Coronation Day – Family Matters

After waiting for more than 70 years to fulfill the role for which he was born, tomorrow King Charles III will be coronated. But what is the purpose of a coronation if he is already King?

If you aren’t British or familiar with British history this will be a common question. The answer according to the Associated Press is:

“Charles automatically ascended to the throne when Elizabeth died Sept. 8, and he was officially proclaimed Britain’s monarch two days later in an ascension ceremony broadcast for the first time on television. 

Charles said he was “deeply aware of this great inheritance and of the duties and heavy responsibilities of sovereignty which have now passed to me.”

There is no legal requirement for a coronation, and other European monarchies have done away with the ceremonies.

But the deeply religious and regalia-heavy event is a more formal confirmation of his role as head of state and titular head of the Church of England and was intended to show the king’s authority was derived from God. 

During the service conducted by the church’s spiritual leader, the archbishop of Canterbury, Charles will be anointed with oil, receive the traditional symbols of the monarch — including the orb and scepter — and have the St. Edwards Crown placed on his head for the first time. Charles’ wife, Camilla, will be crowned as queen consort.”

As the British are masters at symbolism and pagentry, there will be other stunning and deeply moving moments throughout the ceremony and procession that follows it. Most notably perhaps the involvement of members of the King’s family.

Prince George
Prince George, Prince William’s elder son and second in line to the throne, will serve as one of the king’s pages of honor, who help carry the monarch’s heavy robe down the aisle of Westminster Abbey. At nine years old Prince George is making history as the youngest future king to have an official role at the coronation.

Princess Ann – The Princess Royal
Princess Ann is King Charles younger sister. She has been a loyal supporter and companion to him throughout their lives. Following the death of the Queen, their mother, Princess Ann has been a great support to her brother, Charles, and often is noted as “one of the hardest working royals”. As his faithful supporter, King Charles has given his sister the honor of being The Gold Stick in Waiting, a position that dates back to the 15th century, and is meant to be a protector of the King. As a symbol of her role as protector, she will ride on horseback from Westminster Abbey to Buckingham Palace following the King and Queen’s carriage and leading 6,000 troops.

Prince William
As the King’s eldest son, and heir to the throne, William will have a most significant role in Saturday’s ceremony. He will be the only royal family member who will “pay the homage of royal blood” to the King. Just as his grandfather, Prince Philip did for his grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II, once Charles has been crowned, William will kneel before his father, place his hands between his father’s hands and pledge:
“I, William, Prince of Wales, pledge my loyalty to you and faith and truth I will bear unto you, as your liege man of life and limb. So help me God.”

When Elizabeth was coronated her grandmother, Queen Mary, admonished her to remember that she was not appointed by man to be Queen, but rather she had been called and was anointed by God for the role He had planned for her. As a symbol of that holy calling the sovereign being coronated is anointed with oil.

The Anointing
Special oil that has been blessed and consecrated will be poured from a gold flask — the ampulla — onto the coronation spoon. Charles will be anointed with that oil on his hands, breast and head by the Archbishop of Canterbury. The oil is made from olives from the Mount of Olives in Israel and has a “deep historic link” between the oil that will crown King Charles and that of biblical kings. The primary purpose of anointing with the holy anointing oil was to sanctify, to set the anointed person or object apart as qodesh, or “holy”(Exodus 30:29). Originally, the oil was used exclusively for the priests and the Tabernacle articles, but its use was later extended to include kings (1 Samuel 10:1).
The only part of the coronation ceremony that will be kept off camera is the anointing with oil. This will take place behind a screen, and won’t be seen by the public. As it is a deeply personal and holy moment for Charles, one that he says is between him and God, he has requested that it remain private. Camilla too will be anointed with the oil.

Whether you are British or not, the ceremony, the pageantry and the symbolism will no doubt be touching and intimate, and the celebration following will be spectacular. You can watch it live on ABC, CBS, CNN, NBC and Fox News. The King’s Procession will start at 5:20 a.m. ET ahead of the coronation ceremony at Westminster Abbey, which will be begin at 6 a.m. ET. (Please note these times are Eastern Time, so plan accordingly wherever you live). Your Two Chums won’t miss a moment of it!

Tune in across the miles and you can witness history in the making. In unison with all our British family and friends we say, “God Save the King!”