Coronations - pomp and pageantry or a vital link with the timeless traditions of taking the throne?
In our second coronation special, History Hit’s Matt Lewis digs deep into the past to investigate how centuries old aspects of Anglo-Saxon and Medieval coronations will be mirrored in Charles III’s ceremony. To dig deep into the ancient roots of the coronation ceremony, Matt heads to London's Westminster Abbey and Temple Church, as well as Butser Ancient Farm and Winchester Great Hall, exploring how medieval royal pageantry, some over a thousand years old, still shapes what we will witness in 2023. With the help of coronations expert Dr George Gross, Matt uncovers the fundamentals of a coronation: the recognition, election, oath, homage and of course the highly symbolic glittering crown! And we also discover that a double coronation, just like Charles III and Queen Consort Camilla, wasn’t so unusual in the medieval world.
And if you enjoy this film, check out ‘The Road to the Crown’ as Royal Historian Tracy Borman follows in the footsteps of Elizabeth I’s coronation procession in 1559.
Up Next in 20th Century
-
Buffalo Bill: The Man Behind the Legend
Buffalo Bill was America’s first celebrity… and the most famous man in the world at the turn of the 20th century.
He was a former scout, soldier, Buffalo hunter…but what he’s most known for of course, is his showmanship. He vied with PT Barnum for the title of greatest showman on earth.
At the ...
-
Alan Turing: The Pride of Manchester
A special film exploring the life and legacy of Alan Turing - genius pioneer of modern computing. With Alan's nephew Sir Dermot Turing and exclusive access to unseen family records, we investigate lesser known aspects of his incredible work. This story is rooted in the City of Manchester, home t...
-
Queen Elizabeth II: A Life in History
Queen Elizabeth II was born in a totally different world to today. Her life spanned decades of profound change, both in the United Kingdom and around the globe.
In this special programme, Dan Snow and royal historian Prof. Kate Williams reflect on the early years of Elizabeth II’s remarkable l...
7 Comments