Coronations and Enthronements


If you have answers, please help by responding to the unanswered posts.
He would be king. Edward the VIII was king, although, he never had a coronation and abdicated.
 
Next British coronation

In the media recently there's been speculation that Prince Charles will cut the number of peers at his coronation in favour of inviting charities and members of the public. Whilst I think that modernizing some elements of the coronation would be a good idea I hope this doesn't affect the peers that attend the new King and Queen. At the 1953 coronation, the Queen was surrounded by nobility but who would Camilla have as her Mistress of the Robes for example? Doesn't have to be a duchess in my opinion.
 
Inevitably there will be a very different coronation when Charles is crowned, but I hope Charles isn't allowed to meddle too much. I guess there must be outline plans, but given the economic situation cou[led with the cost of hosting the Olympics, everyone must by hoping that HM has the longevity her Mum enjoyed.
 
I would not expect Charles' coronation to be any less than previous ones. The coronation of a monarch is a tad different (and IMO, more important) than any royal wedding. Charles should have the coronation he desires. If the taxpayers complain about funding the next coronation, then it will be time to give up the monarchy.
 
If the taxpayers complain about funding the next coronation, then it will be time to give up the monarchy.

Huh? They complained about paying a certain amount for the two royal weddings this summer but nowhere did the "give up the monarchy" argument seriously arise. You talk as if one person complains then that's it for the monarchy straight away. Taxpayers complain constantly, but their republican movement isn't getting anywhere fast IMO.
 
My guess would be that we would not see all the hereditary peers that were invited to QE2's coronation. Maybe the premier peer of each divsion of the hereditary peerages, representation from the life peers and then other guests representing a wider society from the Uk and the Commonwealth.
 
Last edited:
"Taxpayers" in England (especially London) have been complaining about the expense of their monarchs since history began - and yet the monarchs are still around. Greatly straitened by circumstances, but still there. Asking monarchs to limit their expenses (or their powers) is rather an old custom in England, is it not?
 
Queen Juliana signed her abdication 1980, April 30
Beatrix, Queen of the Netherlands
enthronement ceremony 1980, April 30

Did Juliana make a televised speech afew months before to announce her intention to abdicate?
 
Did Juliana make a televised speech afew months before to announce her intention to abdicate?

Yes she announced her abdication in a TV-speech at Beatrix birthday 31.01.1980.
 
Yes she announced her abdication in a TV-speech at Beatrix birthday 31.01.1980.

Thanks Stefan, I thought that was the case, but I didn't know the date of her speech.
 
In the media recently there's been speculation that Prince Charles will cut the number of peers at his coronation in favour of inviting charities and members of the public. Whilst I think that modernizing some elements of the coronation would be a good idea I hope this doesn't affect the peers that attend the new King and Queen. At the 1953 coronation, the Queen was surrounded by nobility but who would Camilla have as her Mistress of the Robes for example? Doesn't have to be a duchess in my opinion.

While I would assume that there may be a few small changes in regards to the number of peers/hereditary guests invited and to the prerequisties of some of the office holders, I strongly hope and feel that the ceremony will remain the same as 1953. The Coronation, in my opinion, is the greatest spectacle in human civilisation and as it is the cornerstone of tradition (being largely unchanged over the past 1000 years) in the monarchy it is of vital importance that it is retained in its purest possible forrm. After all, with monarchy no longer having the central role it used to, the tradition and ceremony is vital to keeping it going.

My one main hope for change in the overall festivities/order of service is that there is greater involvement from the 15 Commonwealth Realms who will have Charles as their King. Perhaps a there could be an Australian digeridoo player, a New Zealand haka, etc? This would only enhance the great spectacle in my opinion.
 
For coronations does the audience really put on copies of the crown which chanting "god save the Queen"? I just wish I could be able to witness I'll just have to wait for an heir to become monarch.
 
For coronations does the audience really put on copies of the crown which chanting "god save the Queen"? I just wish I could be able to witness I'll just have to wait for an heir to become monarch.

For British Coronations the participants place their individual coronets or caps on their head and chant God Save The King/Queen.

Information on each persons coronets;

Peers wear coronets, as do most members of the Royal Family; such coronets display heraldic emblems based on rank or association to the monarch. The heir-apparent's coronet displays four crosses-pattée alternating with four fleurs-de-lis, surmounted by an arch. The same style, without the arch, is used for the children and siblings of Sovereigns. The coronets of children of the heir-apparent display four fleurs-de-lis, two crosses-pattée and two strawberry leaves. A fourth style, including four crosses-pattée and four strawberry leaves, is used for the children of the sons and brothers of Sovereigns. The aforementioned coronets are borne instead of any coronets based on peerage dignities. The coronets of dukes show eight strawberry leaves, those of marquesses four strawberry leaves alternating with four raised silver balls, those of earls eight strawberry leaves alternating with eight raised silver balls, those of viscounts sixteen silver balls and those of barons six silver balls. Peeresses use the same design, except that they appear on smaller circlets than the peers' coronets.

Aside from kings and queens, the only individuals authorised to wear crowns (as opposed to coronets) are the Kings of Arms, the United Kingdom's senior heraldic officials
 
As this thread relates to the topic of enthronements and coronations, discussion of 'Prince Charles as King' has been moved to The Monarchy Under Charles thread in the British Forum.
 
Medieval Coronations

Hi, There I am doing some research for a novel I am working on and I wonder if anyone would know if there was much different in terms of ceremony and protocol with more modern coronations and those if the medieval period, if so what are they? I am in UK so only know about British ones, however it need not be exclusively Britis Monachs.

Thanks
 
The Coronation of Louis VIII and Blanche of Castile in 1223 at Notre Dame de Reims.The Coronation ceremony was known as 'Sacre' and the crowning was nearly always performed by the Archbishop of Reims .

Coronation_of_Louis_VIII_and_Blanche_of_Castile_1223.jpg
 
what about Brunei? i believe it was a lavish ceremony, probably coronation and not enthronement. does anyone knows it?
 
I don't know whether to post this here, but what do other countries have instead of coronations?
 
Last edited by a moderator:
I don't know whether to post this here, but what do other countries have instead of coronations?

King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia attend a 'Mass of the Holy Spirit' at the Church of San Jerónimo el Real in Madrid on November 27th 1975.Their Majesties were escorted to their thrones under a canopy and were blessed by the Archbishop.Their were also many royal guests present,Princess Grace,The Duke of Edinburgh,Queen Fabiola,ex King Constantine II and Anne-Marie of Denmark,Irene of Greece to name but a few. Prior to that His Majesty was proclaimed King and took the oath before the Spanish Cortes.

See link below for photo's

Escuadrón de Escolta Real: Primera escolta a S.M. el Rey Juan Carlos I
 
I don't know whether to post this here, but what do other countries have instead of coronations?
Depends on the country. Of the current European monarchies:

- Belgium
Belgium has no crown; the monarch's formal installation requires only a solemn oath on the constitution in parliament, symbolic of the limited power allowed to the king under the 1831 Constitution.

- Denmark
In 1660 the coronation ritual was replaced with a ceremony of anointing. This rite was in turn abolished with the introduction of the Danish Constitution in 1849. Today the crown of Denmark is only displayed at the monarch's funeral, when it sits atop their coffin. The present Queen, Margrethe II, did not have any formal enthronement service; a public announcement of her accession was made from the balcony of Christiansborg Palace,.

- Liechtenstein
Liechtenstein does not use a coronation or enthronement ceremony.

- Luxembourg
The Grand Duke of Luxembourg is enthroned at a ceremony held in the nation's parliament at the beginning of his or her reign. The monarch takes an oath of loyalty to the state constitution, then attends a solemn mass at the Notre-Dame Cathedral. No crown or other regalia exists for the Grand Duchy.

- Monaco
The Principality of Monaco does not possess any regalia, and thus does not physically crown its ruler. However, the Prince or Princess does attend a special investiture ceremony, consisting of a festive mass in Saint Nicholas Cathedral, followed by a reception where the new ruler meets his subjects

- The Netherlands
Although the Netherlands has a crown and other regalia, these have never been physically bestowed upon any Dutch monarch. Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands, like each of her predecessors, had an inauguration ceremony rather than a coronation.

- Norway
While the Norwegian constitution of 1814 required the King of Norway to be crowned in Trondheim, this mandate was repealed in 1908. Thereafter, the ruler has only been required to take his formal accession oath in the Council of State and thereafter in the Parliament. King Olav V instituted a ceremony of royal consecration, known as Signing til kongsgjerning. This ritual took place again in 1991, when King Harald V and Queen Sonja were similarly consecrated.

- Spain
No monarch of Spain has been crowned since John I of Castile and Ferdinand I of Aragon. Instead, the new monarch appears at the Cortes, where he or she takes a formal oath to uphold the Constitution. Although the crown is evident at the ceremony, it is never actually placed on the monarch's head.

- Sweden
The last coronation was Oscar II's coronation in 1873; subsequent kings of Sweden elected not to be crowned, though there is no law or constitutional provision preventing a coronation. Carl XVI Gustaf was instead enthroned in a simple ceremony. The crown jewels were displayed on cushions to the right and left of the royal throne, but were never given to the king.


Read more here - Coronations in Europe - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
 
In the Uk, we have a proclaimation ceremony as well, shortly after the death of the monarch, proclaiming (and giving the regnal name) of the new monarch. I thought this happened at St James' Palace.

I remember reading that there was complaints about the behaviour of Edward VIII who watched the proclaimation with friends including Wallis Simpson. Apparently, this was considered bad manners as it was before the funeral of George V.
 
Edward VIII watched his proclamation from a window at St James' with his "dearest". :flowers: Elizabeth was proclaimed Queen while in Kenya but the Privy Council, Mayor of London and Commonwealth met at St James' to approve the proclamation. ::)
 
Last edited by a moderator:
...I always loved this picture of Queen Juliana in the Golden Coach after her inauguration ceremony in 1948.
I've never seen that picture before of Queen Juliana, so thanks for posting it!
 
Last edited by a moderator:
The last was:
2005, July 12 - a proclamation - Albert II, Sovereign Prince of Monaco - following the deth of his father Prince Rainier.

The next will be
2013, April 30 - enthronement ceremony - Willem Alexander, King of the Netherlands - following the abdication of his mother Queen Beatrix
 
Last edited by a moderator:
what about Brunei? i believe it was a lavish ceremony, probably coronation and not enthronement. does anyone knows it?
Brunei - Sultan Hassanal Bokiah's coronation was held on 1 August 1968.
http://bruneiresources.blogspot.sg/2008/08/coronation-of-sultan-of-brunei.html

Cambodia - King Norodom Sihamoni was crowned on 29 October 2004 after his father's abdication.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/3963945.stm
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2f3uaIAqnZY&feature=youtube_gdata_player (watch from 9:00, 3-parts video)

Bhutan - King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck became King after his father's abdication on 14 December 2006 and the coronation ceremony was held on 6 November 2008.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MqWAIXB_tc0&feature=youtube_gdata_player
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Back
Top Bottom