Coronation of Elizabeth II

Coronation of Elizabeth II was the ceremony in which Elizabeth II was formally crowned Queen of the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Pakistan, and Ceylon, alongside her other realms and territories. The event took place on 2 June 1953 at Westminster Abbey, over a year after her accession following the death of her father, George VI. Presided over by the Archbishop of Canterbury, Geoffrey Fisher, the elaborate Anglican service followed traditions dating to the Coronation of Edgar in 973, blending religious solemnity with pageantry. It was the first British coronation to be televised, marking a pivotal moment in media history and symbolizing a new Elizabethan age for a nation recovering from the Second World War.

Background and preparations

The death of George VI on 6 February 1952 at Sandringham House immediately elevated his elder daughter, Princess Elizabeth, Duchess of Edinburgh, to the throne. The planning for the coronation, managed by the Earl Marshal, the Duke of Norfolk, began almost immediately under the auspices of the Coronation Committee of the Privy Council. A significant delay of over sixteen months was traditional, allowing for a period of mourning and the extensive logistical preparations required for the state event. Key decisions involved updating the coronation oath to reflect the modern Commonwealth of Nations, the design of new ceremonial robes by designers like Norman Hartnell, and the restoration of the Imperial State Crown by the Crown Jewellers, Garrard & Co. Rehearsals were held at Westminster Abbey and at Bristol Old Vic, with the Queen's Coach undergoing modifications for the procession through London.

Ceremony and proceedings

The ceremony itself followed the liturgical structure outlined in the Liber Regalis, beginning with the Recognition, where the Archbishop of Canterbury presented the Queen to the congregation. This was followed by the Coronation Oath, administered by the Archbishop of Canterbury and witnessed by peers including the Lord Chancellor and the Lord Great Chamberlain. The central act of the Anointing was conducted in secrecy behind a canopy, using holy oil from the Ampulla. Elizabeth was then invested with the regalia, including the Sovereign's Orb, the Sovereign's Sceptre with Cross, and the Sovereign's Sceptre with Dove. The climax was the crowning with St Edward's Crown by the Archbishop of Canterbury, after which the assembled nobility, led by the Duke of Edinburgh, paid homage. The service concluded with the Holy Communion and the recessional to the anthem Zadok the Priest by George Frideric Handel.

Participants and guests

The principal participant was Elizabeth II, crowned by the Archbishop of Canterbury, Geoffrey Fisher. Other clergy included the Archbishop of York, Cyril Garbett, and the Dean of Westminster, Alan Don. Key royal figures were the Duke of Edinburgh, who was the first to pay homage, Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother, and Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon. The ceremony featured a full assembly of the Peers of the Realm in their parliamentary robes, along with representatives from the House of Commons. International guests included prime ministers like Winston Churchill and dignitaries from across the Commonwealth of Nations, such as Prime Minister Louis St. Laurent and the Prime Minister of Australia, Robert Menzies. Also present were foreign royalty, including Prince Bertil of Sweden and the Crown Prince of Japan.

Broadcast and media coverage

The coronation was a landmark in broadcasting history, as the BBC, under Director-General Ian Jacob, was permitted to televise the event inside Westminster Abbey despite significant opposition from figures like Winston Churchill and the Archbishop of Canterbury. The broadcast was orchestrated by BBC Television Service producer Peter Dimmock, with commentary by Richard Dimbleby. An estimated 27 million people in the United Kingdom watched on television, many gathering in homes and pubs, while millions more worldwide listened on BBC radio. The event spurred the sale of television sets and was also filmed in color by the Pathé newsreel company. Broadcasts were relayed to RCAF stations in Canada and via the Eurovision network, making it a truly global media event.

Commemorations and legacy

The coronation was commemorated extensively across the Commonwealth. In the United Kingdom, commemorative medals were issued, and celebrations included street parties, parades like the Coronation Review of the Fleet, and the first ascent of Mount Everest by the expedition of Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay, news of which reached London on the coronation day. Numerous public buildings, parks, and roads were named in honor of the event, such as Coronation Street. The ceremony established enduring television traditions for royal events and is often seen as inaugurating the modern media monarchy. Its artifacts, including the coronation dress and the documentary film A Queen Is Crowned, remain significant cultural touchstones, symbolizing the dawn of the second Elizabethan era.

Category:Coronations Category:History of the United Kingdom Category:1953 in the United Kingdom