The Coronation - Gallery

Thumbnail image of The Gold State Coach, 1762, (1937). Artist: Unknown

On 6th May 2023 King Charles III and Queen Camilla will be crowned at their coronation at Westminster Abbey. Something that has not been seen in nearly 70 years.

Spanning 1,000 years of history and largely unchanged, the coronation promises to be an extraordinary spectacle. In our gallery we look back at previous coronations and get an idea of what we might expect to see.

Current Lightbox
'King George V, in the year of his coronation', 1911.Artist: Walter William Ouless
 
Westminster Abbey, London, 1902. Artist: Alfred Hugh Fisher
 
The coronation of King George IV in Westminster Abbey, London, 19th July, 1821. Artist: Frederick Christian Lewis
 
Queen Elizabeth II (b1926), 1953. Artist: Unknown
 
The taking of the oath by Edward the Confessor, Winchester, 1042, (1902). Artist: Unknown
 
Coronation of Queen Victoria in Westminster Abbey, London, 1838. Artist: Anon
 
Queen Victoria's coronation, 1837 (1887). Artist: Unknown
 
Queen Elizabeth in coronation robes, 1937. Artist: Unknown
 
The Coronation Chair, with the Stone of Scone, Westminster Abbey, London, 1937. Artist: Unknown
 
The Homage', George VI's coronation ceremony, 12 May 1937, (1937).Artist: Henry Charles Brewer
 
'The Act of Crowning', George VI's coronation ceremony, Westminster Abbey, London, 12 May 1937.Artist: Henry Charles Brewer
 
King George VI in coronation robes, 1937.Artist: Albert Henry Collings
 
Westminster Abbey and Big Ben, London, 20th Century. Artist: Unknown
 
Giovanni Cipriani's painted panels on the Gold State Coach, 1762, (1937). Artist: Unknown
 
The Coronation Chair, Westminster Abbey, London, 1900. Artist: Unknown
 
Portrait of the King George III of the United Kingdom (1738-1820) in his Coronation Robes, ca 1770. Artist: Ramsay (1713-1784)
 
The Coronation of King George VI (1895-1952)', 12 May, 1937. Artist: Unknown
 
The Coronation of King George VI (1895-1952), 12  May 1937. Artist: Unknown
 
The Royal Family on the balcony of Buckingham Palace, on the occasion of King George VI's coronation Artist: Unknown.
 
'The Lord Chancellor In His Coronation Robes', 1937. Artist: Unknown.
 
Queen Victoria in the Coronation robes, 1838 (1906). Artist: Charles Robert Leslie.
 
The coronation of King Henry III, 13th century. Artist: Anonymous
 
'King George VI and Queen Elizabeth on their Coronation Day', 1937. Artist: Unknown.
 
'Coronation rings', 1953. Artist: Rundell, Bridge and Rundell.
 
'The Sovereign's Orb and Queen Mary II's Orb', 1953. Artist: Unknown.
 
'The Ampulla or Golden Eagle', 1937. Artist: Unknown.
 
'The Queen's Crown', 1937. Creator: Unknown.
 
'Her Majesty the Queen', 1937. Artist: Louis Dezart.
 
'The King and Queen Leave the Palace for their Coronation', 1937. Artist: Unknown.
 
'Swinging Down the Mall', May 12 1937. Artist: Unknown.
 
The Crown Jewels, 1953. Artist: Unknown.
 
Sheet of 60 Cinderella stamps commemorating King George VI's coronation, 1937. Artist: Unknown.
 
'Their Majesties King George V and Queen Mary in their coronation robes', 1911, (1951). Creator: W&D Downey.
 
Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II, Buckingham Palace, The Mall, City of Westminster, London, 1953. Creator: Ministry of Works.
 
Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II, Parliament Square, City of Westminster, London, 1953. Creator: Ministry of Works.
 
Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II, Admiralty Arch, The Mall, City of Westminster, London, 1953. Creator: Ministry of Works.
 
Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II, Admiralty Arch, The Mall, City of Westminster, London, 1953. Creator: Ministry of Works.
 
George IV (1762-1830). King of the United Kingdom, in his Coronation Robes, 1816. Creator: Lawrence, Sir Thomas (1769-1830).
 
'The Queen on Her Coronation Day', 28 June 1838, (c1897).  Creator: Unknown.
 
'After the Coronation - 12th May, 1937', 1947. Creator: Unknown.
 
The Gold State Coach, 1762, (1937). Artist: Unknown
 
Queen Elizabeth II and Duke of Edinburgh in the State Coach, The Coronation, 2nd June 1953. Artist: Unknown
 
King George V and Queen Mary in the historic State Coach, c1935. Artist: Unknown.
 
The exhortation addressed to Edward IV, Westminster, 29 June 1461, (1902). Artist: Unknown
 
The second oblation by Edward II, Westminster, 25 February 1308, (1902). Artist: Unknown
 
Officers of the Heralds' College, Coronation ceremony. Artist: Frederic de Haenen
 
Coronation of William IV and Queen Adelaide's in Westminster Abbey, London, 1831. Artist: W Read
 
The Coronation of Queen Victoria, Westminster Abbey, London, 28th June 1838, (1899). Artist: Unknown
 
'Coronation of George III, 1761', (c1850s). Artist: Unknown
 
'Coronation of Victoria, 1837', (c1850s). Artist: Unknown
 
'The Recognition', George VI's coronation ceremony, Westminster Abbey, London, 12 May 1937.Artist: Henry Charles Brewer
 
'Coronation of George IV, 1820', (c1850s). Artist: Unknown
 
'Changing the Interior of the Abbey', 1937. Artist: Unknown.
 
'The Recognition', 1937. Artists: King George VI , Unknown.
 
The Coronation of King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra, 1902 (1906). Artist: Unknown.
 
The Coronation of King George IV in Westminster Abbey, London, 1821 (1906).  Artist: Pugin & Stephanoff.
 
''The Recognition: The King Stands Before the Assembly, presented by the Archbishop', 1937. Artist: Unknown.
 
'The Coronation Procession to the Abbey', 1937. Artist: Unknown.
 
'The Crowning of the Queen Consort', 1937. Artist: Unknown.
 
'The Crowning of the King', 1937.  Artist: Unknown.
 
'The Anointing: The Archbishop Making the Sign of the Cross on the King's Head', 1937. Artist: Unknown.
 
Coronation of Richard I in Westminster Abbey 1189, (c1880). Artist: Unknown.
 
'The Queen Mother's Procession', May 12 1937. Artist: Unknown.
 
'King George VI leaves the Abbey', May 12 1937. Artist: Unknown.
 
'Queen Mary Leaves', May 12 1937. Artist: Unknown.
 
'Her Majesty the Queen Mother with her pages', 1953. Artist: Sterling Henry Nahum Baron.
 
God crown you with a crown of glory and righteousness., 1953. Artist: Unknown.
 
'The Queen, after her entry into the Abbey Church of Westminster, is seated in her Chair of Estate', Artist: Unknown.
 
Queen Elizabeth II in coronation robes, 1953. Artist: Sterling Henry Nahum Baron.
 
Cover of programme for a Coronation Concert at the Winter Garden, Cheltenham, 1902.  Creator: Unknown.
 
'The Coronation Chair, Containing the Ancient Stone', 1902. Creator: Unknown.
 
Coronation of King George V and Queen Mary, London, 1911. Creator: Unknown.
 
Coronation of King George V and Queen Mary, London, 1911. Creator: Unknown.
 
Cover of "The Sphere", coronation number, June 1911.  Creator: Unknown.
 
Coronation of King George V and Queen Mary, London, 1911. Creator: John Duncan.
 
Coronation of King William IV: the royal procession, Westminster Abbey, London, 1830 (c1890). Creator: Unknown.
 
'Coronation of Queen Victoria, June 28, 1838', (1901).  Creator: Unknown.
 
Her Most Gracious Majesty Queen Victoria Receiving the Sacrament at her Coronation, n.d. Creator: George Baxter.
 
Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II, Parliament Square, City of Westminster, London, 1953. Creator: Ministry of Works.
 
'Coronation Day', 12 May 1937, (1947).  Creator: Unknown.
 
'Leaving The Abbey', 1947. Creator: Unknown.
 
Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II, Parliament Square, City of Westminster, London, 1953. Creator: Ministry of Works.
 
'Coronation Chair', c1897. Creator: Unknown.
 
Edward VII in full coronation robes, 1902. Artist: Unknown
 
Queen Victoria (1819-1901), 1838. Artist: Unknown
 
Mary of Teck, Queen Consort of George V of the United Kingdom, 1911.Artist: George C Wilmshurst
 
George VI in coronation robes: the Robe of Purple Velvet, with the Imperial State Crown, 1937.Artist: Fortunino Matania
 
Crown Jewels of the United Kingdom, 1937. Artist: Unknown
 
'Robed and Crowned', May 12 1937. Artist: Unknown.
 
'The Coronation Ceremony in the Abbey: The Queen's Procession', 1937. Artist: Unknown.
 
Alexandrina Victoria Queen of England, 1838, (1902). Artist: Edmund Thomas Parris
 
'The Royal Sceptre with The Cross', 1937. Creator: Unknown.
 
George VI in coronation robes: the Golden Imperial mantle, with St Edward's crown, 1937.Artist: Fortunino Matania
 
Edward The Confessor, Anglo-Saxon king of England, 1070s. Artist: Unknown
 
'The head of the Sceptre with the Cross', 1953. Artist: Robert Viner.
 
The Crown of England, 1901. Artist: Unknown
 
'Regalia of Charles II', 1670s. Artist: Unknown
 
'The Imperial State Crown', 1953. Artist: Rundell, Bridge and Rundell.
 
'The Coronation of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, 2nd June, 1953', 1962. Creator: Unknown.
 
'The Crown of England, St Edward's Crown', c1937. Artist: Unknown.
 
The crowning of Edward I, Westminster, 19 August 1274, (1902). Artist: Unknown
 
Queen Elizabeth II (b1926) during her coronation, 1953. Artist: Unknown
 
The Crown Jewels of England. Artist: Unknown
 
Crown Jewels of the United Kingdom, 1937. Artist: Unknown
 
Queen Elizabeth II returning to Buckingham Palace after her Coronation, 1953. Artist: Unknown
 
'In spring 1910, King Edward VII died, in March 1911, King George V was crowned', 1911, (1945). Artist: Unknown.
 
'His Majesty King George VI', 1937. Artist: Louis Dezart.
 
'The Orb', 1937. Artist: Unknown.
 
Queen Elizabeth II with crown, orb and sceptre, 2 June 1953, (1962).  Creator: Unknown.
 
King George VI and Queen Elizabeth on their Coronation Day, 1937. Artist: Unknown
 
Coronation dresses and robes worn by the Queen Mother and Princesses Elizabeth and Margaret, 1937. Artist: Unknown
 
Coronation robes of Queen Victoria, Elizabeth & Princesses Elizabeth and Margaret. Artist: Unknown
 
Coronation photograph of George V and Queen Mary, 1911. Artist: Unknown
 
'The Sword of State', May 12 1937. Artist: Unknown.
 
'The Coronation Chair', c1845, (1864). Artist: Unknown.
 
'A Right-Hand Glove', May 12 1937. Artist: Unknown.
 
'The King is Crowned', May 12 1937. Artist: Unknown.
 
'His Two Sceptres', May 12 1937. Artist: Unknown.
 
'The King's Orb and Sceptre', 1937. Creator: Unknown.
 
'Imperial State Crown', 1962. Creator: Unknown.
 
'Orb and Sceptre', 1962. Creator: Unknown.