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with embroidered emblems of the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth
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the original illustration
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Description of gown's the embroidery:
Every country in the Commonwealth at the time was represented: the Tudor rose for England, the thistle for Scotland, the leek for Wales, the shamrock for Ireland (despite the fact that by that time only Northern Ireland remained), wattle for Australia, the maple leaf for Canada, the fern for New Zealand, protea for South Africa, lotus flowers for both India and Ceylon, and Pakistan's wheat, cotton, and jute. Unbeknownst to the queen, a single four leaf clover was added on the left of the dress, just where her hand would brush throughout the day. In order to carry and distribute the weight of all the embroidery, the dress was lined in taffeta and three layers of horsehair.[Source: The Royal Order of Sartorial Splendor]--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PBS had a brief program on Queen Elizabeth's coronation yesterday. I managed to catch the name of the gown's designer, and have posted above an illustration of the gown on the new Queen.
The program was a rebroadcast of a CBC tape. The commentator on the program called the event both a religious and a national event.
Below is the video of the coronation (after several seconds of commercials).
There were several interesting things about the event:
- The ceremony was taped in black and white by the national BBC, but more independent broadcasters taped it in color. The tapes for the event were secretly sent to Canada, with heavy protection, so that the event could be viewed first in Canada (part of the British colony at that time) rather than to the United States, where British organizers were sure that the Americans would make fun of the event.
And they did.
NBC had a segment in its Today Show where chimpanzee Fred J. Muggs was asked during a commercial break during the Communion service of the coronation: "Do they have a coronation where you come from?" [Source: The History of Broadcasting in the United Kingdom: Volume IV: Sound and Vision, by Asa Briggs, online in Google Books, p 433
CBS was no better with:
- Elizabeth removes the robe she wore upon entering Westminster, and she is anointed in a simple white gown. She then wears the traditional golden canopy as she says the oath.
- The recipe for the Anointing Oil contains oils of orange, roses, cinnamon, musk and ambergris. Usually a batch is made to last a few Coronations. In May 1941, a bomb hit the Deanery destroying the phial containing the anointing oil so a new batch had to be made up. The pharmacy that had mixed the last anointing oil had gone out of business but the recipe was found and the oil made [source: 5 facts about the Queen's coronation].
- The ceremony took place in Westminster Abbey. Here is a transcript of the service. At the beginning of her procession into Abbey, the Canadian commentator says of her:
Elizabeth is led here in solemn procession to be anointed Elizabeth the Second, by the Grace of God and the United Kingdom, Canada, and the other realms of her territories, Queen, head of the Commonwealth, defender of the faith.- Crowds waited in the rain for as long as five hours to get a glimpse of Elizabeth as she exited Westminster and drove to Buckingham Palace. [See video at the 15:40 - 19:40 mark]
- She goes on the palace's balcony with her family, and greets the crowd as their new queen. [See video at the 19:45-to the end].
This site has a transcript of the service in Westminster. It is divided into these parts [I've added "read more" for more information on each section at the site]:
I. The Preparation In the morning upon the day of the Coronation early, care is to be taken that the Ampulla be filled with Oil for the anointing, and, together with the Spoon, be laid ready upon the Altar in the Abbey Church...[read more]
II. The Entrance into the Church The Queen, as soon as she enters at the west door of the Church, is to be received with this Anthem: Psalm 122, 1–3, 6, 7.
III. The Recognition The Archbishop, together with the Lord Chancellor, Lord Great Chamberlain, Lord High Constable, and Earl Marshal (Garter King of Arms preceding them), shall then go to the East side of the Theatre, and after shall go to the other three sides in this order, South, West, and North, and at every of the four sides the Archbishop shall with a loud voice speak to the People: and the Queen in the mean while, standing up by King Edward's Chair, shall turn and show herself unto the People at every of the four sides of the Theatre as the Archbishop is at every of them, the Archbishop saying: "Sirs, I here present unto you...Are you willing to do the same?" [read more]
IV. The Oath [T]he Archbishop standing before her shall administer the Coronation Oath, first asking the Queen, "Madam, is your Majesty willing to take the Oath?" And the Queen answering, "I am willing," [read more]
V. The Presenting of the Holy Bible [read more]
VI. The Beginning of the Communion Service [read more]
VII. The Anointing The Creed being ended, the Queen kneeling at her faldstool, and the people kneeling in their places, the Archbishop shall begin the hymn, VENI, CREATOR SPIRITUS, and the choir shall sing it out. [read more]
VIII. The Presenting of the Spurs and Sword, and the Oblation of the said Sword [read more]
IX. The Investing with the Armills, the Stole Royal and the Robe Royal: and the Delivery of the Orb. [read more] The Delivery of the Orb [read more]
X. The Investiture per annulum, et per sceptrum et baculum Then the Keeper of the Jewel House shall deliver to the Archbishop the Queen's Ring, wherein is set a sapphire and upon it a ruby cross: the Archbishop shall put it on the fourth finger of her Majesty's right hand [read more]
XI. The Putting on of the Crown [read more]
XII. The Benediction [read more]
XIII. The Enthroning [read more]
XIV. The Homage [read more]
XV. The Communion Then shall the organ play and the people shall with one voice sing this hymn: All people that on earth do dwell, Sing to the Lord with cheerful voice; Him serve with fear, his praise forth tell, Come ye before him, and rejoice. The Lord, ye know, is God indeed, Without our aid he did us make; We are his folk, he doth us feed, And for his sheep he doth us take. O enter then his gates with praise, Approach with joy his courts unto; Praise, laud, and bless his name always, For it is seemly so to do. For why? the Lord our God is good: His mercy is for ever sure; His truth at all times firmly stood, And shall from age to age endure. To Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, The God whom heaven and earth adore, From men and from the Angel-host Be praise and glory evermore. Amen. [read more]
XVI. The solemnity of the Queen's Coronation being thus ended, the people shall stand, and the choir shall sing: Te Deum Laudamus [read more]
XVII. The Recess [read more]