Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Coronation Spot
The area immediately before the high altar is where every English coronation since 1066
has taken place. Imagine the day when Prince William becomes king. (Or you can picture
Prince Charles, who'll come first if his mother doesn't manage to outlive him.)
The nobles in robes and powdered wigs look on from the carved wooden stalls of the
choir. The Archbishop of Canterbury stands at the high altar. The coronation chair (which
we'll see later) is placed before the altar on the round, brown pavement stone represent-
ing the earth. Surrounding the whole area are temporary bleachers for 8,000 VIPs, going
halfway up the rose windows of each transept, creating a “theater.”
Long silver trumpets hung with banners sound a fanfare as the monarch-to-be enters
the church. The congregation sings, “I will go into the house of the Lord,” as William
parades slowly down the nave and up the steps to the altar. After a church service, he sits
in the chair, facing the altar, where the crown jewels are placed. William is anointed with
holy oil, then receives a ceremonial sword, ring, and cup. The royal scepter is placed in
his hands, and—dut, dutta dah—the archbishop lowers the Crown of St. Edward the Con-
fessor onto his royal head. Finally, King William V stands up, descends the steps, and is
presented to the people. As cannons roar throughout the city, the people cry, “God save
the king!”
Royalty are also given funerals here. Princess Diana's coffin was carried to this spot
for her funeral service in 1997. The “Queen Mum” (mother of Elizabeth II) had her funer-
al here in 2002. This is also where most of the last century's royal weddings have taken
place, including the unions of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip (1947), her parents
(1923), her sister Princess Margaret (1973), and her son Prince Andrew (to Sarah Fer-
guson, 1986). Most recently, of course, in April 2011, Prince William and Kate Middleton
strolled up the nave, passed through the choir, climbed the five steps to the high altar, and
became husband and wife—and the future King and Queen of the United Kingdom and
its Commonwealth. Though royal marriages and funerals can happen anywhere, only one
church can hold a coronation—the Abbey.
• Now veer left and follow the crowd. You'll walk past the statue of Robert (“Bob”) Peel,
the prime minister whose policemen were nicknamed “bobbies.” Stroll a few yards into
the land of dead kings and queens. Use the audioguide to explore the
side chapels
—
the
Chapel of St. John the Baptist and Chapel of St. Michael. There you'll see effigies of the
dead lying atop their tombs of polished stone. They lie on their backs or recline on their
sides. Dressed in ruffed collars, they relax on pillows, clasping their hands in prayer, many
buried side by side with their spouses.
After exploring the chapels, pause at the wooden staircase on your right.
