Ahead of the coronation of King Charles III, historian Dan Snow takes a look at the most eventful coronations that have happened in the United Kingdom in the last century.
The history of coronations in the this country dates back to 1066 when William the Conqueror was crowned as the King of England in Westminster Abbey. Since then, the coronation ceremony has been an important tradition, symbolising the continuity of the monarchy and the authority of the reigning sovereign. Over the years, there have been many notable incidents and historical facts associated with coronations, including riots, deaths, and other incidents that have left a lasting impact on British history.
Dan starts with the very first coronation that took place at Westminster Abbey, that of William the Conqueror on Christmas Day in 1066. The ceremony started out well but ended up causing a riot that almost led to the Abbey being burned down.
He covers the coronations of Richard I, Henry III, Henry VII, George IV and Queen Victoria. He finishes up by describing the last coronation to have taken place in this country – Queen Elizabeth II’s in 1953. Queen Elizabeth’s coronation was notable as it was the first to be televised.
Watch the full episode to find out just what was so eventful about each of these coronations.
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