As Charles III, formerly known as the Prince of Wales, is crowned on Saturday, some royal watchers simply tune in and enjoy the glitz of the show. Others prefer to be prepared. If you belong to the latter category, you might want to read about who is who, what to expect, and what a scone stone is.
Coronation: A History of the British MonarchyRoy Strong
Roy Strong, a historian and former director of the Victoria and Albert Museum, was only 16 years old when he stood at the Victoria Embankment in London on 2 June 1953, carrying the “studded” Queen Elizabeth II to her coronation. I saw the “Golden Carriage”. The Queen’s smile and the brilliance of her diamonds are still in my memory. “
Here, in novel prose, the reader is introduced to every coronation since Edgar’s coronation in 973 AD, culled from the historical record with wonderful tales of gems, skaldaglies, and ceremonies. Some of the richly embroidered traditions that can be seen at the coronation of King Charles can be traced back to Edgar’s 10th-century ritual.
Crowns and Coronations: A History of RegaliaWilliam Jones
If you want to learn more about coronation regalia (the formal terms for the orbs, crowns, ampoules, spoons, swords, etc. that are part of the ceremony), see this gossip-riddled illustrated guide, first published in 1883. try the explanation. still available. William Jones was very dogmatic. Queen Victoria’s Crown wrote: This design is far superior to the crowns of George IV and William IV. “
Or you can simply read Written for The Times in 1911, this pieceby “Keeper of the Crown Jewels”, just before the coronation of King George V.
Treasures of Westminster AbbeyTony Trolls
Since 1066, all British monarchs except Edward V and Edward VII have been crowned at Westminster Abbey, a medieval church in London, the center of British culture. (Prince and Princess of Wales he married there in 2011.)
Sketching its astonishing history, this book is filled with wonderful photographs: not only do you see the interior of the church, but also the rich filigree altar screens, the intricate floor mosaics, the jewel-coloured stained-glass windows, and more. Stunning close-ups of the bronze and marble tombs, the statues, the delicate vaulted ceilings of the nave and, of course, the coronation chairs that are over 700 years old.
Crown & Scepter: A New History of the British Monarchy, From William the Conqueror to Charles IIITracy Bowman
Beheadings, Folly, Ordeals, Plagues: Can you squeeze 12 centuries worth of monarchs into 500 pages, roughly the size of a standard biography?
Tracy Bowman’s short, lively sketches of kings and queens sparkle with diamond-like detail and may inspire you to dive into a more holistic history. Some of the coronations she describes were particularly memorable for her. According to one account, Edward I “removed the crown during the ceremony and vowed never to wear it again until his father had recovered all that he had lost.”George II was enraged during the procession. rice field. This was because “a crimson velvet hat, also lined with a stoat, was too big for his head and kept falling over his bulbous eyes.” According to one eyewitness, George IV entered Westminster Abbey.
Prince Charles: The Passions and Paradoxes of an Improbable Life, by Sally Bedell Smith
In the foreword to her sympathetic 2017 biography, Sally Bedell-Smith wrote, “I have found that very little is understood about Prince Charles, especially the extent of his originality.” She said that “every step of him” had been “examined and analyzed.” It is expressed as a questionable person.
The Queen: The Life of Queen CamillaPenny Junor
First published, The Duchess: Camilla Parker-Bowles and the Love that Shook the Crown, Penny Junor’s book is a measured biography of the Queen’s relationship with King Charles. , traces the trajectory of their relationship since the 1970s, touching on divorce, scandal and tragedy while exploring the couple’s lasting love. “The Duchess” includes a basic description of the title and a short glossary of key locations to help new royal watchers find their bearings in time for the big day.
