Unofficial Royalty

Last column traced the history of the English coronation ceremony from the reign of St. Edward I Confessor up to Queen Elizabeth I, in honour of the 55th anniversary of the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II. The two Queens had so much more in common than just their names. They were both 25 when they succeeded to the throne. They both came to the throne following a period of war when their countries were in great financial and political upheaval. Elizabeth I had political, religious and personal matters to deal with, while Elizabeth II, without the same degree of political or ecclesiastical power, had a young family and a post-war economy to deal with. What they also had in common was an unrelenting dedication to the job that they pledged would be life-long, and they both took their vows to do so with almost the exact same Oaths as the kings of 1000 years before.

Unlike Elizabeth I’s coronation date, January 15, 1559, determined by her chief astrologer to be the most auspicious date (a Saturday), Winston Churchill supposedly chose June 2, 1953 (a Tuesday) for Elizabeth II as it was the day before Derby Day, the highlight of horseracing season. Elizabeth I’s ceremony was witnessed by thousands inside Westminster Abbey. Elizabeth II’s ceremony was televised to the world and heard inside and out by millions more by electronic projection. Churchill even abolished the rationing of sugar so everyone could have chocolate and candy that day. Elizabeth I’s organizing committee spared no expense on pageants, plays and other entertainments for three days before the ceremony. For her purposes it was an opportunity to show the then world, her enemies and allies like France, Spain, Portugal, the Italian city states, and her own people that England was truly a mighty nation.

For Elizabeth II’s people it was an opportunity to at long last celebrate their hard-won victory through the misery of WWII; the enemy had thrown all they had at them and they had survived and triumphed.  The news had just been received that Mount Everest had been conquered by a team made up of Commonwealth climbers led by Edmund Hillary. A new Elizabethan age had dawned.

The means of arriving at Westminster Abbey differed for the two (Elizabeth I walked on a blue cloth carpet while Elizabeth II drove to the Abbey in a golden carriage, and then walked down a blue carpet from the door to the throne), and their crowns were different as the Imperial Crown had to be remade for Charles II. But the parts of the actual ceremony were almost identical to that of Edward II in 1308.  

The service itself remained unchanged through the Reformation until James II in 1685, when it was altered to deal with the king being Catholic and refusing to receive Holy Communion in a Protestant church. William IV and Mary II followed and celebration of the Eucharist was restored, and has remained. This form continued to Queen Victoria, although during the Georgian reigns a few unimportant details were left out. The Hanoverian Georges were German, spoke no or little English, didn’t understand a word of it, and didn’t much care either. As the monarch is also being consecrated at Head of the Church of England, the ceremony is very like consecrating a Bishop, while the crowning to signify head of state is a secondary matter. (This may change when Prince Charles is crowned however-time will tell). The ceremony for Edward II was the same for Charles II, and with minor alterations was the same nearly for Victoria as it was for Elizabeth II. So what happens during a coronation service, and what does it all mean?

Coronations had been ordered from ancient times to take place on either a Sunday or on a holy day. Queen Victoria’s took place on the eve of St. Peter’s Day, the patron saint of Westminster Abbey. As we have seen though there have been exceptions made. But even though the day of the week may change, the order of the service, and regalia used, have varied little in the past 800 years.  

1. Early on Coronation Day the Ampulla is filled with oil, and laid together with the Spoon on the altar of the Abbey church. Anointing of kings goes back to the Pharaohs. In England this unction was declared the essential element of the King’s office, and has been the centre of the coronation ceremony for over 1000 years. The story goes that when Thomas ? Becket was forced into exile in France by Henry II he was in prayer when he had a vision of the Virgin Mary holding a golden eagle, which she gave to him saying that this held the oil that would anoint all the future kings of England. As Henry’s crimes were too great to deserve anointing, Becket should give the vessel to a monk at Poitiers. He did and the holy oil lay hidden for two hundred years until a hermit dreamed its location. It was handed over eventually to the Black Prince, who supposedly placed two vials of it in the Tower of London in 1345. The next to be anointed was Henry IV. Through use the ingredients were exhausted by James I’s ceremony. Elizabeth I had complained that the, “grease smelt ill”, when placed on her. Charles I had a new mixture made up and James II liked the smell of the new oil so much he gave the apothecary £200 reward. For Elizabeth II a firm of pharmacists took the old formula and made a new supply of oil, which was consecrated in St. Edward’s Chapel on the morning of her coronation. The Ampulla is the only part of the regalia that survived Cromwell and the Puritans. Everything else, including the Spoon, had to be remade or remodeled for Charles II. The golden Eagle dates from the 14th century, and the Spoon from the 12th century, with Byzantine workmanship.
2. The Altar stands against a medieval screen which includes a doorway on each side which leads into St. Edward’s Chapel behind. The decorations on the west side of the screen are from the 19th century but made to resemble, with some improvements, the original design. Magnificent plates are used instead of flowers for decoration. It goes back to the ancient custom at feasts.
3. The Stone of Scone or Destiny was removed from Scotland by Edward I in 1296. It was set in the chair in Westminster Abbey, which was made especially for it, and still used today. In 1328, when the Pope recognized Scotland as an independent country, its King Edward III demanded, unsuccessfully, that the Abbot of Westminster hand it back over. It remains under the Chair. Mary Stuart’s heir, James I and VI took over the joined English/Scottish kingdom, and accepted the situation. The Stone is never mentioned in the ceremony.
4. St. Edward’s Crown used for Elizabeth I had 12 precious gems, each with a particular moral attribute attached to it. Sir John Ferne wrote a book in 1586, called Glory of Generosity, which her courtiers made sure she read. They wanted to make sure she got the message they were too afraid to remind her of themselves. King Edward would probably have worn this crown himself.  The stones were: sarius, topaz, smargd, chryolyth, chalcedony, hyacinth, jasper, chrysoprase, beryl, sapphire, amyethyst and sardonyx. There is a superstition in hindsight that if something happens to the king during the ceremony it foretells his fall. Richard II, weak from his pre coronation fasting, fainted. He died young. Charles I stumbled as he entered the Abbey, symbolizing his loose hold on the throne.  A jewel that fell from George III’s crown symbolized the loss of the American colonies. Edward VIII was walking behind his father King George V’s funeral cortege when the Maltese Cross, which had been placed on the Royal Standard on the coffin, bounced off onto the road. Edward wrote that although he was tempted to pick it up decorum won out. Fortunately a Sergeant-Major in the Grenadier Guards saw it too, made a quick scoop and put it in his pocket. Edward wondered if that was a bad omen.
5. Order of Service:  
   • The Queen enters the Abbey through the West door, accompanied by the choir singing Palm 123, v 1-3, 6.
   • The Recognition: the Queen stands beside the Chair. The Archbishop with the Lord Chancellor, Lord Great Chamberlain, Lord High Constable and Earl Marshal leading them move to the East side of the Theatre, then South, West and North. At each point the Queen turns in that direction while the Archbishop asks of the people on that side, “Sirs, I here present unto you Queen Elizabeth, your undoubted Queen: wherefore all you who come this day to do your homage and service. Are you willing to do the same? The crowd shouts GOD SAVE QUEEN ELIZABETH. The trumpets sound.
   • The Bishops who brought them into the Abbey then bring forward the Bible, Paten and Chalice and place them on the altar. The regalia, except the swords, are presented to the Archbishop, who in turn takes each from him and places it on the altar.
   • The Oath: The Archbishop stood before the Queen and asked a series of questions: Are you willing to take the Oath? Will you solemnly promise and swear to govern the peoples of...according to their respective laws and customs? Will you to the utmost of your power maintain in the United Kingdom the Protestant Reformed Religion established by law ? (There’s a lot more to this question having to do with doctrine and clergy. It was not the Oath taken by Elizabeth I because the Catholic faith was still legally the State Religion, and it was only after her coronation that her Parliament set about the tricky business of reinstating the supremacy of the Church of England) Then the Queen got up and with the Sword of State carried before her goes to the altar, robe removed, knelt on the steps, placed her hand on the Bible and said, “The things which I have here before promised, I will perform, and keep. So help me god”. She then kissed the bible and signed the Oath. Returning to her chair the Archbishop gives the Declaration again so all can hear, and then the Communion service began.
   • The Anointing: during the Communion a Creed was sung by all, “I believe in one God…world to come. Amen.” The Queen then knelt on her faldstool while the choir sings the hymn VENI, CREATOR SPIRITUS. The archbishop then prayed: Bless and sanctify thy chosen servant Elizabeth, who by our office and ministry is now to be anointed with this Oil (takes hold of the Ampulla. As the prayer ended the choir sang ZADOK THE PRIEST. Then the Queen had her red robe and head cap removed, and knelt on her stool at the altar. Four Knights of the Garter held up a gold cloth canopy over her head. The Dean of Westminster poured a little Oil into the Spoon from the Ampulla. The Archbishop then poured oil onto each of the Queen’s palms, on the breast and on the crown of the head, in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.  After she was Blessed the Queen got up and walked to sit in St. Edward’s Chair while the regalia was removed.
   • The Queen stood again and the Colobium Sindonis (sleeveless linen undergarment fitted over the Queen’s gown), and Supertunica (a long cloth of gold coat with wide sleeves that echoed the ceremonial dress of the Roman Consuls) were placed on her.
   • The Golden Spurs: were put on the Kings’ boots, but for queens simply taken by the Lord Chamberlain, who kneels and presents them for her to touch in symbolic acceptance, and then replaced on the altar. This dates back to Richard I, a symbol of chivalry and badge of knighthood for a sovereign both military leader and epitome of honour.
   • The Swords carried in are an act of feudal homage, as the medieval sword bearer to the king held a position of great honour, as early as 1135. It began with three, then four up until George IV who added a fifth. They are named: The Sword of Justice to the Spirituality and Sword of Justice to the Temporality, the Sword of Mercy, the Sword of State and the Sword of Offering (George IV). At this point the heavy Sword of State is exchanged for this last one. Still in its jewel-beset scabbard it was placed in the Queen’s hands, who then returned it to the Dean of Westminster.  He unsheathed it and held it upright, standing beside her for the rest of the ceremony.
   • The armills or bracelets of gold are then placed on her wrists by the Archbishop who says, “Receive the bracelets of sincerity and wisdom…for pledges of that bond which unites you with your people”. This symbolism of oath started with Henry I’s coronation.
   • Standing now two magnificent robes are placed on her shoulders. The first, the Stole Royal, was worn by Edward I and kings back to antiquity. It is a richly embroidered and jeweled scarf. The Robe Royal of Cloth of Gold was first covered in golden eagles, but today has symbols of the Commonwealth worked into it.  The Emperors of Byzantium wore something very similar, this one dating from King Edgar in 973, who took the Greek imperial title of Basileius.
   • The Ring symbolizes the Queen’s is being wedded to her people. This is placed on the fourth finger of the right hand. Elizabeth I used it as an excuse to avoid marriage, saying she was wedded to England and its people were her children. Victoria’s ring was made for her little finger, but the fumbling Archbishop insisted on jamming it onto the fourth anyway, so she went through the rest of the ceremony in considerable pain.
   • Orb and Crosses. Both are of ancient origin.  The Sceptre with the Cross was placed in her right hand, saying, “Receive the Royal Sceptre, the ensign of kingly power and justice”; the other Rod with the Dove was placed in her left hand, with the ancient words, “Receive the Rod of equity and mercy…lead your people in the way wherein they should go.”
   • Crowning: the Archbishop then took the St. Edward’s Crown from the altar, after he blessed it and the Queen, placed it on the Queen’s head. After which there were loud shouts of GOD SAVE THE KING, trumpets blared and the Tower guns were fired. She was then presented with the Holy Bible, received the Archbishop’s benediction and blessing, then got up and walked across to her throne.
   • She was physically lifted up by the Archbishops and Bishops and other Peers, and placed onto her Throne. After a final blessing, following the Archbishop, all the Peers of the Realm and Blood Royal knelt before her and did homage, touching the Crown and kissing her left cheek, while the choirs sing. When all are finished drums and trumpets sound, and all shouted GOD SAVE QUEEN ELIZABETH, LONG LIVE QUEEN ELIZABETH, MAY THE QUEEN LIVE FOREVER!
   • After the Communion service the Queen, with her four sword-bearers ahead of her descended from the throne, crown on head and carrying both scepters walked south toward St. Edward’s Chapel. As they passed the altar the other regalia were taken up and carried in with her. The regalia were placed on the altar there.  The royal Robe of State was removed, and with the Imperial State Crown now on her head, she received the Orb from the Archbishop. Carrying the Sceptre with the Cross in her right hand she then retraced her steps and left the Abbey by the West Door.

Anyone interested in finding out more about the history, heraldry and origins of this ancient service can find numerous references in their local library, and at the end of this column.

Told you it was fascinating, especially considering how often the details were changed. But the symbols and reverence with which royal coronations in England have been imbued since antiquity will no doubt continue far into the future.

Enjoy your summer or winter, depending on where you live gentle readers, and we’ll meet again next month.

Anon.

- The Court Jester
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it