The Coronation Roll

The Coronation Roll is the true state record of the Coronation proceedings from the record of the proclamations on Accession, to listing the Coronation Claims process and followed by a complete record of the Coronation service as it occurred at Westminster Abbey on 6th May 2023.

Watch an interview about the Coronation with Archbishop Justin Welby

Responsibility for the Coronation was the job of The Right Honourable Oliver Dowden MP, Deputy Prime Minister.

Oliver Dowden MP reflects on his memories of the planning and delivery of the Coronation

The Coronation Roll for King Charles III has been created by Antonia Romeo, Clerk of the Crown in Chancery and Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Justice.

Antonia Romeo on the process for creating the Coronation Roll

The practice of creating Coronation Rolls dates back to Edward II and Queen Isabella in 1308. The National Archives holds most of the Coronation Rolls, including that of William and Mary, Queen Victoria, and all the 20th Century Rolls, under the ownership of the Master of the Rolls.

Find out more about the history of the Coronation Rolls

The Coronation Roll

The Roll of Claims and Proceedings at the Coronation of His Most Sacred Majesty Charles the Third by the Grace of God of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and of His other Realms and Territories, King, Head of the Commonwealth, Defender of the Faith, and of Her Majesty Queen Camilla, His Consort.

A Roll

containing certain proceedings relating to the Coronation of His Most Sacred Majesty

Charles The Third

by the Grace of God of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and of His other Realms and Territories, King, Head of the Commonwealth, Defender of the Faith, and of his consort, Her Majesty

Queen Camilla

in the first year of His Reign.

Death of Her late Majesty The Queen and Accession of His Majesty The King

On Thursday the eighth of September Two thousand and twenty-two, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the Second died at Balmoral Castle and His Majesty King Charles the Third succeeded to the throne of the United Kingdom. His Majesty was proclaimed King at the Accession Council, held on Saturday the tenth of September Two thousand and twenty-two at St James’s Palace. The Principal Proclamation was read from the balcony overlooking Friary Court at St James’s Palace by Garter Principal King of Arms:

Whereas it has pleased Almighty God to call to His Mercy our late Sovereign Lady Queen Elizabeth the Second of Blessed and Glorious Memory, by whose Decease the Crown of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is solely and rightfully come to The Prince Charles Philip Arthur George: We, therefore, the Lords Spiritual and Temporal of this Realm and Members of the House of Commons, together with other members of Her late Majesty’s Privy Council and representatives of the Realms and Territories, Aldermen and Citizens of London, and others, do now hereby with one voice and Consent of Tongue and Heart publish and proclaim that The Prince Charles Philip Arthur George is now, by the Death of our late Sovereign of Happy Memory, become our only lawful and rightful Liege Lord Charles the Third, by the Grace of God of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and of His other Realms and Territories, King, Head of the Commonwealth, Defender of the Faith, to whom we do acknowledge all Faith and Obedience with humble Affection; beseeching God by whom Kings and Queens do reign to bless His Majesty with long and happy Years to reign over us.

Given at St. James’s Palace this tenth day of September in the Year of Our Lord Two thousand and twenty-two.

GOD SAVE THE KING

Watch The Reading of the Principal Proclamation

Appointment of a date for the Coronation

On Tuesday the eleventh of October Two thousand and twenty-two, the Royal Household issued a notice announcing that the Coronation of Their Majesties The King and Queen would take place on Saturday the sixth of May Two thousand and twenty-three. The announcement detailed that the Coronation Ceremony would take place at Westminster Abbey and would be conducted by the Archbishop of Canterbury. It outlined that the Ceremony would include the Coronation of The King and The Queen and reflect His Majesty’s sincere wish that the Coronation looked towards the future while also being rooted in long-standing traditions and pageantry.

The King appointed The Right Honourable Sir Clive Alderton KCVO, Principal Private Secretary to Their Majesties, to chair a Coronation Organising Committee at Buckingham Palace, drawing together the preparations of Government, Church and Military. The Committee was assisted by Lieutenant Colonel Michael Vernon, Comptroller of the Lord Chamberlain’s Office and Alexander Scully LVO Deputy Comptroller, Lord Chamberlain’s Office. The specific roles and responsibilities of the State and the Church were clearly defined. The Prime Minister delegated the Government’s overall responsibility for Their Majesties’ Coronation to The Right Honourable Oliver Dowden CBE MP, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster. Responsibility for the delivery of the Coronation arrangements was delegated to the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, The Right Honourable Michelle Donelan MP until the seventh of February, and thereafter The Right Honourable Lucy Frazer KC MP, supported by the Cabinet Office on constitutional and ceremonial arrangements. A range of other Government departments and public servants also contributed to the momentous day. The Archbishop of Canterbury was responsible for the liturgy, in close consultation with the Dean of Westminster. Military ceremonial was commanded by the Major General Commanding the Household Division, Major General Christopher Ghika CBE.

Record of the Coronation Claims Office’s Proceedings

As happened for the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II in One thousand, nine-hundred and fifty-three and for prior coronations, His Majesty requested that a process be established to consider claims from individuals and organisations who believed they had an entitlement to perform a certain customary service related to the Coronation. Historically, these claims were considered by a Court of Claims overseen by legal officers. However, for this Coronation, by agreement of the Royal Household and His Majesty’s Government, the Cabinet Office established instead a Coronation Claims Office to consider claims administratively and assist the Royal Household in settling the arrangements for the Coronation.

The Cabinet Office announced on Thursday the fifth of January Two thousand and twenty-three that a Coronation Claims Office would consider applications for claims in respect of the Coronation ceremony.

The Coronation Claims Office invited, processed and considered claims from individuals and organisations. When considering claims, the responsibility of the Office was to establish two matters: first, whether the service in question had customarily been performed at previous coronations by a particular office-holder, or by the descendant of a particular family, or by the holding of a tenure in grand serjeanty; and second, whether the person submitting the claim had established that they were the relevant office-holder, or descendant of the family, or the holder of a tenure in grand serjeanty, and therefore were the appropriate person to perform the service. Those claims where the Office concluded that an entitlement to perform a service had been established were then submitted to the Royal Household and the Earl Marshal for consideration as to whether and how the service in question should be performed on the day of the Coronation.

The Office was staffed by members of the Cabinet Office, and was overseen by The Right Honourable Oliver Dowden CBE MP as Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, and the Minister with oversight of the planning and delivery of the Coronation on behalf of the Prime Minister. When considering claims, the Office enlisted the support of Garter Principal King of Arms David White, as a ceremonial expert, the Archbishop’s Coronation Planning Director at Lambeth Palace Danny Johnson, as an ecclesiastical expert, and two barristers, Andrew O’Connor KC and Catherine Dobson.

The Coronation Claims Office received a total of four hundred and twenty-nine claims. Claims that related to performing a specific role at the Westminster Abbey service were considered as within the scope of the Coronation Claims Office. Claims related to performing a role at the Westminster Hall Banquet or the foot procession from Westminster Hall to Westminster Abbey were considered as outside the scope of the Office, as the banquet and procession have not been part of the Coronation since One thousand eight hundred and twenty-one. Applications simply to attend the ceremony or for other elements of the events taking place on the weekend of the Coronation were also considered out of scope. Therefore an initial sift was carried out to identify claims which required further consideration by the Coronation Claims Office.

Of the claims judged to be within scope, thirty-two required further consideration by the Coronation Claims Office. Fourteen of these claims had established an entitlement to perform the service claimed, such that they should be submitted to the Royal Household and the Earl Marshal to consider whether and how such service should be performed on the day of the Coronation. Eleven of these were performed in the ceremony. These were:

Dean of the Collegiate Church of St Peter at Westminster
To hold the ceremony and to instruct the monarch in the forms, rites and ceremonies.
Antonia Romeo, Clerk of the Crown in Chancery and Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Justice
To record the proceedings as Clerk of the Crown and to have five yards of cloth.
The Earl of Erroll
To have a silver baton or staff as Lord High Constable of Scotland and have a place in The King’s Procession into Westminster Abbey.
The Lord Carrington
To have the duties of Lord Great Chamberlain.
The Lord Hastings
To bear a Golden Spur in The King’s Procession into Westminster Abbey.
The Earl of Loudoun
To bear a Golden Spur in The King’s Procession into Westminster Abbey.
The Right Reverend Paul Butler, Bishop of Durham
To act as Bishop Assistant to His Majesty The King during the Coronation service.
The City of London
For the Lord Mayor to attend the King within Westminster Abbey during the Coronation, and bear the Crystal Mace in The King’s Procession into Westminster Abbey.
The Earl of Dundee
To carry the Standard of Scotland in The King’s Procession into Westminster Abbey.
The Right Honourable the Lord Lyon King of Arms & The Heralds and Pursuivants of Scotland
To attend the Coronation, and accorded the usual place in the ceremonies and The King’s Procession.
The Right Reverend Michael Beasley, Bishop of Bath and Wells
To act as Bishop Assistant to His Majesty The King during the Coronation service.

The other three claims, that were deemed established and to have been submitted by the appropriate person, were not included in the service. These were:

Mr Ian Russell MVO, Registrar & Seneschal of the Cinque Ports
For Barons of the Cinque Ports to bear the Canopy of His Majesty, or to perform some service in place of doing so. The Canopy is no longer used in The King’s Procession, but in recognition of the historic role the fourteen Barons were given seats at the service.
The Walker Trust
To be Usher of the White Rod at the ceremony. The White Rod is no longer used in The King’s Procession, but in recognition of the historic role the Walker Trust was invited to nominate one representative to attend the Service.
The Earl of Shrewsbury & Waterford
To carry a white wand if invited to attend as Lord High Steward of Ireland. There was not a Lord High Steward of Ireland in His Majesty’s Coronation Service, therefore The Earl of Shrewsbury and Waterford did not participate.

The Coronation Service

The Coronation of His Majesty The King and Her Majesty The Queen took place on Saturday the sixth of May Two thousand and twenty three, at the Collegiate Church of St Peter at Westminster, usually known as Westminster Abbey. At an early hour, guests who had been commanded by His Majesty to be present were shown to their places in various sections of the Abbey.

The Arrangement and Decoration of the Abbey

The Abbey had been decorated especially and arranged for the Coronation according to custom, with the construction of a theatre for the ceremony consisting of a raised platform covered in carpet of gold on the crossing of the Abbey between the Quire stalls and the edge of the Sacrarium, upon which the thrones of The King and The Queen were covered in red velvet. His Majesty’s throne was raised higher, as is customary. The throne chairs were made originally for the Coronation of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth in 1937, and had been restored for this occasion by the Royal School of Needlework with a reappliqué of His Majesty’s Arms to his throne, and a new embroidery of Her Majesty’s Arms attached to her throne.

A carpet of Royal blue had been laid down for the approaches to the theatre including the route of the procession through the Quire, and the North and South Lanterns. Bordering the theatre on the North and South were low screens of carved wood, in front of the chairs of the principal guests. On the south side of the Sacrarium the Chairs of Estate and Faldstools for Their Majesties were arranged. These had been made originally for Her late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and His late Royal Highness Prince Philip for Her Coronation in 1953, and had been re-covered by the Royal School of Needlework with the Cyphers of The King and The Queen. Behind the Chairs of Estate were arranged items of Banqueting and Church Plate, kept normally in HM Tower of London as part of the Royal Collection. Opposite, across the Sacrarium, were seats for the clergy attending the ceremony, including the Archbishops, Bishops, and Chapter of Westminster Abbey. Behind the clergy were stands for the flags of His Majesty’s Realms, the standards of the quarterings of the Royal Arms, and the standard of the Arms of Wales, which were to be carried into the Abbey as part of the processions.

Flower Decorations

Special flower arrangements decorated the theatre and Altar for the first time in the Abbey for the Coronation. The choice of flowers paid tribute to Their Majesties’ deep affection for the natural world and keen passion for gardening. Seasonal spring flowers from gardens, allotments and farmland across the countries of the United Kingdom were chosen, from the coast of Cornwall, the Isle of Skye, Snowdonia, and Tobermore in Northern Ireland. The flowers consisted of blooms from Flowers from the Farm, a non-profit association that champions artisan growers of cut flowers, with foliage from the Royal Horticultural Society at the High Altar.

There was a covered walkway leading to the Great West Door due to inclement weather conditions. At the Great West Door, a pair of tall yew topiaries were positioned, underplanted with a meadow of wild grasses and cowslips, primroses and violets. Around the Tomb of the Unknown Warrior were arranged spring flowers symbolic of remembrance, including sprigs of rosemary, bay for virtue, bluebells and forget-me-nots for constancy of love, daffodils for chivalry, cowslips, and lilac for memories of youth. In the Quire, two displays of seasonal flowers were positioned, on one side close to the Prime Minister and the Cabinet, and on the other side close to the former Prime Ministers. The colours were chosen to reflect the colours of the High Altar and Cosmati Pavements, and the Royal Robes. Flowers included hellebores, a particular favourite of His Majesty, which was included in his buttonhole for Their Majesties’ wedding. Also included were honeysuckle, tulips, ranunculus, blossom, jasmine, and aquilegia, an ancient symbol of the Holy Spirit, with foliage of rosemary, birch, bay and hazel, and wild broom grown on the Isle of Skye.

Above the Altar, flowers and foliage from five Royal Horticultural Society gardens were arranged over the top of the Altar screen, some taken from trees planted by Her late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and His late Royal Highness Prince Philip.

Guests

At The King’s direction based on advice from the UK Government, for his Coronation the congregation was to be drawn from individuals from across the United Kingdom representing the diversity of modern Britain, His Majesty’s Realms, the Commonwealth, and overseas. Guests were advised to attend in Full Ceremonial Day Dress with Medals and Decorations, and the day was classed as a collar day. Among those present were members of the public drawn from Their Majesties’ patronages, emergency, legal and front-line services (including those who had served during the COVID-19 pandemic), together with a number of recipients of the British Empire Medal.

Ahead of the processions, the Cabinet, the Leader of His Majesty’s Loyal Opposition and members of Opposition parties, former Prime Ministers and their spouses, The Speaker of the House of Commons and The Lord Speaker, Presiding Officers of the devolved assemblies and the First Ministers of the devolved administrations of the United Kingdom took their seats. Also in attendance were the Lieutenant Governors of the Crown Dependencies, and representatives of His Majesty’s Overseas Territories. Ahead of the Processions, Foreign and Commonwealth guests arrived via the East Cloister. A full list of all overseas guests and officials is attached to this Roll as an annex.

The Processions

The Procession of Faith Representatives

At 1000, a Procession of Faith leaders and representatives entered the Abbey via the West Cloister door and proceeded via the central Nave aisle to their seats in the North Lantern. They entered as follows:

Verger

Dr Wendi Cunningham Momen MBE – Director and Trustee, National Spiritual Assembly of The Baháʼís of the United Kingdom
Dr Mehool Sanghrajka MBE – Institute of Jainology
Malcolm Deboo – President, Zoroastrian Trust Funds of Europe
The Most Venerable Bogoda Seelawimala – Chief Sangha Nayaka of Great Britain, Head Monk of the London Buddhist Vihara
The Lord Singh of Wimbledon CBE – Director of the Network of Sikh Organisations UK
Visakha Dasi – President of Bhaktivedanta Manor Temple
Dr Aliya Azam MBE – Al Khoei Foundation, Shia Muslim Community
Mufti Sir Hamid Patel CBE – Star Academies, Sunni Muslim Community
Chief Rabbi Sir Ephraim Mirvis KBE – Chief Rabbi of Great Britain and the United Hebrew Congregations of the Commonwealth

Verger

Representing the Churches of Wales

The Reverend Simon Walkling – President, Free Church Council of Wales
The Most Reverend Mark O’Toole – Archbishop of Cardiff
The Most Reverend Andrew John – Archbishop of Wales

Representing the Churches of Scotland

The Right Reverend Hugh Gilbert OSB – President of the Bishops’ Conference of Scotland
The Most Reverend Mark Strange – Primus, Scottish Episcopal Church
The Right Reverend Dr Iain Greenshields – Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland

Representing the Churches of Northern Ireland

The Reverend David Nixon – President, Methodist Church in Ireland
The Right Reverend Dr John Kirkpatrick – Moderator of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland
The Most Reverend Dr Eamon Martin – Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland
The Most Reverend John McDowell – Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland and Metropolitan

Representing the Churches in England

Pastor Agu Irukwu – Senior Pastor, Jesus House UK
Pastor Glyn Barrett – National Leader, Assemblies of God
The Reverend Canon Helen Cameron – Moderator, Free Churches Group
The Right Reverend Mike Royal – General Secretary, Churches Together in England
The Reverend Canon Graham Thompson – President, Methodist Conference
His Eminence Archbishop Angaelos of London OBE – The Coptic Church in Great Britain
His Eminence Archbishop Nikitas – Archbishop of Thyateira and Great Britain
His Eminence Cardinal Vincent Nichols – Cardinal Archbishop of Westminster

The Procession of Commonwealth Realms

At 10:15 the Realm Governors-General, Prime Ministers and representatives began through the Nave and onwards totheir seats in the South Lantern. The procession was led by bearers of their national flags, which were then placed on the North side of the Sacrarium, behind the clergy seats. They entered as follows:

Antigua and Barbuda
Standard Bearer: Kiz Nathaniel
His Excellency Sir Rodney Williams GCMG KGN, Governor-General
Her Excellency Sandra Lady Williams, Spouse of the Governor-General
Honourable Maria Vanessa Browne, Spouse of the Prime Minister
Honourable Gaston Alphonso Browne, Prime Minister

Australia
Standard Bearer: Samantha Kerr
Her Excellency Mrs Linda Hurley, Spouse of the Governor-General
His Excellency General the Honourable David Hurley AC DSC (Retd), Governor-General
Ms Jodie Haydon, Partner of the Prime Minister
The Honourable Anthony Albanese, Prime Minister

The Bahamas
Standard Bearer: Kajar Knowles
Her Excellency Clara Lady Smith, Spouse of the Governor-General
His Excellency The Most Honourable Sir Cornelius A Smith GCMG ON, Governor-General
Mrs Ann-Marie Davis, Spouse of the Prime Minister
The Honourable Philip E Davis KC, Prime Minister

Belize
Standard Bearer: Cameron Gegg
His Excellency Daniel Mendez, Spouse of the Governor-General
Her Excellency Dame Froyla Tzalam GCMG, Governor-General
The Honourable Francis Fonseca, Prime Minister

Canada
Standard Bearer: Jeremy Hansen CD
His Excellency Whit Fraser CC, Spouse of the Governor-General
Her Excellency The Right Honourable Mary Simon, Governor-General
Ms Sophie Trudeau, Spouse of the Prime Minister
The Right Honourable Justin Trudeau, Prime Minister

Grenada
Standard Bearer: Johnson Beharry VC COG
Her Excellency Dame Cecile La Grenade, GCMG OBE, Governor-General
Honourable Dickon Mitchell, Prime Minister

Jamaica
Standard Bearer: David Salmon
Her Excellency The Most Honourable Patricia, Lady Allen, Spouse of the Governor-General
His Excellency The Most Honourable Sir Patrick Allen, GCMG ON CD, Governor-General

New Zealand
Standard Bearer: Hayden Smith
His Excellency Dr Richard Davies, Spouse of the Governor-General
Her Excellency The Right Honourable Dame Cindy Kiro, GNZM QSO, Governor-General
The Right Honourable Chris Hipkins, Prime Minister

Papua New Guinea
Standard Bearer: Noel Leana
Her Excellency Emeline, Lady Tufi Dadae, Spouse of the Governor-General
His Excellency Grand Chief Sir Bob Bofeng Dadae, GCMG GCL, Governor-General
Honourable Justin Tkachenko BEM OL, Foreign Minister
Ms Savannah Raka Tkachenko, Daughter of the Foreign Minister

St Christopher and Nevis
Standard Bearer: Jessica Dunrod
Mr Edward Martin, Guest of the Governor-General
Her Excellency Dame Marcella Liburd, GCMG, Governor-General
The Honourable Dr Terrance Drew, Prime Minister

Saint Lucia
Standard Bearer: Chelsa Jongue
Her Excellency Anysia Charles, Spouse of the Acting Governor-General
His Excellency Errol Charles, Acting Governor-General
Mrs Sonia Severin, Spouse of the High Commissioner
His Excellency Anthony B. Severin, High Commissioner

St Vincent and the Grenadines
Standard Bearer: Adaiah Providence-Culzac
His Excellency Hugh Dougan, Spouse of the Governor-General
Her Excellency Dame Susan Dougan GCMG OBE, Governor-General
Mrs Eloise Gonsalves, Spouse of the Prime Minister
The Honourable Dr Ralph E. Gonsalves, Prime Minister

Solomon Islands
Standard Bearer: Moses William Mose
Her Excellency Mary Lady Vunagi, Spouse of the Governor-General
His Excellency Sir David Vunagi GCMG, Governor-General
Madam Jocelyn Manele, Spouse of Minister for Foreign Affairs
Honourable Jeremiah Manele, Minister for Foreign Affairs

Tuvalu
Standard Bearer: Anya Barber
Her Excellency Tangira, Lady Tofinga, Spouse of the Governor-General
His Excellency The Reverend Sir Tofinga Falani GCMG MBE, Governor-General

The United Kingdom
Standard Bearer: CWO Elliott Tyson-Lee
Mrs Akshata Murty, Spouse of the Prime Minister
The Rt Hon Rishi Sunak MP, Prime Minister

The Procession of Foreign Royal Families

At 10:25, members of foreign ruling and formerly-ruling families processed through the Great West Door and took their seats in the South Lantern. They were:

Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah and Prince Abdul Mateen of Brunei Darussalam
King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden and Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden
King Letsie III and Queen Masenate of Lesotho
Hereditary Prince Alois and Hereditary Princess Sophie of Liechtenstein
King Mswati III of Eswatini and Inkhosikati LaMbikiza of Eswatini
Grand Duke Henri and Grand Duchess Maria Theresa of Luxembourg
King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa and Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa of Bahrain
King Abdullah II and Queen Rania of Jordan
King Tupou VI and Queen Nanasipau’u of Tonga
King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck and Queen Jetsun Pema of Bhutan
Prince Albert II and Princess Charlene of Monaco
King Philippe and Queen Mathilde of the Belgians
The Amir and Sheikha Jawaher Bint Hamad Al Thani of Qatar
King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima of The Netherlands
The Yang di-Pertuan Agong and Raja Permaisuri Agong of Malaysia
King Vajiralongkorn and Queen Suthida of Thailand
King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia of Spain
Queen Anne-Marie, Crown Prince Pavlos and Crown Princess Marie-Chantal of Greece
Tsar Simeon II and Queen Margarita of the Bulgarians
Crown Prince Alexander and Crown Princess Katherine of Serbia
Margareta, Custodian of the Crown of Romania and Prince Radu of Romania
The Crown Prince Theyazin bin Haitham Al Said of Oman
Crown Prince Haakon and Crown Princess Mette-Marit of Norway
Crown Prince Mishal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah of Kuwait
Crown Prince Akishino and Crown Princess Akishino of Japan
Crown Prince Frederik and Crown Princess Mary of Denmark
Prince Rahim Aga Khan
The King of the Ashantis Otumfuo Osei Tutu II and Lady Julia Osei Tutu
Prince Turki Bin Mohammad Bin Fahd and Prince Khalid Bin Bandar Bin Sultan of Saudi Arabia
Princess Lalla Meryem of Morocco

The Procession of the Royal Family and The Queen’s Family

At 10:40, members of the Royal Family and The Queen’s family arrived at the Great West Door and were escorted through the Abbey to their seats in the South Lantern:

The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh
The Lady Louise Mountbatten-Windsor and the Earl of Wessex
The Princess Royal and Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence
The Duke and Duchess of Gloucester
The Earl of Ulster, The Lady Davina Lewis and The Lady Rose Gilman The Duke of Kent
The Earl of St Andrews, the Lord Nicholas Windsor and the Lady Helen Taylor Prince and Princess Michael of Kent
The Lord Frederick Windsor and The Lady Gabriella Kingston
Princess Alexandra, the Honourable Lady Ogilvy
Mr James Ogilvy and Miss Marina Ogilvy
The Duke of Sussex
The Duke of York
Princess Beatrice and Mr Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi
Princess Eugenie and Mr Jack Brooksbank
Mr Peter Phillips
Mr and Mrs Mike Tindall
The Earl of Snowdon
Viscount Linley and The Lady Margarita Armstrong-Jones
Mr Daniel and The Lady Sarah Chatto
Mr Samuel Chatto and Lieutenant Arthur Chatto, RM

Mrs Laura Lopes
Mr Harry Lopes
Miss Eliza Lopes
Mr Tom Parker Bowles
Miss Lola Parker Bowles

The Procession of The King and The Queen

At 10:55, Their Majesties The King and The Queen arrived at the Great West Door in a carriage procession from Buckingham Palace, travelling in the Diamond Jubilee State Coach. The State Coach is an enclosed, six-horse-drawn carriage, built in Australia and made with a variety of materials including timber from Lord Nelson’s flagship, HMS Victory, an original counterweight from Big Ben, a Battle of Britain Spitfire and Hawker Hurricane, a Dambusters Lancaster and part of a musket ball from the Battle of Waterloo.

Watch the Procession of The King and The Queen

The King’s Procession of Heralds and Regalia formed in the Great Cloister, and entered the West Cloister door, processing ahead of Their Majesties through the Abbey. The King and Queen then followed, joining the procession accompanied by various ceremonial officials, The Prince and Princess of Wales, Princess Charlotte of Wales and Prince Louis of Wales, and members of the Royal Household. Prince George of Wales was in attendance upon His Majesty as a Page of Honour.

The Procession passed through the Nave and Quire and up to the High Altar. As the Procession moved through the Abbey the choir sang ‘I was Glad’, composed by Sir Hubert Parry for the Coronation of King Edward VII and arranged by John Rutter based on words from Psalm 122. The cries of ‘Vivat Regina Camilla’ and ‘Vivat Rex Carolus’ were, as is tradition, proclaimed loudly by the King’s scholars of Westminster School. His Majesty’s Procession was composed as follows:

Beadle
The Cross of Wales and Lights

Serjeant of the Vestry
The Reverend Canon Paul Wright LVO
Sub-Dean of His Majesty’s Chapels Royal

The Very Reverend Professor David Fergusson OBE
Dean of the Chapel Royal in Scotland and Dean of the Thistle

The Right Reverend and Right Honourable Dame Sarah Mullally, the Lord Bishop of London DBE
Dean of His Majesty’s Chapels Royal

The Right Reverend David Conner KCVO
Dean of Windsor

The Right Reverend Dr John Inge
Lord High Almoner

The Right Reverend James Newcome
Clerk of the Closet

Primatial Cross of York
borne by The Reverend Dr Jenny Wright, Chaplain to The Archbishop of York

The Most Reverend and Right Honourable Stephen Cottrell
Lord Archbishop of York and Primate of England

Pursuivants of Arms

Thomas Johnston
Rouge Croix Pursuivant

Dominic Ingram
Portcullis Pursuivant

Mark Scott
Bluemantle Pursuivant

Adam Tuck
Rouge Dragon Pursuivant

Philip Tibbetts
March Pursuivant Extraordinary

Colin Russell
Falkland Pursuivant Extraordinary

Professor Gillian Black
Linlithgow Pursuivant Extraordinary

Roderick Macpherson
Unicorn Pursuivant

John Stirling
Ormond Pursuivant

George Way
Carrick Pursuivant

Orders of Chivalry and Gallantry Award Holders

The Central Chancery of the Orders of Knighthood
Lieutenant Colonel Stephen Segrave

The Most Venerable Order of St John
Professor Mark Compton AM GCStJ

The Order of Canada
Professor Margaret MacMillan OM CH CC

The Order of Australia
Yvonne Kenny AM

The Order of New Zealand
Richard McCaw ONZ

Knights Bachelor
The Right Honourable Sir Gary Hickinbottom

The Order of Companions of Honour
The Lord Coe CH KBE

The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire
Dame Susan Ion GBE

The Royal Victorian Order
Lieutenant Colonel Sir Andrew Ford GCVO

The Most Distinguished Order of St Michael and St George
The Right Honourable the Baroness Ashton of Upholland LG GCMG

The Order of Merit
The Right Reverend the Lord Eames OM

The Most Honourable Order of the Bath
Air Chief Marshal Sir Stephen Dalton GCB

The Most Ancient and Most Noble Order of the Thistle
The Right Honourable the Lord Hope of Craighead KT

The Most Noble Order of the Garter
Lady Mary Peters LG CH DBE

Cross of Valour, Australia
Richard Joyes CV

Cross of Valour, Canada
First Officer Leslie Arthur Palmer CV

New Zealand Cross
Abdul Aziz Wahabzadah NZC

The George Cross
Dominic Troulan GC QGM

Victoria Cross, New Zealand
Bill Henry Apiata VC

Victoria Cross, Australia
Corporal Daniel Keighram VC

The Victoria Cross
Keith Payne VC AM
Heralds of Arms

Sir Crispin Agnew of Lochnaw Bt LVO
Albany Herald Extraordinary

Liam Devlin
Rothesay Herald

The Honourable Adam Bruce
Marchmont Herald

The Standard of the Principality of Wales
borne by the Marquess of Anglesey

Standards of the Quarterings of the Royal Arms
borne by

The Duke of Westminster

The Earl of Caledon KCVO

The Earl of Dundee

The Royal Standard
borne by Francis Dymoke

Jo Churchill MP
Vice Chamberlain of the Household

The Right Honourable Marcus Jones MP
Treasurer of the Household

Rebecca Harris MP
Comptroller of the Household

Beadle

The Cross of Westminster and Lights
borne by Andy Mackinder

The Reverend Ralph Godsall
Acting Minor Canon

The Reverend Mark Birch MVO
Minor Canon and Precentor

The Reverend Robert Latham
Minor Canon and Sacrist

Paul Baumann CBE
Receiver General

Sir Kenneth Olisa OBE
High Bailiff

Canons’ Verger

The Venerable Tricia Hillas
Canon Steward and Archdeacon of Westminster

The Reverend Dr James Hawkey
Canon Theologian and Almoner

The Right Reverend Anthony Ball
Canon Rector

The Reverend David Stanton
Sub-Dean and Canon Treasurer

Dean’s Verger
Martin Castledine RVM

The Very Reverend Dr David Hoyle MBE
Dean of Westminster

Primatial Cross of Canterbury
borne by The Reverend Tosin Oladipo, Chaplain to the Archbishop of Canterbury

The Most Reverend and Right Honourable Justin Welby
Lord Archbishop of Canterbury, Primate of All England and Metropolitan

The Reverend Canon Adrian Daffern
Chaplain Extraordinary to the Archbishop of Canterbury

Heralds of Arms

Professor Anne Curry
Arundel Herald Extraordinary

Thomas Lloyd OBE
Wales Herald Extraordinary

David Rankin-Hunt CVO MBE KCN TD
Norfolk Herald Extraordinary

John Robinson
Maltravers Herald Extraordinary

John Allen-Petrie OBE
Windsor Herald

The Honourable Christopher Fletcher-Vane
Chester Herald

Peter O’Donoghue
York Herald

Clive Cheesman
Richmond Herald

Paul Whybrew CVO RVM
Sergeant at Arms

Richard Thompson LVO
Sergeant at Arms

The Queen’s Ring
borne by The Right Reverend and Right Honourable the Lord Chartres GCVO

The Queen’s Rod
borne by the Baroness Kennedy of the Shaws KC

The Queen’s Sceptre
borne by General Sir Patrick Sanders KCB CBE DSO ADC Gen

The Queen’s Crown
borne by the Duke of Wellington OBE

St Edward’s Staff
borne by the Baroness Manningham-Buller LG DCB

The Sceptre with Cross
borne by the Duke of Buccleuch and Queensberry KT KBE CVO, High Steward of Westminster

The Ring
borne by Brigadier Andrew Jackson CBE, Keeper of the Jewel House

The Spur
borne by the Lord Hastings

The Spur
borne by the Earl of Loudoun

The Armills
borne by the Right Honourable the Lord Darzi of Denham OM KBE

The Jewelled Sword of Offering
borne by Petty Officer Amy Taylor

The Sword of Temporal Justice
borne by General the Lord Houghton of Richmond GCB CBE

Curtana, The Sword of Mercy
borne by Air Chief Marshal the Lord Peach GBE KCB

The Sword of Spiritual Justice
borne by General the Lord Richards of Herstmonceux GCB CBE DSO

Robert Noel
Norroy and Ulster King of Arms

Dr Joseph Morrow CVO CBE KC
Lord Lyon King of Arms

Timothy Duke
Clarenceux King of Arms

David White
Garter Principal King of Arms

Alderman Nicholas Lyons
Lord Mayor of the City of London

Sarah Clarke CVO OBE
Lady Usher of the Black Rod

The Earl of Courtown
Captain, The King’s Body Guard of The Yeoman of the Guard

The Earl of Dalhousie GCVO
Deputy Captain General, The King’s Body Guard for Scotland

The Right Honourable the Baroness Williams of Trafford
Captain, His Majesty’s Body Guard of the Honourable Corps of the Gentlemen at Arms

The Lord Carrington
Lord Great Chamberlain

The Earl of Crawford and Balcarres
Deputy to the Great Steward of Scotland

The Earl of Erroll
Lord High Constable of Scotland

The Duke of Norfolk GVCO
Earl Marshal

The Sword of State
borne by The Right Honourable Penny Mordaunt MP, Lord President of the Council

Admiral Sir Tony Radakin KCB ADC RN
Lord High Constable of England

The Sceptre with Dove
borne by Baroness Benjamin OM DBE

The Orb
borne by Dame Elizabeth Anionwu OM DBE

St Edward’s Crown
borne by General Sir Gordon Messenger KCB DSO* OBE, Lord High Steward of England

The Most Reverend Dr Hosam Naoum
Archbishop in Jerusalem, bearing the Holy Bible

The Right Reverend Rose Hudson-Wilkin MBE CD
Bishop of Dover, bearing the Paten

The Right Reverend Dr Guli Francis-Dehqani
Bishop of Chelmsford, bearing the Chalice

The Right Reverend Richard Jackson
Bishop of Hereford, Bishop Assistant

Freddy Parker Bowles
Page of Honour

Arthur Elliot Jackson
Page of Honour

Annabel Elliot
The Queen’s Companion

HER MAJESTY THE QUEEN

The Right Reverend Graham Usher
Bishop of Norwich, Bishop Assistant

Louis Lopes
Page of Honour

Gus Lopes
Page of Honour

The Marchioness of Lansdowne
The Queen’s Companion

Major Oliver Plunket
The Groom of the Robes

The Right Reverend Dr Michael Beasley
Bishop of Bath and Wells, Bishop Assistant

Nicholas Barclay
Page of Honour

The Lord Oliver Cholmondeley
Page of Honour

HIS MAJESTY THE KING

The Right Reverend Paul Butler
Bishop of Durham, Bishop Assistant

Ralph Tollemache
Page of Honour

Prince George of Wales
Page of Honour

Lieutenant Colonel Jonathan Thompson
The Groom of the Robes

Princess Charlotte of Wales

Prince Louis of Wales

The Princess of Wales

The Prince of Wales

The Lord de Mauley TD
Master of the Horse

The Earl of Rosslyn CVO QPM
Lord Steward

The Right Honourable the Lord Parker of Minsmere GCVO KCB
Lord Chamberlain

The Right Honourable Sir Edward Young KCVO
Joint Principal Private Secretary to The King

Sophie Densham LVO
Private Secretary to The Queen

The Right Honourable Sir Clive Alderton KCVO
Principal Private Secretary to The King and The Queen

Vice Admiral Sir Tony Johnstone-Burt KCVO CB OBE
Master of the Household

Sir Michael Stevens KCVO
Keeper of the Privy Purse

Tim Knox
Director of the Royal Collection

Lieutenant Colonel Michael Vernon
Comptroller, Lord Chamberlain’s Office

The Coronation Service

Greeting and Introduction

On passing the Quire, those processing moved to their seats or stations in or beyond the Theatre. The King and Queen proceeded to their Chairs of Estate, before which Faldstools had been placed. The Prince and Princess of Wales, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis of Wales proceeded to their chairs in the South East Lantern.

Garter Principal King of Arms then led Samuel Strachan, Child of His Majesty’s Chapel Royal, to a position on the Sacrarium in front of Their Majesties to perform the Greeting, a new addition at the start of His Majesty’s Coronation. He addressed The King thus:

“Your Majesty, as children of the Kingdom of God we welcome you in the name of the King of Kings.”

To which His Majesty replied: “In His name and after His example I come not to be served but to serve.”

There then followed a moment of private prayer and reflection, where Their Majesties stood at their Chairs of Estate with their heads bowed.

The Most Reverend and Right Honourable Justin Welby, Archbishop of Canterbury, Primate of All England and Metropolitan, gave the greeting and introduction.

On completion of the introduction, Sir Bryn Terfel CBE sang the ‘Kyrie Eleison’ from the Quire in both Welsh and English in a new composition for the Coronation service by Paul Mealor.

Watch the Greeting and Introduction

The Recognition

Watch the Recognition

The Archbishop, together with Garter Principal King of Arms, moved with His Majesty to face the High Altar to perform the Act of Recognition. The Archbishop proclaimed: “I here present unto you King Charles, your undoubted King: Wherefore all you who are come this day to do your homage and service, are you willing to do the same?”

To which the congregation cried: “God Save King Charles!”

The King then moved to face the South, West, and North, where Lady Elish Angiolini LT DBE PC KC, Christopher Finney GC (Chair of the Victoria Cross and George Cross Association), and The Right Honourable the Baroness Amos LG CH each repeated the same words of the Act of Recognition respectively, and to each the congregation responded heartily: “God Save King Charles!” After each acclamation the Fanfare Trumpeters of the Royal Air Force sounded a fanfare.

Presentation of the Holy Bible and Oath Taking

Watch the Oath Taking

The King returned to his Chair of Estate and the Archbishop passed the Coronation Bible made for His Majesty to the Right Reverend Dr Iain Greenshields, Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland. Both the Archbishop and the Moderator approached The King and the Moderator presented the Bible to The King saying:

“Sir, to keep you ever mindful of the law and the Gospel of God as the Rule for the whole life and government of Christian Princes, receive this Book, the most valuable thing that this world has to offer. Here is Wisdom; this is the Royal Law; these are the lively Oracles of God.”

Before The King took the Coronation Oath required by law, the Archbishop approached the Chair of Estate and said: “Your Majesty, the Church established by law, whose settlement you will swear to maintain, is committed to the true profession of the Gospel, and, in so doing, will seek to foster an environment in which people of all faiths and beliefs may live freely. The Coronation Oath has stood for centuries and is enshrined in law. Are you willing to take the Oath?”

His Majesty responded: “I am willing.”

The King then proceeded to take the Coronation Oath. The King placed his right hand on the Holy Bible, and the Archbishop administered the Coronation Oath to The King, asking: “Will you solemnly promise and swear to govern the Peoples of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, your other Realms and the Territories to any of them belonging or pertaining, according to their respective laws and customs?”

The King responded: “I solemnly promise so to do.”

The Archbishop continued to administer the Coronation Oath, asking: “Will you to your power cause Law and Justice, in Mercy, to be executed in all your judgements?”

The King replied: “I will.”

The King knelt on his Faldstool and placed both hands on the Holy Bible while the Archbishop asked: “Will you to the utmost of your power maintain the Laws of God and the true profession of the Gospel? Will you to the utmost of your power maintain in the United Kingdom the Protestant Reformed Religion established by law? Will you maintain and preserve inviolably the settlement of the Church of England, and the doctrine, worship, discipline, and government thereof, as by law established in England? And will you preserve unto the Bishops and Clergy of England, and to the Churches there committed to their charge, all such rights and privileges as by law do or shall appertain to them or any of them?”

The King answered: “All this I promise to do”, and continued with both hands still on the Holy Bible: “The things which I have here before promised, I will perform and keep. So help me God.”

His Majesty kissed the Holy Bible.

His Majesty proceeded to make the Accession Declaration with both hands still placed on the Holy Bible. The Archbishop asked:“Your Majesty, are you willing to make, subscribe and declare to the statutory Accession Declaration Oath?”

His Majesty confirmed: “I am willing.”

His Majesty declared: “I Charles do solemnly and sincerely in the presence of God profess, testify, and declare that I am a faithful Protestant, and that I will, according to the true intent of the enactments which secure the Protestant succession to the Throne, uphold and maintain the said enactments to the best of my powers according to law.”

Sitting on the Chair of Estate and in sight of all the people, His Majesty applied the Royal Sign Manual to printed versions of the Coronation Oath and Accession Declaration which are attached as an annex to this Roll. The Choir sang ‘Prevent us, O Lord’ by William Byrd.

The King then moved to the Altar and knelt on a Faldstool before saying the following prayer, facing the Altar. This was a new element introduced for the first time for His Majesty’s Coronation service: “God of compassion and mercy whose Son was sent not to be served but to serve, give grace that I may find in thy service perfect freedom and in that freedom knowledge of thy truth. Grant that I may be a blessing to all thy children, of every faith and belief, that together we may discover the ways of gentleness and be led into the paths of peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.”

The King then returned to the Chair of Estate, while the choir sang ‘Gloria in Excelsis’ by William Byrd.

The Readings and Sermon

The Archbishop, standing at the High Altar, prayed: “LORD, enthroned in heavenly splendour: Look with favour upon thy servant Charles our King, and bestow upon him such gifts of wisdom and love that we and all thy people may live in peace and prosperity and in loving service one to another; to thine eternal glory, who with the Father and the Holy Spirit reignest supreme over all things, one God, now and for ever. Amen.”

The Prime Minister, the Right Honourable Rishi Sunak MP was then verged to the Nave pulpit from his seat in the Quire, from where he read the Epistle, from Paul’s letter to the Colossians 1:9-17.

The congregation stood. The choir sang the ‘Alleluia’, based on words from Psalm 47:1-2 composed by Debbie Wiseman OBE especially for Their Majesties’ Coronation.

While the choir sang, the ancient Saint Augustine Gospels were carried by the Master of Corpus Christi College Cambridge, Professor Christopher Kelly, in the Gospel procession to the Nave, just West of the Organ Screen. He was followed by the Bishop of London and Dean of His Majesty’s Chapels Royal, the Right Reverend and Right Honourable Dame Sarah Mullally DBE, who then delivered the Gospel reading from the Gospel of Luke 4:16-21, standing in the Nave.

The Ascension Gospel Choir responded with a second sung Alleluia, also composed by Debbie Wiseman for the Coronation, based on words from Psalm 47:6-7a. During the Alleluia, the Gospel procession returned to the Sacrarium, where it paused for The King to touch the sixth-century Gospel book, before continuing through the Chapel of St Edward to St Paul’s Chapel.

The Archbishop, standing in the Great Pulpit, delivered his sermon to The King and the congregation present. The Archbishop said that on this day a king was being crowned to serve, for the gain of all, and that with the privilege of power comes a duty to serve. He spoke of the life of Jesus Christ, the King of kings, who was anointed to serve not be served, and whose throne was a cross, whose crown was made of thorns, and whose regalia was wounds pierced in his body. He declared that service is love in action and that this is seen in the life of duty of The King. He noted the young people gathered in St Margaret’s Church, whose lives spoke of service, and that it is this service that binds us together and offers societies that are strong, joyful, happy and glorious.

The Archbishop then moved and knelt at the High Altar. The King and The Queen knelt on the Faldstools at their Chairs of Estate. The choir then sang the ‘Veni Creator’ in English, Welsh, Gaelic and Irish. While the choir sang, the Dean brought the Ampulla to the Altar, handing it to the Anglican Archbishop of Jerusalem. The Archbishop of Canterbury then consecrated the oil, saying the Prayer of Consecration as follows:

“Blessed art thou, Sovereign God, upholding with thy grace all who are called to thy service. The prophets of old anointed priests and kings to serve in thy name and in the fullness of time thine only Son was anointed by the Holy Spirit to be the Christ, the Saviour and Servant of all. By the power of the same Spirit, grant that this holy oil may be for thy servant Charles a sign of joy and gladness; that as King he may know the abundance of thy grace and the power of thy mercy; and that we may be made a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for thine own possession. Blessed be God, our strength and our salvation, now and for ever. Amen.”

The Anointing of The King

The most sacred part of the Coronation Service began. The Choir sang the Anthem ‘Zadok the Priest’, composed by George Frideric Handel for the Coronation of King George II. The King, assisted by the Groom of the Robes and the Bishops of Durham and Bath and Wells, was divested of the Robe of State. Her Majesty was also divested of the Robe of State. Meanwhile, the Household Division brought forth the Anointing Screen commissioned for the Coronation to surround the Chair on the North, West and South sides, to shield the Coronation Chair from all. His Majesty, thus afforded the privacy to make his solemn covenant with God, proceeded to the Coronation Chair, facing the High Altar, behind the Anointing Screen. Holding the screen in place, the Household Division bowed their heads in solemn reflection. The design on the central screen took the form of a Tree of Life, with leaves bearing the names of the fifty-six countries of the Commonwealth, with The King’s Cypher positioned at the base of the tree to represent the Sovereign as servant of their people.

Watch The Anointing of The King

Behind the screen the Dean poured some of the consecrated oil from the Ampulla into the Spoon. Behind the Anointing Screen and unseen by the congregation the Archbishop reverently anointed the King, vested in a simple white shirt, in the form of a cross on his hands, breast and head with the solemn words: “Be your hands anointed with holy oil. Be your breast anointed with holy oil. Be your head anointed with holy oil, as kings, priests, and prophets were anointed. And as Solomon was anointed king by Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet, so may you be anointed, blessed, and consecrated King over the peoples, whom the Lord your God has given you to rule and govern; in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.”

The Household Division then removed the Anointing Screen, and the King stepped down from the Coronation Chair to kneel before the Altar, where a prayer of blessing was spoken over him by the Archbishop.

The Groom of the Robes then brought out vestments from the Shrine, and the Bishops of Durham and Bath and Wells vested The King in the Colobium Sindonis, the embroidered Supertunica and the Girdle, after which he sat in The Coronation Chair.

The Presentation of the Regalia

The Spurs, which were made in One thousand, six hundred and sixty-one for the Coronation of King Charles II, as a symbol of courage in battle, were presented to The King by the Lord Great Chamberlain. The Archbishop declared: “Receive these spurs, symbols of military honour and chivalry: May you be a brave advocate for those in need.”

Watch the presentation of The Spurs

The Byzantine Chant Ensemble then sang words from Psalms 72 and 20. During the ancient chant the Lord President of the Council, The Right Honourable Penny Mordaunt MP – who until now had been bearing the Sword of State before His Majesty on the Sacrarium – exchanged the Sword of State for the Jewelled Sword of Offering. She then presented it to the Archbishop, who held it before the Altar and prayed: “Hear our prayers, O Lord, we beseech thee, and so direct and support thy servant King Charles, that he may not bear the Sword in vain; but may use it as the minister of God to resist evil and defend the good, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.”

The Archbishop returned the sword to the Lord President of the Council, who carried it to The King and placed it in his right hand. The Archbishop then declared: “Receive this kingly Sword: may it be to you and all who witness these things, a sign and symbol not of judgement, but of justice; not of might, but of mercy.”

The King rose and the sword was clipped onto the girdle after which he once more sat, and the Archbishop prayed: “With this sword do justice, stop the growth of iniquity, protect the holy Church of God and all people of goodwill, help and defend widows and orphans, restore the things that are gone to decay, maintain the things that are restored, punish and reform what is amiss, and confirm what is in good order: that doing these things you may be glorious in all virtue; and so faithfully serve our Lord Jesus Christ in this life, that you may reign for ever with him in the life which is to come. Amen.”

The King once more stood, the sword was unclipped and, as is ancient tradition, The King surrendered it to the Dean of Westminster who placed it on the Altar. The sword was redeemed from the Altar by the Lord President of the Council, who placed the redemption money – a bag of newly minted coins bearing His Majesty’s effigy – on the alms dish, held by the Dean. The Keeper of the Jewel House unsheathed the sword and handed it to the Lord President of the Council, who thereafter bore it before His Majesty.

Watch the presentation of The Swords

The Armills were presented to The King by the Lord Kamall, a Peer from the Muslim faith in fulfilment of His Majesty’s desire that all the principal faiths of the United Kingdom be given places of honour on his Coronation Day. The King put his hand on the Armills while the Archbishop declared: “Receive the Bracelets of sincerity and wisdom, tokens of the Lord’s protection embracing you on every side.”

Watch the presentation of the Armills

The Robe Royal, imbued with symbolism of the British Isles, was then brought from the Shrine to The King by The Baroness Merron, a Peer from the Jewish faith. Concurrently the Stole, made for this Coronation by the Worshipful Company of Girdlers, was brought from the Shrine by the Groom of the Robes. The King stood, stepped down onto the Cosmati Pavement and was vested with the Stole by The Prince of Wales. The Robe was handed to the Bishops of Durham and Bath and Wells, who vested The King, assisted by the Prince of Wales who fastened the Robe’s clasp. The King returned to sit in The Coronation Chair. The Archbishop then declared: “Receive this Robe. May the Lord clothe you with the robe of righteousness, and with the garments of salvation.”

Watch the presentation of the Robe Royal and Stole

The Orb was then brought forward by the Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland and Metropolitan, who handed the Orb to the Archbishop, who placed it in The King’s right hand and declared: “Receive this Orb, set under the Cross, and remember always the kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our God, and of his Christ.” The Orb was then returned to the Altar.

Watch the presentation of the Orb

The Ring was then presented to The King by The Lord Patel KT, a Peer from the Hindu faith. The King put his hand on the Ring, while the Archbishop declared: “Receive this Ring, a symbol of kingly dignity, and a sign of the covenant sworn this day between God and King, King and people.”

Watch the presentation of the Ring

The Glove was then presented to The King by The Lord Singh of Wimbledon, a Peer from the Sikh faith. The King put the Glove on his right hand, while the Archbishop declared: “Receive this glove, that you may hold authority with gentleness and grace; trusting not in your own power but in the mercy of God.”

Watch the presentation of the Glove

The Sceptre with Cross and the Sceptre with Dove were then brought forward by the Primus of the Scottish Episcopal Church and the Archbishop of Wales. The Archbishop then placed them in The King’s right and left hands respectively, saying: “Receive the Royal Sceptre, the ensign of kingly power and justice; and the Rod of equity and mercy, a symbol of covenant and peace. May the Spirit of the Lord who anointed Jesus at his baptism, so anoint you this day, that you might exercise authority with wisdom, and direct your counsels with grace; that by your service and ministry to all your people, justice and mercy may be seen in all the earth.”

Watch the presentation of the Sceptre and Rod

This concluded the presentation of the Regalia. The King remained seated in the Chair of St Edward, holding the Sceptres.

The Crowning of The King

Watch the Crowning of The King

All the congregation and Her Majesty The Queen then stood for the Crowning of The King as the Archbishop moved to the High Altar. Raising aloft the St Edward’s Crown the Archbishop prayed: “King of kings and Lord of lords, bless we beseech thee this Crown, and so sanctify thy servant Charles upon whose head this day thou dost place it for a sign of royal majesty, that he may be crowned with thy gracious favour and filled with abundant grace and all princely virtues; through him who liveth and reigneth, supreme over all things, one God, world without end.”

The congregation declared “Amen!”

The Archbishop then approached The King in the Chair of St Edward, and reverently and silently crowned him with the Crown of St Edward which had been brought to the Chair by the Dean of Westminster. Standing back onto the Cosmati Pavement the Archbishop declared

“God Save The King!”

All people in the Abbey acclaimed loudly

“God Save The King!”

Immediately, the trumpets of the Coronation Brass Ensemble sounded with Strauss’s Wiener Philharmoniker Fanfare. The Abbey bells rang and Gun Salutes were fired in Horse Guards Parade by The King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery. This was accompanied by Gun Salutes at His Majesty’s Fortress of the Tower of London fired by the Honourable Artillery Company, and at all Saluting Stations throughout the United Kingdom, Gibraltar, Bermuda and on ships at sea.

The Blessing of The King

The Archbishop was then joined by the Archbishop of York and ecumenical leaders to say prayers of blessing for The King and His people, an innovation for this Coronation.

The Archbishop of York prayed: “The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you. The Lord lift up the light of his countenance upon you, and give you His peace.”

The Greek Orthodox Archbishop of Thyateira & Great Britain prayed: “The Lord protect you in all your ways and prosper all your work in His name.”

The Moderator of The Free Churches prayed: “The Lord give you hope and happiness, that you may inspire all your people in the imitation of His unchanging love.”

The Secretary General of Churches Together in England prayed: “The Lord grant that wisdom and knowledge be the stability of your times, and the fear of the Lord your treasure.”

The Cardinal Archbishop of Westminster prayed: “May God pour upon you the riches of His grace, bless you and keep you in His holy fear, prepare you for a happy eternity, and receive you at the last into immortal glory.”

The Archbishop of Canterbury concluded the prayers of blessing, saying: “And the blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, be with you and remain with you always.”

The congregation declared “Amen!” before sitting.

While the choir sang an anthem by Thomas Weelkes, based on words from The Book of Common Prayer of 1559, the Archbishops of Canterbury and York then processed to The King’s throne and stood on its left and right. They were followed by the bearers of the Sword of Temporal Justice, Curtana the Sword of Mercy, and the Sword of Spiritual Justice, who stood behind the throne and were joined by Great Officers of State, the Lord High Steward, the Lord Great Chamberlain, the Lord High Constable, and the Earl Marshal. The King was then escorted to the throne crowned and, still holding the Sceptres, by the Bishops of Durham and Bath and Wells, preceded by the Lord President of the Council holding the Sword of State and followed by the Bishops of the Royal Household, the Bishops of London, Worcester, and Carlisle.

The Enthroning and Homage

The King was then enthroned by the Archbishops, with the Archbishop of Canterbury praying: “Stand firm, and hold fast from henceforth this seat of royal dignity, which is yours by the authority of Almighty God. May that same God, whose throne endures for ever, establish your throne in righteousness, that it may stand fast for evermore.” The King then handed the Sceptres to the Bishops of Durham and Bath and Wells who gave them to the Officers of State.

Watch the Enthroning

The Archbishop knelt before The King and, touching the Robe Royal, lead the words of fealty saying: “I, Justin, Archbishop of Canterbury, will be faithful and true, and faith and truth I will bear unto you, our Sovereign Lord, Defender of the Faith; and unto your heirs and successors according to law. So help me God.”

The Prince of Wales stepped into the Theatre, knelt before his father The King and placing his hands between The King’s declared “I, William, Prince of Wales, pledge my loyalty to you and faith and truth I will bear unto you, as your liege man of life and limb. So help me God.” The Prince of Wales then stood, touched the Crown and kissed his father on the left cheek. The King responded “Thank you, William”.

Watch the Homage of The Prince of Wales

The congregation stood and the Archbishop said: “I now invite those who wish to offer their support to do so, with a moment of private reflection, by joining in saying ‘God Save King Charles’ at the end or for those with the words before them to recite them in full.” The Archbishop then led the people in their Homage to The King, with all those in the Abbey saying: “I swear that I will pay true allegiance to Your Majesty, and to your heirs and successors according to law. So help me God.”

A fanfare was sounded, after which the Archbishop proclaimed loudly: “God Save The King.” Those in the Abbey responded: “God Save King Charles, Long Live King Charles, May The King live forever.” The Sceptres were then returned to The King.

The Choir together with Roderick Williams OBE sang the anthem ‘Confortare’, composed by Sir Walford Davies KCVO OBE for the Coronation of King George VI and arranged by John Rutter, based on words from 1 Kings 2:1-3.

The Coronation of The Queen

While the choir sang, the Archbishop moved to stand before The Queen at her Chair of Estate, and The Dean brought the Ampulla and Spoon from the High Altar, while The Queen knelt before the Chair on the Faldstool.

The Dean poured some of the oil from the Ampulla into the Spoon. The Archbishop, with the approval of The King, then anointed The Queen on her forehead with the words: “Be your head anointed with holy oil. Almighty God, the fountain of all goodness; hear our prayer this day for thy servant Camilla, whom in thy name, and with all devotion, we consecrate our Queen; make her strong in faith and love, defend her on every side, and guide her in truth and peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.”

The Queen’s Ring was then presented to The Queen by the Dean of Westminster. The Queen put her hand alongside the Ring while the Archbishop declared: “Receive this Ring, a symbol of royal dignity, a sign of the covenant sworn this day.”

Watch the Crowning and Coronation of The Queen

The Crown was then brought by the Dean to the Archbishop, who placed it on The Queen’s head praying: “May thy servant Camilla, who wears this crown, be filled by thine abundant grace and with all princely virtues; reign in her heart, O King of love, that, being certain of thy protection, she may be crowned with thy gracious favour; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.”

The Queen Consort’s Rod with Dove and The Queen Consort’s Sceptre with Cross were then presented to The Queen by The Right Reverend and Right Honourable the Lord Chartres and The Right Reverend Rose Hudson Wilkin, Bishop of Dover. The Queen placed her hand on the Rod and Sceptre in turn, as the Archbishop declared: “Receive the Royal Sceptre. Receive the Rod of equity and mercy. May the Spirit guide you in wisdom and grace, that, by your service and ministry, justice and mercy may be seen in all the earth”.

The Coronation of The Queen concluded, the Choir then sang ‘Make a Joyful Noise’, composed by Lord Lloyd-Webber for the King’s Coronation Service and based on words from Psalm 98. As the choir sang, The Queen was escorted by the Bishops of Hereford and Norwich to her throne in the Theatre. After curtseying in front of The King she was enthroned by the Archbishops, with her companions standing behind the throne.

The Choir and congregation then stood to sing the hymn ‘Christ is Made the Sure Foundation’, composed by Purcell and arranged by James O’Donnell. During the hymn The King and Queen were escorted from their thrones, through the Chapel of St Edward where they were divested of their Crowns, and then returned to the Chairs of Estate. As they passed the Altar, The King touched the bread and the wine, to be consecrated for the Holy Communion. The King passed the Sceptre to the Bishops of Durham and Bath and Wells, who placed them in the Shrine.

The Celebration of Communion

The Archbishop then began the celebration of communion, praying over the gifts and leading the congregation in the eucharistic prayer, praying for King Charles as the Defender of the Faith and Protector of the People. During the prayers the choir sang ‘The Sanctus’, composed for the King’s Coronation service by Roxanna Panufnik. At the end of the prayers the Archbishop invited the congregation to join in praying the Lord’s Prayer, each saying it in their own language.

The choir then sang the ‘Agnus Dei’, composed for the King’s Coronation service by Tarik O’Regan. Their Majesties, standing at the Chairs of Estate, then received the Bread and the Cup from the Archbishop and took Holy Communion. The Archbishop then returned to the Altar and said the post communion prayer and prayed the final blessing: “Our help is in the Name of the Lord; Who hath made heaven and earth. Blessed be the Name of the Lord; Now and henceforth, world without end. Christ our King, make you faithful and strong to do his will, that you may reign with him in glory; and the blessing of God almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, rest upon you, and all whom you serve, this day, and all your days. Amen.”

The choir then sang the ‘Amen’, composed by Orlando Gibbons, and were joined by the congregation for the final hymn ‘Praise My Soul the King of Heaven’, composed by John Goss based on words from Psalm 103.

The choir then sang the anthem ‘The King Shall Rejoice’, composed by William Boyce for the Coronation of King George III based on words from Psalm 21, and then a second anthem ‘Te Deum’, composed by William Walton for the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II and arranged by John Rutter. As the choir sang, the Procession formed up in the Theatre.

In the meantime, The King and Queen repaired to Saint Edward’s Chapel. The King was there disrobed of the Robe Royal and was arrayed in his Robe of Estate of purple silk velvet, made for the Coronation of King George VI. The Queen was arrayed in her Robe of Estate, a new design created and embroidered for this Coronation decorated with insects including bees and butterflies drawing on the themes of nature and the environment, and reflecting Their Majesties’ affection for the natural world. In addition, there were a total of twenty-four plants featured on the robe, all chosen for their personal associations.

The Recession

At the sound of the trumpet fanfare The King and Queen emerged from the Chapel and processed to the Great West Door, The King wearing the Imperial State Crown and holding the Sceptre with Cross in his right hand and the Orb in his left.

The choir and congregation sang the National Anthem, arranged by Gordon Jacob. As the Procession moved through the Abbey the orchestra played ‘Pomp & Circumstance March No.4’, composed by Sir Edward Elgar arranged by Iain Farrington, and ‘March from The Birds’, composed by Sir Hubert Parry and arranged by John Rutter.

Watch the Recession

The Procession from the High Altar, through the Quire, Nave and to the Great West Door was composed as follows:

Beadle

Cross of Westminster and Lights

The Minor Canons

Receiver General

High Bailiff High Steward

Canons’ Verger

The Canons of Westminster

Dean’s Verger

The Dean of Westminster

Primatial Cross of Canterbury

The Archbishop of Canterbury

Chaplain Extraordinary to the Archbishop of Canterbury

The Sword of Temporal Justice
borne by General the Lord Houghton of Richmond GCB CBE

Curtana, The Sword of Mercy
borne by Air Chief Marshal the Lord Peach GBE KCB

The Sword of Spiritual Justice
borne by General the Lord Richards of Herstmonceux GCB CBE DSO

Robert Noel
Norroy and Ulster King of Arms

Dr Joseph Morrow CVO CBE KC
Lord Lyon King of Arms

Timothy Duke
Clarenceux King of Arms

David White
Garter Principal King of Arms

Sarah Clarke CVO OBE
Lady Usher of the Black Rod

The Duke of Norfolk
GCVO

Earl Marshal

The Jewelled Sword of Offering
borne by The Right Honourable Penny Mordaunt MP
Lord President of the Council

HIS MAJESTY THE KING

The Bishop of Bath and Wells

The Bishop of Durham

Pages of Honour, including Prince George of Wales

The Groom of the Robes

HER MAJESTY THE QUEEN

The Bishop of Hereford

The Bishop of Norwich

Pages of Honour

The Queen’s Companions

The Groom of the Robes

The Princess of Wales
Prince Louis of Wales

The Prince of Wales
Princess Charlotte of Wales

The Duke of Edinburgh

The Duchess of Edinburgh

The Lady Louise Mountbatten-Windsor

Earl of Wessex

Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence

The Princess Royal

The Duke of Gloucester

The Duchess of Gloucester

The King processed South of the Tomb of the Unknown Warrior, pausing outside the St George’s Chapel to acknowledge the Governors-General of His Majesty’s Realms who had moved from their seats in the South Transept ahead of Their Majesties’ departure.

At the Great West Door The King was greeted by faith leaders and representatives, from the Jewish, Hindu, Sikh, Muslim and Buddhist faiths, who said: “Your Majesty, as neighbours in faith, we acknowledge the value of public service. We unite with people of all faiths and beliefs in thanksgiving, and in service with you for the common good.”

Watch the Greeting of Faith Leaders and Representatives

The King acknowledged the greeting and then proceeded through the Great West Door to the Gold State Coach, joining Her Majesty and other members of the Royal Family for the return Coronation procession to Buckingham Palace.

So ended the solemnities of the Coronation of His Most Sacred Majesty King Charles the Third and Her Majesty Queen Camilla.

Statement of Coronation claim

I confirm that this Coronation Roll is a true and accurate record of the proceedings of the Coronation of His Most Sacred Majesty King Charles the Third and Her Majesty Queen Camilla. This Roll was scrivened on Friday the fifth of April, Two thousand and twenty-four. An interactive digital version will also be made available online.

Antonia Romeo
Clerk of the Crown in Chancery

Note on Coronation Roll creation

The Clerk of the Crown was supported in the creation of the record by the Major Events Division in the Cabinet Office.

Attachments:

Attached signed printed version of the Oath

Here follows the signed manuscript of the Oath taken by the King as described above.

Attached signed printed version of the Accession Declaration

Here follows the signed manuscript of the Accession Declaration taken by the King as described above.

Attached Protocol on the Roll creation

Here follows an attached protocol on the creation of the Coronation Roll.

Attached list of Overseas Guests and Official attendees

Here follows a list of attendees at the Coronation of The King and Queen.

Note on delivery to the National Archive

On Thursday the twenty-first of December, Two thousand and twenty-three Sir Geoffrey Vos, Master and Keeper of the Rolls, exercising the power conferred on him by section 7 of the Public Records Act 1958, determined that this Roll should be deposited in the Public Records Office in the custody of the Keeper of the Records.