History

The coronation of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth was held on 12 May 1937. This was the day that had originally been chosen for the coronation of Edward VIII, before he abdicated. Staff on duty started work at 4am and the guests began arriving at 6am, many peers carrying sandwiches in their coronets. At 9.30 the procession of the Regalia started, going through the cloisters to the Abbey. Since the time of Charles II the crowns and other regalia have been brought to the Jerusalem Chamber (part of the Deanery) the night before a coronation and placed in charge of the Dean. Eye witnesses recalled that the overall impression in the Abbey was colour everywhere, with blue and gold hangings and carpets and crimson robes and uniforms. Queen Mary and Princesses Elizabeth and Margaret attended, watching from the royal gallery. The Archbishop thought the Dean had given him St Edward’s crown the wrong way round, a bishop stepped on the king’s train and another put his thumb over the words of the oath when the king was about to read it but otherwise the ceremony went off very well.