Coration of George VI and Elizabeth

Coration of George VI and Elizabeth. The coronation of George VI and his consort, Elizabeth, as King and Queen of the United Kingdom and the British Empire took place at Westminster Abbey on 12 May 1937. The ceremony, conducted by the Archbishop of Canterbury, Cosmo Gordon Lang, was a direct consequence of the abdication crisis and aimed to project stability and continuity for the British monarchy. It followed the traditional form of the British coronation rite and was a major state event attended by representatives from across the Empire and global dignitaries.

Background and accession

The path to the coronation was precipitated by the unprecedented Abdication of Edward VIII in December 1936, which thrust his younger brother, the Duke of York, onto the throne as George VI. The new king’s accession was proclaimed by the Accession Council and he faced immediate challenges in restoring public confidence after the crisis. His wife, Lady Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon, became Queen Consort, bringing her noted charm and steadfastness to the role. The coronation date, originally set for Edward VIII, was retained, necessitating an accelerated but meticulous planning process by the Earl Marshal and the Coronation Committee of the Privy Council. This period was also marked by rising international tensions, with the rule of Adolf Hitler in Nazi Germany and the ongoing Spanish Civil War forming a fraught geopolitical backdrop.

Preparations and ceremony

Preparations were overseen by the Earl Marshal, the Duke of Norfolk, and involved extensive rehearsals, including the famous practice with a coach and chairs at Buckingham Palace. The ceremony itself adhered to the ancient text of the Liber Regalis and the Order of Service for the Coronation of the British monarch. Key rituals included the anointing with chrism from the Ampulla, the investiture with the Imperial State Crown and Sovereign's Orb, and the enthronement. The Homage of the Peers was performed by senior nobles including the Lord Great Chamberlain and the Archbishop of York. A unique moment was the homage paid by Queen Elizabeth, who touched the crown and kissed the king’s left cheek.

Participants and regalia

The principal participants were George VI and Queen Elizabeth, crowned by the Archbishop of Canterbury, Cosmo Gordon Lang. The Archbishop of York, William Temple, also played a key liturgical role. The British royal family in attendance included the king’s mother, Queen Mary, and his daughters, Princess Elizabeth (the future Elizabeth II) and Princess Margaret. The peers and peeresses, clad in coronation robes, filled the Abbey, alongside prime ministers from the Dominions like Stanley Bruce of Australia and William Lyon Mackenzie King of Canada. The regalia used, held at the Tower of London, included the St Edward's Crown, the Sovereign's Sceptre with Cross, and the Coronation Spoon. Queen Elizabeth was crowned using the Crown of Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother, specially created for the occasion.

Public events and media coverage

The event sparked widespread public celebrations, with processions through London from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Abbey and back along The Mall. Decorations and street parties were organized across the United Kingdom and the British Empire. For the first time, a coronation was extensively covered by modern media; the BBC, under John Reith, provided a landmark live radio broadcast, with commentary by John Snagge. Newsreel footage was captured by companies like Pathé News and shown in cinemas worldwide. This media strategy, orchestrated by the BBC and the GPO, was crucial in fostering a sense of shared experience across the Empire and enhancing the monarchy’s visibility.

Significance and legacy

The coronation successfully reaffirmed the stability of the monarchy after the Abdication of Edward VIII and established George VI and Elizabeth as a symbol of dutiful resilience on the eve of World War II. Their leadership during the Blitz and the war years was prefigured by the solidarity displayed at the ceremony. The extensive use of radio set a precedent for the media coverage of future royal events, most notably the Coronation of Elizabeth II in 1953, which would be televised. The event also reinforced the political and ceremonial ties within the British Empire during a period of gradual transition toward the Commonwealth of Nations. The coronation regalia used continues to be central to British state ritual.

Category:1937 in the United Kingdom Category:Coronations Category:George VI Category:History of Westminster Abbey