25 Things You Need to Know about Queen Elizabeth II Coronation

Her Majesty the Queen during her visit to HMS Ocean by Unknown Arthur/Wikimedia Common

25 Things You Need to Know about Queen Elizabeth II Coronation

Elizabeth Alexandra Mary Windsor became Queen Elizabeth after the sudden death of her father King George VI in 1952. She was coronated one year later in 1953, on her special day the Queen traveled in a golden horse-drawn carriage. London streets were crowded despite the downhearted weather and most of the people spent the night waiting for the big day of Queen Elizabeth II. The Queen was coronated at Westminster Abbey, the event was so big that it was televised around the world. The government had a lot of controversy on whether the special day should be televised, Sir Winston Churchill urged the Queen to spare herself the strain of the heat and glare of the cameras. The young Queen refused to listen to the protest, and she made her stand that nothing can come between her crowning and her people’s right to participate. This celebration marked the inauguration of a long historical reign.

King George VI died in his sleep at the Sandringham house after a long illness and the strain of leadership during World War II. Princess Elizabeth the eldest of the two daughters was in Kenya at the beginning of a royal tour of the commonwealth state. She was only 25 years old when all of this was happening. The delay of the coronation allowed time to prepare for the ceremony, but the planning began when Elizabeth was 11 years her father King George VI made her write down a review of his own coronation so that she would understand each element and be prepared when her time reaches. Queen Elizabeth spent three months mourning her father’s death after her coronation, in the summer of 1952 she moved from Clarence House to Buckingham Palace to undertake her sovereign duties. 2022 marked the 70^th anniversary of the Queen’s accession to the throne. Queen Elizabeth II at the age of 96 died peacefully at her home in Balmoral Scotland on September 2022.

1. Queen Elizabeth’s coronation happened at the Westminster Abbey

Westminster Abbey by Unknown Arthur/Wikimedia Commons

Westminster Abbey has been the British coronation since 1066 and has witnessed 38 coronation ceremonies. All the arrangements of the special ceremony are made by the Earl Marshal, the dean of Westminster instructs the sovereign on all matters connected with the service and assists the Archbishop of Canterbury who crowns the monarch. The Abbey first appeared when King Edgar and St. Dunstan founded a monastery near the river, it was later enlarged and reendowed by King Edward the confessor in the 1040s in honor of St. Peter. King Henry III tore the entire church down and rebuilt it in a Gothic style which was later rebuilt by mason Henry Yevele. The Abbey has been the site for every monarch coronation since 1066 from William the Conqueror with the omission of two kings Edward V and Edward VIII. Well, many Royal families have chosen the church to carry out their marriage ceremonies and Kings and Queens have also been buried at Westminster Abbey.

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2. Queen Elizabeth II was the 39^th sovereign

Queen Elizabeth II’s official portrait for 1959 tour by Unknown Arthur/Wikimedia Commons

Queen Elizabeth became the 39^th sovereign and sixth Queen of England to be coronated at Westminster Abbey. The coronation service used in modern times can be traced back to the crowning of King Edgar. In 1953 the service followed the ritual of the fourteenth-century manuscript called the Liber Regalis. The coronation service took three hours, Street parties commenced across the land, and with meat rationing at just two shillings a week, the Ministry of Food granted eighty-two applications for people to roast oxen.

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3. Queen Elizabeth II was the sixth Queen to be crowned

Queen Elizabeth II of New Zealand by Julian Calder/Wikimedia Commons

Queen Elizabeth II, who died at the age of 96, became through the course of her long reign not only the oldest sovereign in the country’s history but also its longest serving. She was queen and head of state of fifteen other countries, stretching from Fiji, Australia, and New Zealand to the Bahamas and Canada, all once part of the former British empire. She was for seven decades head of the Commonwealth. Her reign encompassed a period that saw some of the greatest changes in technological development and industrial, economic, and social life across the world

4. Queen Elizabeth II was made queen after her father’s death

Althea-Gibson-Queen-Elizabeth-Wimbledon by Unknown Arthur/Wikimedia Commons

The Queen was on a tour in Kenya of the commonwealth on behalf of her father who was too weak to travel at the time of her father’s death she was only 25 years old. King George VI died of coronary thrombosis at 56 years after battling lung cancer. Her majesty was not crowned immediately; her coronation came one year later. Her father had prepared her for her reign when he passed on, she was asked what name she would use but she preferred to use her own name Elizabeth II.

5. Her Majesty wore Robe of Estate during her coronation

During the British coronation service, the sovereign wears a number of different garments, some of which are embroidered. One of the most elaborate and spectacular items is the Robe of Estate, which is a long, purple velvet mantle worn by the British monarch after the actual coronation. The Robe is worn after the King or Queen processes out of the Cathedral at the end of the ceremony. Queen Elizabeth II became the 39^th sovereign and the sixth Queen to be crowned at Westminster Abbey. The Robe of Estate is normally very long it was 6.5 m in length from the shoulder to the tip of the train.

6. Queen Mary I the first Queen saw the coronation of her first grandchild

Queen Mary I, of England by Unknown Arthur/Wikimedia Commons

Queen Mary I known as the Bloody Mary was the first ever Queen of England, her nickname came from her persecution of Protestant heretics whom she burnt at the stake in the hundreds. She was the first Queen to see her grandchild ascend to the throne when Elizabeth was announced Queen after her father’s death. Unfortunately, Mary died before the coronation. She died peacefully in her sleep at her home in Marlborough at the age of 85 years after suffering from a recurring gastric illness.

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7. Queen Salote Tupou II made an impact during Queen Elizabeth’s coronation

Salote Tupou III of Tonga in coronation robe by Tornquist/Wikimedia Commons

Queen Salote Tupou III captivated Britons as she rode through the rainy streets of London in an open carriage during Queen Elizabeth II’s coronation parade. Despite the pouring rain, Queen Salote refused to close the top of her carriage as a sign of respect for the new monarch. A racehorse was named after her, songs were written about her, and she became a press favorite. Months after her coronation, Queen Elizabeth traveled with Prince Philip to see Queen Salote in Tonga. Queen Salote sat on the throne until her death in 1965, making her reign a substantial 48 years.

8. The Coronation service descended directly from King Edgar’s bath

Her majesty as a princess watched her father King George VI crowned in an ornamented ceremony and sixteen years later her coronation took place. Queen Elizabeth II’s coronation was groundbreaking the first coronation to be televised and was watched by over 27 million people around the world. The long-lost Anglo-Saxon abbey where Edgar the Peaceful was crowned as King of England. His coronation cemented his place as a divine ruler and made him the first king to be formally recognized by God. He was the first king to rule over all regions of Britain, from Scotland to Mercia and Wessex. The original 14th-century order of service was written in Latin and was used during Queen Elizabeth II’s coronation.

9. Earl Marshal organized Queen Elizabeth II’s coronation

The Duke of Norfolk has held the position of Earl Marshal, Fitzalan Howard’s grandfather was responsible for Queen Elizabeth’s coronation. The Fitzalan-Howards are one of the oldest aristocratic families in Britain, with a lineage that can be traced back to Edward I. The Earl Marshal is the highest-ranking Duke and most senior peer in Britain, he is responsible for arranging the State Opening, organizing sovereign state funerals, and the accession and coronation of new monarchs.

10. Queen Elizabeth II royal employees celebrated her on her big day

Elizabeth II in Berlin 2015 by Unknown Arthur/Wikimedia Commons

The Queen wore her Coronation mules to feed her corgis, and pinned curtains to her shoulders as she walked up and down the ballroom at Buckingham Palace, rehearsing with her maids of honor. Their gowns were so tight that they had smelling salts sewn into their gloves in case they fainted. Royal housemaids, chefs, and gardeners gathered in the Grand Hall to watch her leave. Many people gathered on the streets as they hailed and celebrated the Queen when she went back to the palace.

11. Queen Elizabeth II chose her surname

The Queen and Prince Philip had to decide on a surname to pass down to their descendants, after her father’s sudden death Queen Elizabeth was asked by her private secretary Martin Charteris what name she will use under her rule. Elizabeth chose to use her own name instead; she chose to be called Queen Elizabeth II. The majesty declared that her family and future generation will be known as the Windsor her father’s name. Prince Philip adopted the surname Mountbatten after dropping his title as Prince of Greece. Today, there are a number of Royal Family members with the surnames Windsor and Mountbatten-Windsor.

12. Queen Elizabeth II was handed the Orb during her coronation

Queen Elizabeth II on her Coronation Day by Cecil Beaton/Wikimedia Commons

The Queen was first presented with the Orb during her coronation in 1953 which took place at the Abbey. The Orb is a gold featuring a cross it is intended to symbolize that the monarch’s power comes from God and it dates back to 1661. The Sceptre, created for Charles II, has been used at every coronation since 1661 as well. The sceptre and orb are two of the most storied and iconic objects associated with the royal family. The sceptre is meant to represent the crown’s power and governance.

13. The Queen’s Coronation Dress

The Queen’s Coronation Dress is regarded as one of the most paramount examples of twentieth-century design, created by a British couturier. Hartnell was entrusted with the task of designing the Coronation dress. He submitted nine different designs and The Queen accepted the eighth. The Queen requested that in addition to the four national emblems, those of the Dominions of which she was now Queen should also be added. The silk was produced at Lady Hart Dyke’s silk farm at Lullingstone Castle. The embroideries are arranged in three scalloped, graduated tiers bordered with alternating lines of gold bugle beads, diamantes, and pearls.

14. Queen Elizabeth II wore the George IV State Diadem during the coronation

The George IV State Diadem, officially the Diamond Diadem, is a crown that was made in 1820 for King George IV. The diadem is worn by Queen Regnants and Queen Consorts in the procession to coronations and State Openings of Parliament. It has been featured in paintings and on stamps and currency. It can be seen in the Queen’s Gallery at Buckingham Palace. The diadem was reset with jewels from the royal collection for Queen Victoria. Queen Elizabeth II wore the diadem in the procession to her coronation in 1953, and she also wore it in the procession to and from the annual State Opening of Parliament. The George IV diadem by contrast is considerably lighter, and features 1,333 diamonds, with four crosses and flowers representing the different countries that make up the United Kingdom the crown has been passed down from monarch to monarch.

15. Formal Procession on Coronation was made of 250 officials

The formal procession was made up of 250 people, including Church leaders and members of the Royal Household. It had a total of 8,251 guests who attended, the Coronation procession took place through London after the service, designed so that the Queen and her procession could be seen by as many people as possible. The 7.2-kilometer route took the 16,000 participants two hours to complete. The procession itself stretched for three kilometers

 16. The Archbishop of Canterbury during the coronation

Fisher conducted the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II in Westminster Abbey in June 1953. Over the years he engaged himself in many political and social issues of his time and was especially associated with efforts to bring the Church of England and the so-called Free Churches into the closer association. Geoffrey Francis Fisher, Baron Fisher of Lambeth was an English Anglican priest, and 99^th Archbishop of Canterbury, serving from 1945 to 1961.

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17. The six-part coronation service

The Coronation service fell into six basic parts: the recognition, the oath, the anointing, and the investiture, which includes the crowning, the enthronement, and the homage. The oath is taken from the 1689 Coronation Oath Act. The Coronation was a deeply symbolic and deeply moving occasion and there had been extensive preparations leading up to it, not the least by The Queen herself, who had reportedly spent hours at home going through her paces on a makeshift throne in the Palace bedroom,

18. The queen rode on the Gold State Coach during her coronation

The Gold State Coach by Amanda Slater/Wikimedia Commons

The Gold State Coach has been a splendid sight at royal coronations, jubilees, and events since it was built in 1762 to transport. The huge coach is seven meters long, 3.6 meters tall, weighs four tons, and needs eight horses to draw it. The couch is made of giltwood, which is a thin layer of gold leaf over wood and the interior is lined and upholstered with velvet and satin. Queen Elizabeth II used it on her Coronation Day in 1953 to travel from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Abbey and to return. The Gold State Coach is the third oldest surviving coach in the UK.

19. The Coronation Bouquet of white flowers

England was represented by Orchids and lilies of the valley, and the blossoms in the coronation are used to symbolize Northern Ireland. The Orchids were of personal significance to the Queen and she carried a collection during her wedding. The Coronation took 16 months to plan. It was the first of its kind to be broadcast on television and while it remains one of the most significant events in recent British royal history, it was memorable and colorful. The Queen’s bouquet contained white flowers from each nation in the UK and was made up of white flowers orchids and lilies from England, stephanotis from Scotland, orchids from Wales, and carnations from Northern Ireland and the Isle of Man.

20. Prince Charles was the first child to see his mother’s coronation

Prince Charles holds a special honor after it was revealed that he was the first child to witness his mother’s coronation as Sovereign. He was four and a half years old when he went to the coronation ceremony, Queen Elizabeth’s grand coronation at Westminster Abbey. There were over 8,000 guests in attendance at the event, but Prince Charles was the only child. This made history, his sister Princess Anne was not allowed to attend the coronation because she was too young. Charles received a special hand-painted child-friendly invitation to the ceremony.

21. The coronation chair

The Coronation Chair in St George’s Chapel is one of the most adored and acclaimed pieces of furniture in the world. It has been the centerpiece of coronations for over seven hundred years it is placed in the center of the Abbey, in front of the High Altar. The Coronation Chair was made by order of King Edward I to enclose the famous Stone of Scone, the Chair has been in use at the coronation ceremony since 1308. Edward treated the Stone of Scone as a relic, and presented it, along with the Scottish crown and scepter, to the shrine of St Edward the Confessor in Westminster Abbey. The Chair frame is made of oak and comprises four corner posts and a series of molded horizontal rails. The sides of the Chair have upswept arms, which were originally decorated with carved lions.

22. St. Edwards Crown is worn during Coronation

Saint Edward’s Crown by Unknown Arthur/Wikimedia Commons

St Edward’s Crown is the crown used at the moment of coronation. It was made for Charles II in 1661. The crown has a velvet cap with an ermine band, the crown was worn by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth at her Coronation in 1953. The crown was a replacement for the medieval crown which had been melted down in 1649. The crown was commissioned by the Royal Goldsmith, Robert Vyner, in 1661. Despite it is not an exact replica of the medieval design, it follows the original in having four crosses-pattee and four fleurs-de-lis and two arches. It is made up of a solid gold frame set with rubies, amethysts, sapphires, garnets, topazes, and tourmalines.

23. Queen Victoria’s Coronation ring

In every coronation ceremony, Queen Victoria’s coronation ring is placed on the fourth finger of the sovereign by the archbishop. The Ring symbolizes Kingly Dignity, the ring comprises an octagonal step-cut sapphire, gold, four oblong, and one square ruby in gold strips. The ring was made for the coronation of Queen Victoria in 1838 and was inspired by the ring that was made for her uncle, William IV, in 1831. The ring is also known as the wedding ring of England. Queen Elizabeth II wore the coronation ring on the fourth finger.

24. BBC made history by broadcasting the Coronation

It was the first-ever coronation to be televised. The Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II was broadcasted live on June 1953. More than 20 million people watched the Service on television, outnumbering the radio audience for the first time. The BBC knew the event would be popular and based on the reaction to the limited broadcast of George VI’s Coronation Procession. The Coronation brought the nation together, as 10.4 million people watched in the homes of friends and neighbors, and 1.5 million watched in public places like pubs and cinemas. The BBC’s Coronation coverage was broadcast around the world.

25. The Imperial State Crown was worn by Queen Elizabeth II on her coronation

The Crown Jewels are the nation’s precious treasures, including the sacred Coronation Regalia used at the Coronations of new monarchs. The crown is made of gold and set with 2,868 diamonds, 17 sapphires, 11 emeralds, 269 pearls, and 4 rubies. The Imperial State Crown was made for the Coronation of King George VI, replacing the crown made for Queen Victoria in 1838. The crown contains some of the most famous jewels in the collection, and St Edward’s Sapphire is set in the center of the topmost cross.