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BUCKINGHAM PALACE has announced that senior clergy will have ceremonial functions in the Coronation.
The Palace released further details on Thursday evening of ceremonial roles to be performed at the Coronation in Westminster Abbey. It confirmed that the Archbishop of Canterbury will crown the King with the St Edward’s Crown and the Queen with Queen Mary’s Crown.
Among those presenting the regalia to the King will be the Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland, the Most Revd John McDowell, who will present the Orb; the Primus of the Scottish Episcopal Church, the Most Revd Mark Strange, who will present the Sceptre with Cross; and the Archbishop of Wales, the Most Revd Andrew John, who will present the Sceptre with Dove.
Among those presenting regalia to the Queen Consort will be the Bishop of Dover, the Rt Revd Rose Hudson-Wilkin, who will present the Queen Consort’s Rod, and the former Bishop of London, Lord Chartres, who will present the Queen Consort’s Sceptre with Cross.
Bishop Hudson-Wilkin said: “I am surprised, excited and honoured to have been asked to play a part in this historic once in a lifetime occasion. As I make my presentation, both their Majesties will remain in my prayers as they seek to serve the nation and the Commonwealth.”
Buckingham Palace said that the first procession into the Abbey “will be made up of faith leaders and faith representatives followed shortly afterwards by representatives from His Majesty’s Realms. Flags of each realm will be carried by national representatives accompanied by the governors-general and prime ministers.”
The Coronation procession will be led down the nave by a new processional cross, the Cross of Wales, which was presented by the King as a gift to the Church in Wales on its centenary in 2020 (when he was Prince of Wales) (News, 21 April).
Lord Chartres will be among those who will process to the altar carrying Her Majesty’s regalia: he will carry the Queen Consort’s ring. “The ceremonies of the Coronation are ancient but they have been freshly interpreted for our contemporary world,” Lord Chartres said.
Archbishop Welby will be among those who participate “in the act of Recognition of His Majesty whereby His Majesty will be presented to the Congregation at the start of the service”, Buckingham Palace said.
It was announced earlier this month that the Bishops of Bath & Wells and Durham will serve as Bishops Assistant to the King at the Coronation (News, 14 April).
Coronation stamps. The Royal Mail has issued four new stamps and a special postmark to mark the Coronation. The four stamps depict the Coronation, diversity and community, the Commonwealth, and sustainability and biodiversity. The stamps, which are presented in a miniature sheet, are designed by the agency Atelier Works and feature specially commissioned wood engravings by the British artist Andrew Davidson.
