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More than 5000 entries on the history, culture and life of Britain (published in 1993 by Macmillan, now out of print)
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Coronation
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Since 1066, a year in which two monarchs were crowned (*Harold II and *William I), every coronation has taken place in *Westminster Abbey. The ceremony begins with the archbishop of Canterbury presenting the monarch to the assembled company, who respond with shouts of acclamation. The monarch then takes an oath, which since the 16C has included a commitment to maintain the *Church of England.
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There follows the anointing, for which the monarch sits in a plain white robe on the *Coronation Chair, while the choir sings *Handel's anthem Zadok the Priest (it was Zadok who anointed Solomon). Various symbols of dignity and power are then heaped upon the monarch (coronation robes, golden spurs, a jewelled sword, bracelets, a cloth of gold, an orb, a ring, a glove, two sceptres), to be followed by the crown itself. After a shout of 'God save the Queen (or King)' the monarch receives homage from the *Lords Spiritual and Temporal and then takes Holy Communion, bringing the ceremony itself to an end.
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Until the reign of William IV the coronation was followed by a banquet in *Westminster Hall, into which the King's Champion rode in full armour to challenge any who would dispute his right to this title (the failure to reinstate this colourful medieval ceremony for Victoria provoked the *Eglinton tournament). Two kings, *Edward V and *Edward VIII, reigned for so little time that they were not crowned.
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