The Coronation of Queen Victoria
On 28 June 1838, the coronation of Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom
took place at Westminster Abbey in London.
The planning
Queen Victoria succeeded her uncle King William IV on 20 June 1837.
Her first prime minister was Lord Melbourne, with whom she developed
a close personal friendship.
Her first prime minister was Lord Melbourne, with whom she developed
a close personal friendship.
Until 1867, the Demise of the Crown automatically triggered the
dissolution of parliament: voting in the subsequent general
election took place between 24 July and 18 August. The result was a
victory for Melbourne, whose Whig Party government was returned
to power for another four years. Their majority over the opposition
Conservative (formerly Tory) Party was reduced from 112 seats to
30. Melbourne was the leading player in the planning, preparation
and implementation of Victoria's coronation.
dissolution of parliament: voting in the subsequent general
election took place between 24 July and 18 August. The result was a
victory for Melbourne, whose Whig Party government was returned
to power for another four years. Their majority over the opposition
Conservative (formerly Tory) Party was reduced from 112 seats to
30. Melbourne was the leading player in the planning, preparation
and implementation of Victoria's coronation.
The crowd
Prior to 1838, only the peerage had taken part in a coronation.
The day's ceremonies would have begun in Westminster Hall,
(now attached to the Houses of Parliament), and upon their completion,
peers would have walked together across the road to Westminster Abbey,
where they witnessed the monarch being crowned.
The day's ceremonies would have begun in Westminster Hall,
(now attached to the Houses of Parliament), and upon their completion,
peers would have walked together across the road to Westminster Abbey,
where they witnessed the monarch being crowned.
In accordance with Melbourne's new plan, however, the traditional
ceremonies in Westminster Hall and the procession to the Abbey
were replaced with two much longer processions through London.
ceremonies in Westminster Hall and the procession to the Abbey
were replaced with two much longer processions through London.
Victoria travelled inside the Gold State Coach (also known as the
Coronation Coach), made for George III in 1762, as part of a
procession which included many other coaches, and a
cavalry escort.
Coronation Coach), made for George III in 1762, as part of a
procession which included many other coaches, and a
cavalry escort.
The route was designed to allow as many spectators as possible
to view the procession. It followed a roughly circular route from
the newly completed Buckingham Palace, past Hyde Park Corner
and along Piccadilly, St James's Street, Pall Mall, Charing Cross
and Whitehall, to Westminster Abbey: the journey took a whole
hour.
to view the procession. It followed a roughly circular route from
the newly completed Buckingham Palace, past Hyde Park Corner
and along Piccadilly, St James's Street, Pall Mall, Charing Cross
and Whitehall, to Westminster Abbey: the journey took a whole
hour.
The processions to and from Westminster Abbey were watched
by unprecedentedly large crowds, many of the people having
travelled on the new railways to London from around the country:
it was estimated that 400,000 people had arrived in the capital in
the days running up to the event.
by unprecedentedly large crowds, many of the people having
travelled on the new railways to London from around the country:
it was estimated that 400,000 people had arrived in the capital in
the days running up to the event.
The coronation ceremony
The whole service lasted five hours, and involved two changes
of dress for the Queen. At points in the service when they were not
needed to be present at the Coronation Theatre (composed of the
pavement fronting the main altar and the crossing), the royal
party were able to retreat to "St. Edward's Chapel, as it is called;
but which as Ld Melbourne said, was more unlike a Chapel, than
anything he had ever seen, for what was called an altar,
was covered with plates of sandwiches, bottles of wine, &c".
of dress for the Queen. At points in the service when they were not
needed to be present at the Coronation Theatre (composed of the
pavement fronting the main altar and the crossing), the royal
party were able to retreat to "St. Edward's Chapel, as it is called;
but which as Ld Melbourne said, was more unlike a Chapel, than
anything he had ever seen, for what was called an altar,
was covered with plates of sandwiches, bottles of wine, &c".
At the end of the service, the Treasurer of the Household,
Lord Surrey, threw silver coronation medals to the crowd,
which caused an undignified scramble.
Lord Surrey, threw silver coronation medals to the crowd,
which caused an undignified scramble.
Royal Guests
* The Duchess of Kent and Strathearn, the Queen's mother
* The Prince of Leiningen, the Queen's half-brother
* The Duke of Sussex, the Queen's paternal uncle
* The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, the Queen's paternal
uncle and aunt
uncle and aunt
* Prince George of Cambridge, the Queen's first cousin
* Princess Augusta of Cambridge, the Queen's first cousin
* The Princess Augusta Sophia, the Queen's paternal aunt
* The Duchess of Gloucester and Edinburgh, the Queen's
paternal aunt
paternal aunt
* The Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, the Queen's
maternal uncle
maternal uncle
* The Earl of Munster, the Queen's first cousin
*Prince Christian of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg,
the Queen's third cousin (representing the King of Denmark)
the Queen's third cousin (representing the King of Denmark)
* The Duke of Nassau, the Queen's third cousin
* The Duke of Nemours (representing his father, Louis
Philippe I King of the French)
Philippe I King of the French)
* Prince Ernest Frederick of Hesse-Philippsthal-Barchfeld
(representing Landgrave of Hesse-Philippsthal-Barchfeld)
(representing Landgrave of Hesse-Philippsthal-Barchfeld)
* The Prince of Ligne (representing King Leopold
I of Belgium) More about the family de Ligne on this link
I of Belgium) More about the family de Ligne on this link
_-_Queen_Victoria_Receiving_the_Sacrament_at_her_Coronation,_28_June_1838_-_RCIN_406993_-_Royal_Collection.jpg)
In her journal
"I was awoke at four o'clock by the guns in the Park, and could not
get much sleep afterwards on account of the noise of the people,
bands, etc., etc. Got up at seven, feeling strong and well; the
Park presented a curious spectacle, crowds of people up
Constitution Hill, soldiers, Bands, etc.
get much sleep afterwards on account of the noise of the people,
bands, etc., etc. Got up at seven, feeling strong and well; the
Park presented a curious spectacle, crowds of people up
Constitution Hill, soldiers, Bands, etc.
At ten I got into the State Coach with the Duchess of Sutherland and
Lord Albemarle and we began our Progress. It was a fine day,
and the crowds of people exceeded what I have ever seen;
many as there were the day I went to the City, it was nothing,
nothing to the multitudes, the millions of my loyal subjects,
who were assembled in every spot to witness the Procession.
Their good humour and excessive loyalty was beyond everything,
and I really cannot say how proud I feel to be the Queen of such
a Nation. I was alarmed at times for fear that the people would
be crushed and squeezed on account of the tremendous
rush and pressure.
Lord Albemarle and we began our Progress. It was a fine day,
and the crowds of people exceeded what I have ever seen;
many as there were the day I went to the City, it was nothing,
nothing to the multitudes, the millions of my loyal subjects,
who were assembled in every spot to witness the Procession.
Their good humour and excessive loyalty was beyond everything,
and I really cannot say how proud I feel to be the Queen of such
a Nation. I was alarmed at times for fear that the people would
be crushed and squeezed on account of the tremendous
rush and pressure.
I reached the Abbey amid deafening cheers at a little after
half-past eleven; I first went into a robing-room quite close
to the entrance where I found my eight train-bearers:
Lady Caroline Lennox, Lady Adelaide Paget, Lady Mary Talbot,
Lady Fanny Cowper, Lady Wilhelmina Stanhope,
Lady Anne Fitzwilliam, Lady Mary Grimston and
Lady Louisa Jenkinson — all dressed alike and beautifully
in white satin and silver tissue with wreaths of silver corn-ears
in front, and a small one of pink roses around the plait behind,
and pink roses in the trimmings of the dresses.
half-past eleven; I first went into a robing-room quite close
to the entrance where I found my eight train-bearers:
Lady Caroline Lennox, Lady Adelaide Paget, Lady Mary Talbot,
Lady Fanny Cowper, Lady Wilhelmina Stanhope,
Lady Anne Fitzwilliam, Lady Mary Grimston and
Lady Louisa Jenkinson — all dressed alike and beautifully
in white satin and silver tissue with wreaths of silver corn-ears
in front, and a small one of pink roses around the plait behind,
and pink roses in the trimmings of the dresses.
Then followed all the various things; and last (of those things) the
Crown being placed on my head — which was, I must own, a most
beautiful impressive moment; all the Peers and Peeresses put on
their coronets at the same instant. My excellent Lord Melbourne,
who stood very close to me throughout the whole ceremony, was
completely overcome at this moment, and very much affected; he
gave me such a kind, and I may say fatherly look. The shouts,
which were very great, the drums, the trumpets, the firing of the
guns, all at the same instant, rendered the spectacle most imposing.
The Archbishop had (most awkwardly) put the ring on the wrong
finger, and the consequence was that I had the greatest difficulty to
take it off again, which I at last did with great pain. At about half-past
four I re-entered my carriage, the Crown on my head, and the
Sceptre and Orb in my hands, and we proceeded the same way as
we came — the crowds if possible having increased. The enthusiasm,
affection, and loyalty were really touching, and I shall remember
this day as the Proudest of my life! I came home at a little after six,
really not feeling tired. At eight we dined."
Crown being placed on my head — which was, I must own, a most
beautiful impressive moment; all the Peers and Peeresses put on
their coronets at the same instant. My excellent Lord Melbourne,
who stood very close to me throughout the whole ceremony, was
completely overcome at this moment, and very much affected; he
gave me such a kind, and I may say fatherly look. The shouts,
which were very great, the drums, the trumpets, the firing of the
guns, all at the same instant, rendered the spectacle most imposing.
The Archbishop had (most awkwardly) put the ring on the wrong
finger, and the consequence was that I had the greatest difficulty to
take it off again, which I at last did with great pain. At about half-past
four I re-entered my carriage, the Crown on my head, and the
Sceptre and Orb in my hands, and we proceeded the same way as
we came — the crowds if possible having increased. The enthusiasm,
affection, and loyalty were really touching, and I shall remember
this day as the Proudest of my life! I came home at a little after six,
really not feeling tired. At eight we dined."
✍ What would King Charles write in his diary? 👑
👑 Did you noticed that Queen Camilla wore the same necklace as Queen
Victoria on her coronation! Every queen has wore the necklace on their
coronation since then! Traditions are beautiful! 👑
Victoria on her coronation! Every queen has wore the necklace on their
coronation since then! Traditions are beautiful! 👑
Queen Victoria and her family
More about Queen Victoria and her family?
Check these links:
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