Queen Elizabeth II, sitting on the Coronation Chair, known as St Edward’s chair on June 2, 1953 at Westminster Abbey, during her coronation, in London. Image: AFP/ Intercontinentale.
Seat fit for a King: 700-year-old coronation chair gets a revamp
In preparation for the King’s coronation, even the coronation chair is getting a revamp. It’s more than 700 years old and steeped in history.
Queen Elizabeth II, sitting on the Coronation Chair, known as St Edward’s chair on June 2, 1953 at Westminster Abbey, during her coronation, in London. Image: AFP/ Intercontinentale.
Arguably the best seat in the house, all eyes will be on King Charles III and his newly revamped coronation chair during the coronation service on Saturday, 6 May.
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NEW LOOK FOR THE 700-YEAR-OLD HISTORIC SEAT
Every king needs a royal chair. And in the case of King Charles III, his coronation chair is 700 years old and steeped in history.
MailOnline reports that King’s official coronation chair was commissioned around 1300 and has played a key part in crowning monarchs over the past 700 years.
In celebration of King Charles III’s crowning ceremony, the coronation chair is getting a revamp.
According to the publication, the char was commissioned by Edward I to house the Stone of Scone. It is made of oak and initially covered in gold leaf with elaborate decorations of coloured glass.
A master painter decorated the chair with patterns of birds, foliage, and a king, making it an “unparalleled surviving example of medieval art,” the publication reports.
The figure of a king, either Edward the Confessor or Edward I, with his feet resting on a lion, was painted on the back, per Westminster Abbey’s website.
Over time, the chair did, however, get damaged quite a bit.
In the 1800 and 1900s, Westminster schoolboys and visitors to Westminster Abbey painted graffiti on the back part of the chair. Some even made carvings. A bomb attack in 1914 also damaged a small corner of the chair, the Abbey’s site states.
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BRITAIN GEARING UP FOR THE ROYAL CORONATION
MailOnline reports that the ‘Save the date’ notices for the coronation are expected to go out soon. The official invitations will be sent out in April.
The coronation proceedings will consist of a three-day-long celebration, starting with the service at Westminster Abbey on 6 May.
According to Buckingham Place, the Archbishop of Canterbury will conduct the service. It will reflect the Monarch’s current and future role while paying tribute to longstanding traditions and pageantry.
King Charles III and Queen Consort Camilla will arrive at Westminster Abbey in procession from Buckingham Palace, in what is known as “The King’s Procession.”
After the service, the King and Queen will return to Buckingham Palace in a larger ceremonial procession, known as “The Coronation Procession,” the Palace reveals. The couple will be joined in this procession by other royal family members.
Back at the palace, The King and The Queen Consort will appear on the royal balcony to wave at the crowd. Members of the royal family will accompany them to conclude the day’s ceremonial events.
A SERVICE FIT FOR A KING
Although the celebrations will still be fit for a king, The Sun reports that the ceremony will be kept intimate to reflect the current British economic climate.
According to the publication, viewers can expect a shorter ceremony and an even shorter VIP guest list.
Even so, the coronation will reportedly still cost the country a cool R1 billion (£100 million). The Sun reports that although the royal family pays for weddings, the British government is responsible for coronation bills.
A source told the publication that “worldwide TV rights will more than cover the cost. It will also be a massive boost to tourism. Hotels are already being booked out for the coronation weekend.”
For King Charles and the Queen Consort’s coronation, only 2 500 guests are reportedly invited.
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