Coronation of the British monarch
British coronations are held in Westminster
Abbey.
The Coronation of the British Monarch is
a ceremony (specifically, initiation rite) in
which the monarch of the United Kingdom
and of the other Commonwealth realms is
formally crowned and invested with regalia.
It corresponds to the coronation ceremonies
that formerly occurred in other European
monarchies; all have abandoned coronations
in favour of inaugurations.
The coronation usually takes place several
months after the death of the previous mon-
arch, as it is considered a joyous occasion
that would be inappropriate when mourning
still continues. This also gives planners
enough time to complete the elaborate ar-
rangements required. For example, Elizabeth
II was crowned on 2 June 1953, despite hav-
ing acceded to the throne on 6 February
1952, the instant her father died. British law
states that the throne is not left vacant and
the
new monarch
succeeds
the
old
immediately.
The ceremony is performed by the Arch-
bishop of Canterbury, the most senior cleric
of the Church of England. Other clergy and
members of the nobility also have roles; most
participants in the ceremony are required to
wear ceremonial uniforms or robes. Many
other government officials and guests attend,
including
representatives
of
foreign
countries.
The essential elements of the coronation
have remained largely unchanged for the
past thousand years. The sovereign is first
presented to, and acclaimed by, the people.
He or she then swears an oath to uphold the
law and the Church. Following that, the mon-
arch is anointed with oil, crowned, and inves-
ted with the regalia, before receiving the
homage of his or her subjects.
History
The timing of the coronation has varied
throughout British history. The first Norman
monarch, William I, was crowned on the day
he became King—25 December 1066.[1] Most
of his successors were crowned within
weeks, or even days, of their accession. Ed-
ward I was fighting in the Ninth Crusade
when he acceded to the throne in 1272; h