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Queen Elizabethwas crowned on June 2, 1953, in the world’s first televisedcoronation— but the cameras only showed so much of the groundbreaking day.
With the countdown on for the crowning ceremony of her son and successorKing Charleson May 6, look back at the most glittering moments from the last coronation that the history books have largely missed.
1.Queen ElizabethII was the sixth Queen to be crowned at Westminster Abbey in London (where every coronation for a British monarch has been held since 1066) “in her own right,” theRoyal Familystates — as a queen regnant rather than queen consort. She followed in the footsteps of Queen Mary I (1553),Queen ElizabethI (1559), Queen Mary II (1689), Queen Anne (1702) and Queen Victoria (1838).
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- Designer Normal Hartnell symbolically stitched the emblems of the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth into the Queen’swhite satin coronation dress. The royal had worked with Hartnell before on another milestone fashion moment — herwedding gownin 1947.
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- In another bridal-like tribute, the Queenarrivedat Westminster Abbey with a white bouquet in hand. The coronation bouquet featured orchids and lily of the valley from England, stephanotis from Scotland, orchids from Wales, and carnations from Northern Ireland and the Isle of Man.
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6.Queen Elizabeth’s three-hour coronation was divided into six parts: the recognition, the oath, the anointing, the investiture (including the crowning), the enthronement and the homage.
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- A grand total of 8,251 guests packed into Westminster for the historic service, where 129 nations and territories were represented.
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As Prime Minister Winston Churchill, foreign royal families and more packed into the pews, a future first lady of the United States was on the ground as a reporter.Jacqueline Bouvier, the future wife ofJohn F. Kennedy, was also there on assignment for theWashington Times-Herald, where she was working at the time.
Among the youngest guests in attendance was the futureKing Charles, age 4.Prince Charles' very presence at the crowning ceremony made history, as theRoyal Familystates was the first child to see his mother crowned as sovereign. He even received his own colorful invitation, decorated with trumpeting Grenadier Guards and the lion and unicorn of the royal coat of arms.
Meanwhile, 2-year-oldPrincess Annewas deemed too young to attend the serious service. She’d join her family on the balcony of Buckingham Palace later in the day, however.
Queen Elizabeth, Prince Charles, Princess Anne and Prince Philip.Universal History Archive/Universal Images Group via Getty
12.Queen Elizabethwore three headpieces on her coronation day. The young Queen, then 27, arrived in theGeorge IV State Diadem— the iconic crown she’s famously depicted in on stamps. She was invested in the hallowed St. Edward’s Crown before changing into the lighterImperial State Crown. The Imperial State Crown features four pearls believed to be from the personal collection ofQueen ElizabethI.
- Hours after appearing on the balcony of Buckingham Palace with the rest of the royal family on the big day,Queen ElizabethandPrince Philipreturned after nightfall to greeting the cheering crowds. Around 9:45 p.m., the Queen flicked on the “lights of London,” illuminating the Mall and Admiralty Arch. The fountains of Trafalgar Square turned “liquid silver” and floodlights from the National Gallery to the Tower of London burned bright.
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Did you know that a new recipe was invented to feed foreign guests afterQueen Elizabeth’s crowning ceremony? Coronation chicken was the brainchild of royal florist Constance Spry, who “proposed a recipe of cold chicken in a curry cream sauce with a well-seasoned dressed salad of rice, green peas and mixed herbs,” the Royal Family states. The dish was a hit and has been served in British kitchens since.
Five months after she was crowned,Queen Elizabethset out for her longest-ever Commonwealth Tour, theRoyal Collection Truststates. From November 1953 to May 1954,Queen ElizabethandPrince Philiptoured the West Indies, Australia, New Zealand, Asia, Africa and more, in a journey of 44,000 miles.
source: people.com
