Moniek Bloks's Blog, page 81

The Year of Marie Antoinette – Becoming Queen

At the end of April 1774, King Louis XV of France began to suffer from bouts of fever. He had been warned by his doctors “not to make love quite so often.”1 His beloved mistress, Madame du Barry, tried to comfort him.

The Duke of Croÿ wrote, “For eight days, the King often looked and felt very unwell.[…] On Thursday, the twenty-eighth, the fever was higher and accompanied by nausea. La Martinière, the First Surgeon, was called…. [and] told him since he was ill he must return to Versailles, making him get into a carriage at the end of the day, the King was wearing his robe with a coat over it.”2

He added, “The King was in a small camp bed in the middle of the room: he had just been changing his clothes, and his bed was being remade because he had been sweating a little… I heard him speak several times. His voice was hoarse, which I took as a sign that his fever was still high… People were told to leave because his room was becoming too warm; the doctors and the normal attendants alone added up to a large crowd. All the Royal Family came in and out often during the day…”3 He was soon diagnosed with smallpox.

Nevertheless, the Mesdames, his unmarried daughters who had never had smallpox, selflessly moved into their father’s room and took turns keeping him company. Madame du Barry, who had also never had smallpox, was also by the King’s side. However, she would not be allowed to stay. As the King realised the seriousness of his illness and the fact that he could not confess with his mistress by his side, he told her to leave. Madame du Berry fainted upon being told to leave but promptly did so after being revived.

Meanwhile, the King’s condition worsened, and the pain from the pustules became so unbearable that it made him faint. On 7 May, the King confessed, received absolution and was given the last rites. Later that day, his fever spiked, and that evening he lapsed into a delirium. The scabs and pustules turned black, and scabs formed on his eyelids, making him unable to see. The Duke of Croÿ wrote, “Far from fearing death, as people thought he would, he displayed a courage all the more heroic in that it was simple, quiet and modest, and the most Christian acceptance joined to the greatest tranquillity…”4

On 10 May, he remained conscious until noon before finally dying at 3.15 p.m. Courtiers immediately ran from the room to the new King and Queen. As King Louis XV’s eldest son had predeceased him, the new King and Queen were his grandson, now King Louis XVI, and his wife, Marie Antoinette.

They had been watching a burning candle that stood in the King’s window from across the courtyard. As it went out, the roar of the courtiers running towards them grew. When the courtiers reached them, they were kneeling on the floor with tears running down their cheeks, praying, “Protect us, O God, we are too young to reign!”5

The first to officially present herself to the new Queen was the Countess of Noailles, who had also been the first to greet her on French soil. The danger of smallpox still lingered in the air as the new King had never had smallpox either. Barely an hour after King Louis XV’s death, the royal party was set to leave for the Palace of Choisy. The Counts of Artois and Provence and their wives joined the new King and Queen in their carriage.

The body of the late King was hastily sealed in a coffin and driven to the Cathedral of St. Denis so that the infection could not spread. The speed at which this was done caused much merriment, and shouts of “Tally ho! Tally ho!” could be heard.6

The mood in the carriage began solemn, but when the Countess of Artois accidentally mispronounced a word, everyone was sent into a fit of laughter.7

The post The Year of Marie Antoinette – Becoming Queen appeared first on History of Royal Women.

The Year of Marie Antoinette – Marie Antoinette & Madame Elisabeth (Part three)

Read part two here.

On 2 August 1793, Marie Antoinette was removed from the Temple to the horror of Elisabeth and Marie-Thérèse. They cried themselves to sleep for weeks.1 They were searched almost every day but were left alone otherwise. Marie Antoinette wrote a last letter to Elisabeth before her execution, but the letter never reached Elisabeth, and they were not informed of Marie Antoinette’s execution.

She wrote, “16th October, 4.30 A.M.

It is to you, my sister, that I write for the last time. I have just been condemned, not to a shameful death, for such is only for criminals, but to go and rejoin your brother. Innocent like him, I hope to show the same firmness in my last moments. I am calm, as one is when one’s conscience reproaches one with nothing. I feel profound sorrow in leaving my poor children: you know that I only lived for them and for you, my good and tender sister. You who, out of love, have sacrificed everything to be with us, in what a position do I leave you! I have learned from the proceedings at my trial that my daughter was separated from you. Alas! poor child; I do not venture to write to her; she would not receive my letter. I do not even know whether this will reach you. Do you receive my blessing for both of them. I hope that one day when they are older they may be able to rejoin you, and to enjoy to the full your tender care. Let them both think of the lesson which I have never ceased to impress upon them, that the principles and the exact performance of their duties are the chief foundation of life; and then mutual affection and confidence in one another will constitute its happiness. Let my daughter feel that at her age, she ought always to aid her brother by the advice which her greater experience and her affection may inspire her to give him. And let my son, in his turn, render to his sister all the care and all the services which affection can inspire. Let them, in short, both feel that, in whatever positions they may be placed, they will never be truly happy but through their union. Let them follow our example. In our own misfortunes, how much comfort has our affection for one another afforded us! And, in times of happiness, we have enjoyed that doubly from being able to share it with a friend; and where can one find friends more tender and more united than in one’s own family? Let my son never forget the last words of his father, which I repeat emphatically; let him never seek to avenge our deaths.

I have to speak to you of one thing which is very painful to my heart, I know how much pain the child must have caused you. Forgive him, my dear sister; think of his age, and how easy it is to make a child say whatever one wishes, especially when he does not understand it. It will come to pass one day, I hope, that he will better feel the value of your kindness and of your tender affection for both of them. It remains to confide to you my last thoughts. I should have wished to write them at the beginning of my trial; but, besides that, they did not leave me any means of writing, events have passed so rapidly that I really have not had time.

I die in the Catholic Apostolic and Roman religion, that of my fathers, that in which I was brought up, and which I have always professed. Having no spiritual consolation to look for, not even knowing whether there are still in this place any priests of that religion (and indeed, the place where I am would expose them to too much danger if they were to enter it but once), I sincerely implore pardon of God for all the faults which I may have committed during my life. I trust that, in His goodness, He will mercifully accept my last prayers, as well as those which I have for a long time addressed to Him, to receive my soul into His mercy. I beg pardon of all whom I know, and especially of you, my sister, for all the vexations which, without intending it, I may have caused you. I pardon all my enemies the evils that they have done me. I bid farewell to my aunts and to all my brothers and sisters. I had friends. The idea of being forever separated from them and from all their troubles is one of the greatest sorrows that I suffer in dying. Let them at least know that to my latest moment, I thought of them.

Farewell, my good and tender sister. May this letter reach you. Think always of me; I embrace you with all my heart, as I do my poor dear children. My God, how heart-rending it is to leave them forever! Farewell! farewell! I must now occupy myself with my spiritual duties, as I am not free in my actions. Perhaps they will bring me a priest; but I here protest that I will not say a word to him, but that I will treat him as a total stranger.” (Translation by Charles Duke Yonge)

She was guillotined later that day.

Elisabeth and Marie-Thérèse remained together but were refused even the simplest things, such as ointments for sores. When Elisabeth petitioned for clean underwear in March, she was told to wash it herself as the nation was sick of her demands.2 Initially, Elisabeth was not considered for execution, but on 9 May 1794, she was transferred to the Conciergerie.

Elisabeth embraced Marie-Thérèse and assured her that she would return to her. She told her niece to have courage, firmness and faith in God.3 Just two hours later, she was brought before the Revolutionary Tribunal and was accused of having participated in the secret councils of Marie Antoinette and of having entertained correspondence with internal and external enemies, among other things. After her interrogation, she was brought to a cell. She was tried the following morning, and she and 24 others were declared guilty as charged. She was condemned to death by guillotine the following day.

Elisabeth asked to be taken to the common room where the others were waiting. She spoke to them calmly and “seemed to regard them as friends about to accompany her to heaven.”4

The following day, Elisabeth was cruelly placed on a bench nearest to the execution site, but she was to be the last to be executed. Elisabeth continually spoke the De Profundis. As the women passed by Elisabeth, they curtseyed and asked to be allowed to kiss her. Elisabeth replied, “Willingly, and with all my heart.”5 As the men passed by her, they bowed. She told them, “Courage, and faith in God’s mercy.”6 Finally, it was Elisabeth’s turn.

As she was fastened to the plank, her neckerchief came loose and fell to the ground. She asked, “In the name of your mother, monsieur, cover me.”7 They were to be her last words. Her body was taken to the cemetery at Monçeaux and flung naked into a mass grave. It is likely that her remains eventually ended up in the Catacombs of Paris.

Marie-Thérèse, the only one of the family to leave the Temple alive, wrote of Elisabeth, “I feel I have her nature … [she] considered me and cared for me as her daughter, and I, I honoured her as a second mother.”8

In 1953, Elisabeth was declared a Servant of God and the cause for her beatification was officially introduced.

The post The Year of Marie Antoinette – Marie Antoinette & Madame Elisabeth (Part three) appeared first on History of Royal Women.

The Year of Marie Antoinette – Marie Antoinette & Madame Elisabeth (Part three

Read part two here.

On 2 August 1793, Marie Antoinette was removed from the Temple to the horror of Elisabeth and Marie-Thérèse. They cried themselves to sleep for weeks.1 They were searched almost every day but were left alone otherwise. Marie Antoinette wrote a last letter to Elisabeth before her execution, but the letter never reached Elisabeth, and they were not informed of Marie Antoinette’s execution.

She wrote, “16th October, 4.30 A.M.

It is to you, my sister, that I write for the last time. I have just been condemned, not to a shameful death, for such is only for criminals, but to go and rejoin your brother. Innocent like him, I hope to show the same firmness in my last moments. I am calm, as one is when one’s conscience reproaches one with nothing. I feel profound sorrow in leaving my poor children: you know that I only lived for them and for you, my good and tender sister. You who, out of love, have sacrificed everything to be with us, in what a position do I leave you! I have learned from the proceedings at my trial that my daughter was separated from you. Alas! poor child; I do not venture to write to her; she would not receive my letter. I do not even know whether this will reach you. Do you receive my blessing for both of them. I hope that one day when they are older they may be able to rejoin you, and to enjoy to the full your tender care. Let them both think of the lesson which I have never ceased to impress upon them, that the principles and the exact performance of their duties are the chief foundation of life; and then mutual affection and confidence in one another will constitute its happiness. Let my daughter feel that at her age, she ought always to aid her brother by the advice which her greater experience and her affection may inspire her to give him. And let my son, in his turn, render to his sister all the care and all the services which affection can inspire. Let them, in short, both feel that, in whatever positions they may be placed, they will never be truly happy but through their union. Let them follow our example. In our own misfortunes, how much comfort has our affection for one another afforded us! And, in times of happiness, we have enjoyed that doubly from being able to share it with a friend; and where can one find friends more tender and more united than in one’s own family? Let my son never forget the last words of his father, which I repeat emphatically; let him never seek to avenge our deaths.

I have to speak to you of one thing which is very painful to my heart, I know how much pain the child must have caused you. Forgive him, my dear sister; think of his age, and how easy it is to make a child say whatever one wishes, especially when he does not understand it. It will come to pass one day, I hope, that he will better feel the value of your kindness and of your tender affection for both of them. It remains to confide to you my last thoughts. I should have wished to write them at the beginning of my trial; but, besides that, they did not leave me any means of writing, events have passed so rapidly that I really have not had time.

I die in the Catholic Apostolic and Roman religion, that of my fathers, that in which I was brought up, and which I have always professed. Having no spiritual consolation to look for, not even knowing whether there are still in this place any priests of that religion (and indeed, the place where I am would expose them to too much danger if they were to enter it but once), I sincerely implore pardon of God for all the faults which I may have committed during my life. I trust that, in His goodness, He will mercifully accept my last prayers, as well as those which I have for a long time addressed to Him, to receive my soul into His mercy. I beg pardon of all whom I know, and especially of you, my sister, for all the vexations which, without intending it, I may have caused you. I pardon all my enemies the evils that they have done me. I bid farewell to my aunts and to all my brothers and sisters. I had friends. The idea of being forever separated from them and from all their troubles is one of the greatest sorrows that I suffer in dying. Let them at least know that to my latest moment, I thought of them.

Farewell, my good and tender sister. May this letter reach you. Think always of me; I embrace you with all my heart, as I do my poor dear children. My God, how heart-rending it is to leave them forever! Farewell! farewell! I must now occupy myself with my spiritual duties, as I am not free in my actions. Perhaps they will bring me a priest; but I here protest that I will not say a word to him, but that I will treat him as a total stranger.” (Translation by Charles Duke Yonge)

She was guillotined later that day.

Elisabeth and Marie-Thérèse remained together but were refused even the simplest things, such as ointments for sores. When Elisabeth petitioned for clean underwear in March, she was told to wash it herself as the nation was sick of her demands.2 Initially, Elisabeth was not considered for execution, but on 9 May 1794, she was transferred to the Conciergerie.

Elisabeth embraced Marie-Thérèse and assured her that she would return to her. She told her niece to have courage, firmness and faith in God.3 Just two hours later, she was brought before the Revolutionary Tribunal and was accused of having participated in the secret councils of Marie Antoinette and of having entertained correspondence with internal and external enemies, among other things. After her interrogation, she was brought to a cell. She was tried the following morning, and she and 24 others were declared guilty as charged. She was condemned to death by guillotine the following day.

Elisabeth asked to be taken to the common room where the others were waiting. She spoke to them calmly and “seemed to regard them as friends about to accompany her to heaven.”4

The following day, Elisabeth was cruelly placed on a bench nearest to the execution site, but she was to be the last to be executed. Elisabeth continually spoke the De Profundis. As the women passed by Elisabeth, they curtseyed and asked to be allowed to kiss her. Elisabeth replied, “Willingly, and with all my heart.”5 As the men passed by her, they bowed. She told them, “Courage, and faith in God’s mercy.”6 Finally, it was Elisabeth’s turn.

As she was fastened to the plank, her neckerchief came loose and fell to the ground. She asked, “In the name of your mother, monsieur, cover me.”7 They were to be her last words. Her body was taken to the cemetery at Monçeaux and flung naked into a mass grave. It is likely that her remains eventually ended up in the Catacombs of Paris.

Marie-Thérèse, the only one of the family to leave the Temple alive, wrote of Elisabeth, “I feel I have her nature … [she] considered me and cared for me as her daughter, and I, I honoured her as a second mother.”8

In 1953, Elisabeth was declared a Servant of God and the cause for her beatification was officially introduced.

The post The Year of Marie Antoinette – Marie Antoinette & Madame Elisabeth (Part three appeared first on History of Royal Women.

Iconic scenes from Buckingham Palace’s balcony

Buckingham Palace has shared several photos from the balcony of the Palace.

Click to view slideshow.

The images show the King and Queen as they arrived at Buckingham Palace, during the flypast and as they greet the crowds after their coronation.

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The Year of Marie Antoinette – Marie Antoinette & Madame Elisabeth (Part two)

Read part one here.

Elisabeth joined her brother and his family in the Tuileries, where some semblance of social life was kept up. She and Marie Antoinette supervised the education of the Dauphin, Louis Charles, and Madame Royale, Marie-Thérèse. In June 1791, she accompanied her brother and his family on their unsuccessful escape attempt, where she was disguised as the children’s nurse. Just one year later, she was mistaken for Marie Antoinette by a mob and was “exposed to the vilest of insults” for several hours. She was warned, “You do not understand, they take you for the Austrian”, upon which she replied, “Ah, would to God it were so, do not enlighten them, save them from a greater crime.” She also turned aside a bayonet against her breast, “Take care, monsieur. You might wound me, and I am sure you would be sorry for that.”1

When they were forced to seek refuge in the National Assembly, M. de La Rouchefoucauld wrote, “Madame Élisabeth gave her arm to Madame the King’s daughters; the Princesse de Lamballe en Mme de Tourzel followed. I was in the garden, near enough to offer my arm to Madame de Lamballe, who was the most dejected and frightened of the party; she took it. The King walked erect; his countenance was composed, but sorrow was painted on his face. The queen was in tears; from time to time, she wiped them and strove to take a confident air, which she kept for a while; nevertheless, having had her a moment on my arm, I felt her tremble. The Dauphin did not seem much frightened. Madame Élisabeth was calm, resigned to all; it was religion that inspired her. She said to me, looking at the ferocious populace, ‘All those people are misguided; I wish their conversion, but not their punishment.'”2

They were eventually taken to a former medieval fortress known as the Temple. They were settled into sparse rooms with folding beds. The Dauphin had one room with the Marquise de Tourzel, and Marie Antoinette slept in the next room with Marie-Thérèse. The Princess of Lamballe slept in the antechamber while the King and his valet were in a room on the third floor. Finally, Madame Elisabeth and several waiting women slept in the kitchen.

They had arrived at the Temple with virtually nothing, but over the next few weeks, they were able to buy items to decorate their rooms. By then, they had been stripped of their attendants, including the Princess of Lamballe and the Marquise de Tourzel.

Unfortunately, on 2 September, they were disturbed during their daily walk, and an angry mob stormed the Temple that night. When the King asked what was happening, the guard responded, “Well, if you want to know, it is the head of Madame de Lamballe they want to show you, for you to see how the people avenge themselves on tyrants.”3 The Princess of Lamballe had been hastily brought before a tribunal, and she was lynched by the mob.

Following the horrors, the family tried to keep a routine in the Temple. The Dauphin received lessons from his father, while Marie-Thérèse received lessons from her mother. They were permitted to talk walks in the compound and exercised there as well. Nevertheless, Louis Charles suffered from nightmares and was often visibly distressed and nervous. Finally, in September 1792, the monarchy was abolished, and France was proclaimed a republic. In October, the family was moved to the other tower. The King and the Dauphin were on the second floor, while Marie Antoinette, Marie-Thérèse and Elisabeth were on the third floor.

On 11 December, Louis Charles was taken from his father to his mother, and he certainly sensed that something was wrong. The King’s trial had begun, and he was told he could see his children, but only if they did not see their mother or aunt as long as the trial lasted. Thus, he refused. The trial continued throughout December and early January. The vote for his execution ended with 361 in favour – a majority of just one. Due to this close majority, another motion for a reprieve was made, which was rejected with a majority of 70. 20 January 1793, he was informed that he would be executed within 24 hours. Later that day, he was finally reunited with his family.

He gave them their blessing but refused to spend the night with them. He promised to see them in the morning, but their sobs still echoed as they left him. He was executed the following day without seeing his family again to spare them the agony. Shouts of joy” reached the ears of Marie Antoinette and Madame Elisabeth, the latter of whom exclaimed, “The monsters! They are satisfied now!”4 Marie Antoinette was unable to speak, but she, Elisabeth and Marie-Thérèse curtsied deeply for the new – titular – King – the seven-year-old King Louis XVII. 

On 3 July 1793, Louis Charles was forcibly separated from his family. He “flung himself into my mother’s arms, imploring not to be taken from her”, wrote Marie-Thérèse.5 Marie Antoinette refused to give him up, telling the guards they would have to kill her first. After being threatened that all would be killed, Marie Antoinette dressed him and handed him over. Louis Charles “kissed us all very tenderly and went away with the guards, crying his heart out.”6

Part three coming soon.

The post The Year of Marie Antoinette – Marie Antoinette & Madame Elisabeth (Part two) appeared first on History of Royal Women.

Princess of Wales wears Mantle of the Royal Victorian Order as father-in-law is crowned

The Princess of Wales wore the Mantle of the Royal Victorian Order as her father-in-law was crowned. Catherine is a Dame Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order.

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Underneath, she wore an Alexander McQueen dress in ivory silk crepe with silver bullion and threadwork embroidery featuring rose, thistle, daffodil and shamrock motifs. Her headpiece with silver bullion, crystal and silver thread work three-dimensional leaf embroidery was by Jess Collett x Alexander McQueen.

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Her daughter, Princess Charlotte, was also wearing an Alexander McQueen dress and cape in ivory silk crepe with ivory
satin stitch embroidery featuring rose, thistle, daffodil and shamrock motifs. She wore a similar headdress to the one worn by her mother.

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Queen Camilla crowned alongside her husband

Queen Camilla has been crowned alongside her husband at Westminster Abbey.

Shortly after her husband was crowned and had received homage from the Prince of Wales, Camilla was anointed and crowned by the Archbishop of Canterbury. Although she was not shielded as she was being anointed, the cameras were not on her.

(Screenshot/Fair Use)

She was then crowned with Queen Mary’s Crown and took her place next to her husband.

Camilla’s coronation dress was designed by Bruce Oldfield. The signature panelling created a fitted element to the back of the bodice. The curved shape-lines swoop into a short train, the length and shape of which had been designed to complement each of the two Robes to be worn by Her Majesty.

The dress was cut from Peau de Soie, a silk fabric with a dull lustre finish. The dress has an ivory, silver and gold colour palette, with bracelet-length sleeves, a strong shoulder and a wide V-neck neckline. The embellishment of the Coronation Dress features delicate garlands of abstract wildflowers from fields and hedgerows: daisy chains, forget-me-nots, celandine and scarlet pimpernel, representing The King and The Queen’s affection for nature and the British countryside. Embellishing the front hem area of the underskirt and the cuffs of each sleeve are the flower emblems of the four nations of the United Kingdom – a rose, a thistle, a daffodil and a shamrock. Her shoes were made by British designer Elliot Zed and are made of the same silk fabric as the dress.

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Royal website updated to remove “consort” reference

The official website of the royal family has been updated to refer to Camilla as “Her Majesty The Queen.”

(Screenshot/Fair Use)

It has never been necessary to refer to Camilla as “Camilla, the Queen Consort” as none of her predecessors were referred to as such. You can read more about it here. She is rightfully “Her Majesty The Queen”, although Queen Camilla would also be acceptable.

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The Coronation of Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother

Lady Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon, later known as Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother, married the then Duke of York in 1923, and they were not expected to succeed as King and Queen. However, when her husband’s elder brother, King Edward VIII, abdicated in 1936 to marry Wallis Simpson, they became the new King and Queen.

King Edward VIII’s coronation had been planned for 12 May 1937, and the original date was kept.

A few changes were made to the ceremony, but the entire ceremony remained largely the same as the 1911 coronation of King George V. It began with the anointing and crowning of the King and the homage by the peers. Following this, the Queen was crowned. Both were crowned by the Archbishop of Canterbury.

He later wrote, “The little Queen, the only woman present with an uncovered head awaiting its anointing and its crown, advanced with the real poetry of motion, her dignity enhanced rather than diminished by the tall and beautiful figure of her Mistress of the Robes (the Duchess of Northumberland). The King (as many said afterwards) looked like a medieval knight awaiting his consecration with a rapt expression in his eyes, which turned neither to the right nor to the left. Their demeanour, sustained throughout the whole long ceremony, seemed from the first to invest it with a spirit of reverence.”1 Queen Elizabeth was attended by the Duchesses of Buccleuch, Norfolk, Roxburghe and Rutland.

Besides Princess Margaret and the future Queen Elizabeth II, Queen Mary also attended the coronation. This was a break with tradition but was done at her own request.

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The Imperial State Crown had been reworked for the occasion, and a new crown was made for Queen Elizabeth from platinum, which also featured the Koh-i-Noor diamond. She wore a silk satin gown with gold thread embroidery in a rose and thistle pattern. Her maids of honour were dressed by Norman Hartnell. They were Lady Margaret Cavendish-Bentinck, Lady Diana Legge, Lady Elizabeth Hester Mary Paget, Lady Elizabeth Ivy Percy, Lady Iris Mountbatten and Lady Ursula Manners.

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Elizabeth’s coronation ring, previously worn by Queen Adelaide, Queen Alexandra and Queen Mary, was placed on her finger. She was also handed the sceptre and orb, which had been made for Mary of Modena.

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Queen Elizabeth’s mother, the Countess of Strathmore and Kinghorne, later wrote to the Archbishop, “Now that this great coronation is past & that we are all quiet and composed once more, I want to write a few words to thank you from the bottom of my heart for the wonderful help that you gave to my little Queen all through that great and magnificent service, for I felt that without your spiritual aid, she could not have carried it through so calmly & beautifully as she & the King did, for it was a great & awe-inspiring ordeal for them both. I think that nearly everyone felt the great spirituality of this coronation & this I know is entirely due to you & I shall ever remember this with real gratitude.”2

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Queen Elizabeth also wrote to him, “I was more moved & more helped than I could have believed possible. It is curious, on thinking it over now, that I was not conscious of there being anybody else there at the communion… You told us last Sunday evening that we would be helped, and we were sustained & carried above the ordinary fear of a great ceremony. Our great hope now is that as so many millions of people were impressed by the feeling of service and goodness that came from Westminster Abbey, that perhaps that day will result in strength and good feeling in individuals all over the world and be a calming & strengthening influence on affairs in general.”3

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The Coronation of Mary of Teck

Princess Mary of Teck married the future King George V in 1893, and he succeeded his father as King in 1910. Their joint coronation took place on 22 June 1911.

Queen Mary had not been looking forward to it and had written to her brother, “It will be a great ordeal & we are dreading it, as you can imagine.”1

(public domain)

The service was conducted by the Archbishop of Canterbury, and he crowned Queen Mary as well. Mary was crowned with a new crown which contained the Koh-i-Noor diamond. Her gown was made of cream-coloured silk satin and included the floral emblems and symbols of the British Empire.

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Three processions left Buckingham Palace from 9.30 a.m. and included representatives of foreign royal families, the British royal family and the Gold State Coach carrying King George and Queen Mary. The service itself was pretty similar to the 1902 service of King George’s father.

After the coronation, Mary wrote to her aunt Augusta, “You may imagine what an intense relief it is to us that the great and solemn ceremony of Thursday is well over for it was an awful ordeal for us both especially as well felt it all so deeply and taking so great a responsibility on our shoulders – To me who love tradition & the past & who am English from top to toe, the service was a very real solemn thing & appealed to my feelings more than I can express – Everything was most perfectly & reverently done – The foreigners seemed much impressed & were most nice & feeling… Everyone regretted yr enforced absence & no more than I did, but you wld have found it most agitating – I never ceased thinking of you the whole time.”2

King George V wrote after the service, “Darling May looked lovely, and it was indeed a comfort to me to have her by my side, as she has been ever to me during these last eighteen years.”3

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