rod to the Lord Great Chamberlain or another appointed Officers to hold whilst she knelt down.
The hymn ended. People were kneeling. The Queen was offered Bread and Wine for the Communion, which had been brought out of Saint Edward’s Chapel, and delivered into her hands (the Bread upon the Paten by the Bishop that read the Epistle, and the Wine in the Chalice by the Bishop that read the Gospel), was received from the Queen by the Archbishop, and was reverently placed upon the Altar, and decently covered with a fair linen cloth, the Archbishop first said this prayer:
Bless, O Lord, we beseech thee, these thy gifts,
and sanctify them unto this holy use,
that by them we may be made partakers of the Body and Blood
of thine only-begotten Son Jesus Christ,
and fed unto everlasting life of soul and body:
And that thy servant Queen ELIZABETH
may be enabled to the discharge of her weighty office,
whereunto of thy great goodness thou hast called and appointed her.
Grant this, O Lord, for Jesus Christ’s sake,
our only Mediator and Advocate. Amen.
Then the Queen, knelt as before, made her Oblation, offering a Pall or Altar-cloth delivered by the Groom of the Robes to the Lord Great Chamberlain, and by him, knelt, to her Majesty, and an Ingot or Wedge of Gold of a pound weight, which the Treasurer of the Household had delivered to the Lord Great Chamberlain, and he to her Majesty; and the Archbishop came to her, receiveed and placed them upon the Altar.
Then the Queen went to her faldstool, set before the Altar between the steps and King Edward’s Chair, and the Duke of Edinburgh, coming to his faldstool set beside the Queen’s took off his coronet. Then they kneel down together, and the Archbishop shall said this prayer:
Almighty God, the fountain of all goodness:
give ear, we beseech thee, to our prayers,
and multiply thy blessings upon this thy servant PHILIP
who with all humble devotion offers himself
for thy service in the dignity to which thou hast called him.
Defend him from all dangers, ghostly and bodily;
make him a great example of virtue and godliness,
and a blessing to the Queen and to her Peoples;
through Jesus Christ our Lord,
who liveth and reigneth with thee, O Father,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, world without end. Amen.
Then the Archbishop bless the Duke, said:
Almighty God,
to whom belongeth all power and dignity,
prosper you in your honour
and grant you therein long to continue,
fearing him always,
and always doing such things as please him,
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Then the Archbishop, returned to the Alta and said:
Let us pray for the whole state of Christ’s Church militant here in earth.
Almighty and everliving God, who by thy holy Apostle hast taught us to make prayers, and supplications, and to give thanks for all men: we humbly beseech thee most mercifully to accept these oblations, and to receive these our prayers which we offer unto thy Divine Majesty; beseeching thee to inspire continually the universal Church with the spirit of truth, unity, and concord: And grant, that all they that do confess thy holy Name may agree in the truth of thy holy Word, and live in unity and godly love.
We beseech thee also to save and defend all Christian Kings, Princes and Governors; and specially thy servant ELIZABETH our Queen; that under her we may be godly and quietly governed; and grant unto her whole Council, and to all that are put in authority under her, that they may truly and indifferently minister justice, to the punishment of wickedness and vice, and to the maintenance of thy true religion, and virtue.
Give grace, O heavenly Father, to all Bishops and Curates, that they may, both by their life and doctrine, set forth thy true and lively Word, and rightly and duly administer thy holy Sacraments; and to all thy people give thy heavenly grace; and specially to this congregation here present; that, with meek heart and due reverence, they may hear, and receive thy holy Word; truly serving thee in holiness and righteousness all the days of their life.
And we most humbly beseech thee of thy goodness, O Lord, to comfort and succour all them, who, in this transitory life, are in trouble, sorrow, need, sickness, or any other adversity.
And we also bless thy holy Name for all thy servants departed this life in thy faith and fear; beseeching thee to give us grace so to follow their good examples, that with them we may be partakers of thy heavenly kingdom:
Grant this, O Father, for Jesus Christ’s sake, our only Mediator and Advocate. Amen.
Ye that do truly and earnestly repent you of your sins, and are in love and charity with your neighbours, and intend to lead a new life, following the commandments of God, and walking from henceforth in his holy ways; Draw near with faith, and take this holy Sacrament to your comfort; and make your humble confession to Almighty God, meekly kneeling upon your knees.
Almighty God,
Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
Maker of all things, Judge of all men;
We acknowledge and bewail our manifold sins and wickedness,
Which we, from time to time, most grievously have committed,
By thought, word, and deed,
Against thy Divine Majesty,
Provoking most justly thy wrath and indignation against us.
We do earnestly repent,
And are heartily sorry for these our misdoings;
The remembrance of them is grievous unto us;
The burden of them is intolerable.
Have mercy upon us,
Have mercy upon us, most merciful Father;
For thy Son our Lord Jesus Christ’s sake,
Forgive us all that is past;
And grant that we may ever hereafter
Serve and please thee in newness of life,
To the honour and glory of thy Name;
Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Almighty God, our heavenly Father,
who of his great mercy
hath promised forgiveness of sins
to all them that with hearty repentance and true faith turn unto him;
Have mercy upon you;
pardon and deliver you from all your sins;
confirm and strengthen you in all goodness;
and bring you to everlasting life;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Then the Archbishop said:
Hear what comfortable words our Saviour Christ saith unto all that truly turn to him.
Come unto me, all that travail and are heavy laden,
and I will refresh you.
Matthew 11, 28.
So God loved the world, that he gave his only-begotten Son,
to the end that all that believe in him should not perish,
but have everlasting life.
John 3, 16.
Here also what Saint Paul saith.
This is a true saying, and worthy of all men to be received,
that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.
I Timothy 1, 15.
Here also what Saint John saith.
If any man sin, we have an Advocate with the Father,
Jesus Christ the righteous;
and he is the propitiation for our sins.
1 John 2, 1.
After which the Archbishop said:
Lift up your hearts.
Answer We lift them up unto the Lord.
Archbishop Let us give thanks unto our Lord God.
Answer It is meet and right so to do.
Then the Archbishop turned to the Lord’s Table, said:
It is very meet, right, and our bounden duty,
that we should at all times, and in all places,
give thanks unto thee,
O Lord, Holy Father,
Almighty, Everlasting God:
Who hast at this time consecrated thy servant
ELIZABETH to be our Queen,
that by the anointing of thy grace she may be
the Defender of thy Faith
and the Protector of thy Church and People.
Therefore with Angels and Archangels,
and with all the company of heaven,
we laud and magnify thy glorious Name;
evermore praising thee, and saying:
Holy, holy, holy, Lord God of Hosts,
heaven and earth are full of thy glory.
Glory be to thee, O Lord most high. Amen.
The Prayer of Humble Access:
We do not presume
to come to this thy Table, O merciful Lord,
trusting in our own righteousness,
but in thy manifold and great mercies.
We are not worthy
so much as to gather up the crumbs under thy Table.
But thou art the same Lord,
whose property is always to have mercy.
Grant us therefore, gracious Lord,
so to eat the flesh of thy dear Son Jesus Christ,
and to drink his blood,
that our sinful bodies may be made clean by his body,
and our souls washed through his most precious blood,
and that we may evermore dwell in him, and he in us. Amen.
The Prayer of Consecration:
Almighty God, our heavenly Father,
who of thy tender mercy
didst give thine only Son Jesus Christ
to suffer death upon the cross for our redemption;
who made there
(by his one oblation of himself once offered)
a full, perfect, and sufficient sacrifice, oblation, and satisfaction,
for the sins of the whole world;
and did institute,
and in his holy Gospel command us to continue,
a perpetual memory of that his precious death,
until his coming again;
Hear us, O merciful Father,
we most humbly beseech thee;
and grant that we, receiving these thy creatures of bread and wine,
according to thy Son our Saviour Jesus Christ’s holy institution,
in remembrance of his death and passion,
may be partakers of his most blessed Body and Blood:
Who in the same night that he was betrayed,
Here the Archbishop is to take the Paten into his hands:
took Bread; and, when he had given thanks,
And here to break the Bread:
he brake it, and gave it to his disciples, saying,
Take, eat,
And here to lay his hand upon the Bread:
this is my Body, which is given for you:
Do this in remembrance of me.
Likewise, after supper,
Here he is to take the Cup into his hand:
he took the Cup;
and when he had given thanks,
he gave it to them, saying,
Drink ye all of this;
for this
And here to lay his hand upon the Cup.
is my Blood of the New Testament,
which is shed for you and for many
for the remission of sins:
Do this, as oft as ye shall drink it,
in remembrance of me. Amen.
When the Archbishops, and the Dean of Westminster, with the Bishops Assistant (namely, those who carried the Bible, Paten and Chalice in the Procession), had communicated in both kinds, the Queen with the Duke of Edinburgh advanced to the steps of the Altar and, both knelt down, the Archbishop administered the Bread, and the Dean of Westminster the Cup, to them. And in the mean time the choir sang:
O taste, and see, how gracious the Lord is:
blessed is the man that trusteth in him.
Psalm 34, 8.
At the delivery of the Bread was said:
The Body of our Lord Jesus Christ, which was given for thee,
preserve thy body and soul unto everlasting life.
Take and eat this in remembrance that Christ died for thee,
and feed on him in thy heart by faith, with thanksgiving.
At the delivery of the Cup was said:
The Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, which was shed for thee,
preserve thy body and soul unto everlasting life.
Drink this in remembrance that Christ’s Blood was shed for thee,
and be thankful.
After which the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh returned to their faldstools; and the Archbishop went on to the Post-Communion, he and all the people said:
Our Father, which art in heaven,
Hallowed be thy Name.
Thy kingdom come.
Thy will be done
in earth, as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
As we forgive them that trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation;
But deliver us from evil:
For thine is the kingdom,
The power, and the glory,
For ever and ever. Amen.
And after shall be said as followeth:
O Lord and heavenly Father,
we thy humble servants
entirely desire thy fatherly goodness
mercifully to accept this our sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving;
most humbly beseeching thee to grant, that
by the merits and death of thy Son Jesus Christ,
and through faith in his blood,
we, and all thy whole Church,
may obtain remission of our sins,
and all other benefits of his passion.
And here we offer and present unto thee, O Lord,
ourselves, our souls and bodies,
to be a reasonable, holy, and lively sacrifice unto thee;
humbly beseeching thee, that all we,
who are partakers of this holy Communion,
may be fulfilled with thy grace and heavenly benediction.
And although we be unworthy, through our manifold sins,
to offer unto thee any sacrifice,
yet we beseech thee
to accept this our bounden duty and service;
not weighing our merits, but pardoning our offences,
through Jesus Christ our Lord;
by whom, and with whom,
in the unity of the Holy Ghost,
all honour and glory be unto thee,
O Father Almighty, world without end. Amen.
Then, all the people stood, the Queen arose and, received again her Crown and took the Sceptre and Rod into her hands, went back to her Throne; and the Duke, put back on his coronet and return to his place.
Then this was sung:
Glory be to God on high,
and in earth peace, good will towards men.
We praise thee, we bless thee,
we worship thee, we glorify thee,
we give thanks to thee for thy great glory,
O Lord God, heavenly King,
God the Father Almighty.
O Lord, the only-begotten Son, Jesu Christ;
O Lord God, Lamb of God, Son of the Father,
that takest away the sins of the world,
have mercy upon us.
Thou that takest away the sins of the world,
have mercy upon us.
Thou that takest away the sins of the world,
receive our prayer.
Thou that sittest at the right hand of God the Father,
have mercy upon us.
For thou only art holy;
thou only art the Lord;
thou only, O Christ,
with the Holy Ghost,
art most high
in the glory of God the Father. Amen.
Then, the people kneeling, the Archbishop shall say:
Prevent us, O Lord, in all our doings
with thy most gracious favour,
and further us with thy continual help;
that in all our works begun, continued, and ended in thee,
we may glorify thy holy Name,
and finally by thy mercy obtain everlasting life;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
The peace of God, which passeth all understanding,
keep your hearts and minds in the knowledge and love of God,
and of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord;
and the blessing of God Almighty,
the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost,
be amongst you, and remain with you always. Amen.
The solemnity of the Queen’s Coronation being thus ended, the people stood, and the choir sang:
We praise thee, O God:
we acknowledge thee to be the Lord.
All the earth doth worship thee:
the Father everlasting.
To thee all Angels cry aloud:
the heavens and all the powers therein.
To thee Cherubin and Seraphin:
continually do cry,
Holy, Holy, Holy:
Lord God of Sabaoth;
Heaven and earth are full of the Majesty:
of thy Glory.
The glorious company of the Apostles:
praise thee.
The goodly fellowship of the Prophets:
praise thee.
The noble army of Martyrs:
praise thee.
The holy Church throughout all the world:
doth acknowledge thee;
The Father:
of an infinite majesty;
Thine honourable, true:
and only Son;
Also the Holy Ghost:
the Comforter.
Thou art the King of Glory:
O Christ.
Thou art the everlasting Son:
of the Father.
When thou tookest upon thee to deliver man:
thou didst not abhor the Virgin’s womb.
When thou hadst overcome the sharpness of death:
thou didst open the kingdom of heaven to all believers.
Thou sittest at the right hand of God:
in the glory of the Father.
We believe that thou shalt come:
to be our Judge.
We therefore pray thee, help thy servants:
whom thou hast redeemed with thy precious blood.
Make them to be numbered with thy Saints:
in glory everlasting.
O Lord, save thy people:
and bless thine heritage.
Govern them:
and lift them up for ever.
Day by day:
we magnify thee;
And we worship thy Name:
ever world without end.
Vouchsafe, O Lord:
to keep us this day without sin.
O Lord, have mercy upon us:
have mercy upon us.
O Lord, let thy mercy lighten upon us:
as our trust is in thee.
O Lord, in thee have I trusted:
let me never be confounded.
The Recess:
In the mean time, the Queen, supported as before, the four swords being carried before her, descended from her Throne, crowned and carrying the Sceptre and the Rod in her hands, went into the Area eastward of the Theatre; and, the Archbishop going before her, she walked on through the door on the south side of the Altar into Saint Edward’s Chapel; and after her followed the Groom of the Robes, the Lord Great Chamberlain and the Lords that carried the Regalia in the procession (the Dean of Westminster delivering the Orb, the Spurs and St Edward’s Staff to the Bearers of them as they pass the Altar); and lastly to go in was the Dean.
The people were seated until the Queen came out again from the Chapel.
The Queen, came into the Chapel and delivered to the Archbishop at the Altar, the Sceptre and the Rod which were laid upon the Altar: and the Archbishop received the Queen’s Crown and laid it on the Altar also. Then, assisted by the Mistress of the Robes, and attended by the Lord Great Chamberlain and the Groom of the Robes, the Queen was disrobed of the Robe Royal and displayed in her Robe of purple velvet.
Meanwhile the Dean of Westminster laid upon the Altar the Orb, the Spurs and St Edward’s Staff, having received them from the Bearers of them, who then (preceded by the Bearers of the Four Swords) withdrew from the Chapel by the same door on the south side and took the places assigned to them in the procession.
The Queen being ready, and wearing her Imperial Crown, received the Sceptre with the Cross into her right hand and into her left hand the Orb from the Archbishop, who, having delivered them, withdrew from the Chapel and took his place in the procession: and the Lord Great Chamberlain shall did likewise.
Then her Majesty, supported and attended as before, left the Chapel by the same door on the south side and preceded in state through the choir and the nave to the west door of the Church, wearing her Crown and bearing in her right hand the Sceptre and in her left hand the Orb.
And as the Queen proceeded from the Chapel the National Anthem was sung.
After Weastminster Abbey:
The return procession followed a route that was 5 miles (8 kilometres) in length, passing through Whitehall, Trafalgar Square, Pall Mall, Hyde Park Corner, Marble Arch, Oxford Circus and finally down the Mall to Buckingham Palace. 10,000 service personnel from across the Commonwealth and Empire marched in a procession that was two miles (3.2 kilometres) long and took 45 minutes to pass any given point. A further 15,800 lined the route. The parade was led by Colonel Burrows of the War Office staff and four regimental bands. Then came the colonial contingents, then troops from the Commonwealth realms, followed by the Royal Air Force, the British Army, the Royal Navy and finally the Household Brigade. Behind the marching troops was a carriage procession led by the rulers of the British protectorates, including the Queen of Tonga, the Commonwealth prime ministers, the princes and princesses of the blood royal and the Queen Mother. Preceded by the heads of the British Armed Forces on horseback, the Gold State Coach was escorted by the Yeomen of the Guard and the Household Cavalry and was followed by the Queen’s Aides-de-Camp.
Queen Elizabeth II’s procession culminated on the Balcony of Buckingham Palace. Although a cold and wet day the Queen did not disappoint the gathered crowds. On the balcony, Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip were joined by Prince Charles and Princess Anne to greet the people, not only of London, but the world. The queen regnant’s consort (Prince Philip) was not accorded equal title and consequently was not crowned.
In London, the Queen hosted a coronation luncheon, for which the recipe Coronation chicken was developed and a fireworks show was mounted on Victoria Embankment. Street parties were mounted around the United Kingdom. All across the Queen’s realms, the rest of the Commonwealth, and in other parts of the world, coronation celebrations were held. The Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Medal was also presented to thousands of recipients throughout the Queen’s realms and in Canada, New Zealand, South Africa and the UK, commemorative coins were issued. Guests seated on stools at the ceremony were able to purchase theirs following the ceremony, with the profits going towards the cost of the Coronation.