English Kings and Queens, Their Coronations and Occasional Jubilees.

This was the title of the talk given to the members at the May meeting by Brian Jones, as he took us through the many crowned heads of the English, England, Great Britain, The Commonwealth and India, with the usual audience participation !!
Starting in 802 with the coronation of Egbert, the first King of the English who reigned for 37 years, followed by Ethelwulf, then Athelstan [the first King of England]; Edwig and Canute crowned in 1016.
To accompany the dates were also illustrations of the early kings and their consorts, some not exactly flattering, but the camera – sorry painter – never lies !!
One early king went missing from his coronation feast, and was eventually found in bed with his girl friend and her mother. The earliest ‘Menage A Trois’ perhaps.!!
In 1066 was the first coronation of the present day style, when William !st. [the Conqueror] was crowned on Christmas Day in Westminster Abbey. As three cheers were raised for the new King inside the Abbey, his Norman troops outside heard the rousing shouts , and fearing an uprising against their Duke, set fire to all the houses surrounding the Abbey.
A second coronation to include his Queen Consort, Matilda of Flanders, passed off with less excitement. William reigned for 21 years, and divided his lands between his sons, giving Normandy and Maine to Robert and England to William ll [Rufus] who reigned for only 13 years.
Henry Beauclerc,[ ‘Good Scholar’ in French] the youngest son of William lst, immediately took over the Treasury and had himself crowned King, 4 days after the death of his elder brother.
Such was the uncertainty of succession in the earlier centuries that one King took the precaution of crowning his infant son during his own lifetime to ensure the succession, but fate took a hand and the son died before the father. Another King was forced to borrow some silk stockings for his own Coronation as he was to poor to purchase some for himself !!
Over the years the form of the Coronations became more elaborate, Richard ll had a procession through London, and the language of the ceremony eventually changed from Latin or French to English for the Coronation of Elizabeth l. Also few of the earlier Kings reigned for many years, either being killed in battle, deposed or suffering early death by natural causes, but Elizabeth saw her silver jubilee of 25 years, but died 5 years short of her golden jubilee.
Charles ll was the first King of Great Britain and Ireland. He was followed by William and Mary who reigned together as King and Queen, because William refused to be a mere Consort.
After Queen Ann, who had no living heirs, the Hanoverian, George l, great grandson of James l [of England] and cousin of Ann ascended the English throne in 1714.
He was succeeded by his son George ll who was the first king to celebrate a Silver Jubilee, while George lll reigned for 59 years so was able to celebrate both silver and golden jubilees, although his son was Regent for the last 9 years.
When George lll, died his son, The Prince Regent, or ‘Prinny’ as he was known, was crowned in the most elaborate and expensive Coronation yet to have been seen. His outfit was flamboyant in the extreme and was finished off by a 27 foot long train, carried by men of noble birth. His wife Caroline,who was locked out of the Abbey, on orders of George, ran from door to door trying to gain entrance to the ceremony. She died only a few days later.
William lV, known as the Sailor King, had no children and his heiress was the Princess Victoria. William managed to remain alive until Victoria reached the age of 18 years, when she was able to dispense with the attentions of her power seeking mother, and rule as she wished after the death of her uncle. Victoria was Queen of Great Britain and Empress of India. She celebrated three jubilees during her long reign, Silver, Golden and Diamond.
Victoria was followed by her son Edward Vll and his Consort Queen Alexandra, who were followed in turn by George V and Queen Mary.
After George came his elder son Edward Vlll and preparations were made for his Coronation in 1936. However, much to the dismay of every one, Edward did the unthinkable and abdicated before the event could take place. His shy younger brother Albert was persuaded to take over as King, and was crowned as George Vl in a ceremony which took place on the day originally planned for Edward’s coronation.
Much of the commemorative memorabilia pieces were re-used as Edward was cleverly ‘air-brushed ‘ out and George’s face super-imposed on the original body.
This year sees the celebration of the Diamond Jubilee of our present Queen Elizabeth.
Long May She Reign!!
[Judy Green]