Coronations

King & Queens by Length of reign  |  King & Queens by age

The Ceremony was conducted by the Archbishop of Canterbury who anointed the King and presented him with the formal regalia including the scepter, orb, coronation ring and crown. The King sat in the 14th-century coronation chair first used for the Coronation of Edward II in 1307, and was crowned with St. Edward's crown which is only used for coronations.

Scottish Kings before 1488 were traditionally crowned at Scone Abbey in Scotland. The Stone of Scone (Stone of Destiny) was brought from Scotland and placed in the coronation chair for the ceremony.

King Charles III became King following the death of his mother Queen Elizabeth II on 8th September 2022. A coronation usually takes place several months after the death of the previous monarch, as it is a joyous celebration that would be inappropriate while in mourning and gives time to plan the elaborate arrangements required.

At 74 years he is the oldest British Sovereign ever to be crowned. He was 4 years old when he attended the coronation of his mother in June 1953.

The table below shows the history of English Coronations. Early Kings were crowned at Kingston-upon-Thames in Surrey, but since King Harold II in 1066 have been held in Westminster Abbey which was originally built in the time of King Edward the Confessor. The current building dates from 1269 with the lady chapel added in 1516, and the gothic entrance and towers in 1745.

King Henry VI was crowned King of England and King of France. Edward V who was usurped by his uncle Richard III and Edward VIII who abdicated were never crowned.