Sarah Mitchell
The coronation of a monarch is a symbolic ceremony that formally invests them with regalia and crowns them. While it is not a Catholic event per se, it has historically been influenced by religious rituals and traditions, including Catholic ones. The coronation of a British monarch, for example, has traditionally been officiated by the Archbishop of Canterbury, and the ceremony includes prayers, anointing, and crowning, which are specifically Christian elements. On the other hand, the coronation of a pope, known as a papal coronation, involves a different set of rituals, such as the placing of the papal tiara on the newly elected pope and the imparting of the solemn papal blessing.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Coronation definition | "A coronation rite is ideally the process of the creation of the monarch, even though in course of time, through a change in the theory of succession, it may come to be rather the ratification of an accomplished fact than the means of its accomplishment." |
| Coronation oath | The king is asked, "Will you to your power cause Law and Justice in mercy to be executed in all your judgments?" To which he replies, "I will." |
| Anti-Catholic aspects | Anti-Catholic aspects of the ceremony, introduced in the 17th century, have now been abandoned. |
| Catholic elements | The king advances to the altar and takes a solemn oath on the Bible. Two pieces of the True Cross were given to King Charles III by Pope Francis. |
| Religious ceremony | At present, the investiture of sovereigns with the insignia of their office by a religious ceremony is not universal. |
| Coronation of the British monarch | The coronation of the monarch of the United Kingdom is an initiation ceremony in which they are formally invested with regalia and crowned at Westminster Abbey. |
| Location | The earliest papal coronations took place in St. John Lateran, the pope's cathedral. Coronations have also taken place in the environs of St. Peter's Basilica, L'Aquila, Venice, and Rome. |
| Procession | The king travelled on horseback in a great procession through decorated city streets. Bands played along the route, and an imitation castle was built in Cheapside. |
| Date | The coronation usually takes place several months after the death of the monarch's predecessor, as it is considered a joyous occasion that would be inappropriate while mourning continues. |
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What You'll Learn
The coronation of the British monarch
The coronation is a symbolic formality and does not signify the official beginning of the monarch's reign. Their reign commences from the moment of the preceding monarch's death or abdication. The coronation usually takes place several months after the death of the preceding monarch, as it is considered a joyous occasion that would be inappropriate during the mourning period.
The Archbishop of Canterbury traditionally officiates at coronations, except when the role is performed by another bishop appointed by the monarch. There have been several exceptions to this rule throughout history. For example, William I was crowned by the Archbishop of York, as the Archbishop of Canterbury's appointment by the Antipope Benedict X was not recognised as valid by the Pope.
The coronation of King Charles III consecrated him symbolically as a priest-king like Solomon, and he will promise to uphold the teachings of the Church of England and defend religious freedom. Notably, the anti-Catholic aspects of the ceremony, introduced in the 17th century, have now been abandoned.
The state procession and most of the proceedings inside the abbey were televised during the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II in 1953. This was the first major outside broadcast of the BBC Television Service.
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The role of the Archbishop of Canterbury
The Archbishop of Canterbury is the senior bishop and a principal leader of the Church of England, as well as the ceremonial head of the worldwide Anglican Communion. The Archbishop has played a key role in the coronation ceremony of British monarchs over the past 1,000 years. The Archbishop's role includes introducing the ceremony, crowning the monarch, and anointing them with holy oil.
The Archbishop of Canterbury who crowned King Charles III on 6 May 2023 was Justin Welby, the 105th Archbishop, who resigned on 7 January 2025. During the coronation, King Charles III was presented with The Sovereign's Orb by the Archbishop. This was a defining moment of the ceremony, as it marked the official start of the new monarch's reign.
Historically, the Archbishop of Canterbury has had a close relationship with the British monarchy. The first Archbishop, Augustine of Canterbury, was sent to England by Pope Gregory the Great in 597. From then until the English Reformation, the Archbishops were in full communion with the Catholic Church. Thomas Cranmer, appointed in 1533, was the first Protestant Archbishop of Canterbury and played a significant role in the development of Anglicanism.
Since King Henry VIII broke with Rome, the Archbishops of Canterbury have been selected by the British monarch. The appointment of archbishops has alternated between Anglo-Catholics and Evangelicals in the 20th century. The Archbishop is also recognised as primus inter pares, or "first among equals", of all Anglican primates worldwide. They hold metropolitical authority over several extra-provincial Anglican churches and serve as the ex officio bishop of the Falkland Islands.
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The abandonment of anti-Catholic aspects
The coronation of a new monarch is a Christian ceremony and tradition that has been part of Britain's history for centuries. The most recent coronation, that of King Charles III, included formal Catholic participation in the service, with the cardinal-archbishop of Westminster reading a prayer.
However, historically, the coronation rite has been used as a means to exclude Catholics. The coronation oath, for example, includes a repudiation of Catholic doctrines and a declaration of the Protestant succession to the throne. This oath, required by an unrepealed clause of the Bill of Rights (1689), affirms the Protestant faith of the monarch and has been a prerequisite for heirs to the throne, with the additional stipulation that their spouse should also not be Catholic.
Over time, some of the anti-Catholic aspects of the coronation ceremony have been abandoned. While the coronation of King Charles III still included the anti-Catholic elements in the oath, Archbishop Welby introduced a new element acknowledging the diversity of religious beliefs in Britain. The new element states:
> "Your Majesty, the Church established by law, whose settlement you will swear to maintain, is committed to the true profession of the Gospel, and, in so doing, will seek to foster an environment in which people of all faiths and beliefs may live freely. The Coronation Oath has stood for centuries and is enshrined in law. Are you willing to take the Oath?"
This addition to the coronation oath recognises the Church of England's commitment to the free practice of all faiths, including none. It is a nod to the monarch's role as Defender of Faith and an attempt to create an inclusive environment for people of diverse beliefs.
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The inclusion of Christian ceremony
The coronation of a monarch is a symbolic ceremony that formally invests them with regalia and crowns them. While it is not the official beginning of their reign, it is a significant event that attracts much attention.
The coronation of Marcian by the Patriarch Anatolius in 450 is also believed to have originated a ceremony that significantly influenced the later conception of kingship. Initially, there was no religious character to this investiture, with the coronation taking place outside of a sacred building. However, over time, the coronation rite became associated with the creation of the monarch and the introduction of ecclesiastical rituals.
In the context of British coronations, the inclusion of Christian ceremony has evolved over the centuries. The Archbishop of Canterbury traditionally officiates at coronations, but there have been exceptions. For example, William I was crowned by the Archbishop of York, as the appointment of the Archbishop of Canterbury by the Antipope Benedict X was not recognised as valid by the Pope. Additionally, Mary I, a Catholic, refused to be crowned by the Protestant Archbishop Thomas Cranmer, opting instead for the Bishop of Winchester.
In more recent times, the coronation of King Edward VII in 1901 included an anti-Catholic oath denouncing the doctrine of transubstantiation. However, this was the last time such an oath was used, as it was abandoned for subsequent coronations. The coronation of King Charles III, which took place on May 6, incorporated Christian ceremony through the use of relics from the True Cross, presented to him by Pope Francis.
While the coronation ceremony in Britain includes Christian elements, it also accommodates representatives of other faiths. For example, during the coronation of King Charles III, representatives of Muslim, Sikh, and Hindu communities were present in prominent seats and invited to greet the king.
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The history of papal coronation
The history of the papal coronation goes back to the 8th century when popes of the Roman Catholic Church began wearing the papal tiara, a crown that symbolised the triple power of the Pope: father of kings, governor of the world, and Vicar of Christ. The first recorded papal coronation was that of Pope Nicholas I in 858.
The ceremony traditionally involved the placing of the tiara on the newly elected pope's head, accompanied by the words: "Accipe tiaram tribus coronis ornatam, et scias te esse patrem principum et regum, rectorem orbis in terra vicarium Salvatoris nostri Jesu Christi, cui est honor et gloria in saecula saeculorum", which translates to "Receive the tiara adorned with three crowns, and know that you are the father of princes and kings, the ruler of the world, the vicar of our Saviour Jesus Christ on earth, to whom be all honour and glory, world without end".
The coronation was a significant event that attracted delegations from all over the world. For instance, the coronation of Pope Paul VI in 1963, the last pope to date to be crowned, was attended by representatives of over 90 countries and international organisations, including the presidents of Brazil and Ireland and the king and queen of Belgium. The ceremony was held outdoors in St. Peter's Square, with the pope's throne draped in white and set in front of the main entrance to the basilica.
Following the Mass, the new pope was crowned with the tiara, which was often placed on an altar for all to see. The pope then imparted the solemn papal blessing "Urbi et Orbi". The last act of the inauguration was the formal taking possession of his cathedra as Bishop of Rome in the Archbasilica of St. John Lateran.
The papal coronation was an important tradition in the Catholic Church, with over 180 popes swearing the "Papal Coronation Oath" during their ceremonies. However, in recent times, the practice has been abandoned, with Pope Paul VI being the last pope to wear the tiara. His successors, beginning with John Paul I, have adopted simpler inauguration ceremonies that do not include the imposition of a tiara, although any future pope may choose to restore this tradition.
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Frequently asked questions
A coronation is an initiation ceremony where a monarch is invested with regalia and crowned.
A papal coronation is the formal ceremony of placing the papal tiara on a newly elected pope.
The coronation begins with a Papal Mass. During the chanting of Terce, the pope sits on a throne and cardinals make their "first obeisance" by kissing his hand. The newly elected pope is then carried in state through St. Peter's Basilica under a white canopy. The pope is then crowned with the papal tiara, usually on the balcony of St. Peter's Basilica.
A coronation is a symbolic formality that does not signify the official beginning of a monarch's reign. The coronation usually takes place several months after the death of the preceding monarch.
The coronation of the British monarch has historically included anti-Catholic aspects, but these have been abandoned. The coronation includes specifically Christian prayers, anointing, and crowning, but representatives of other faiths are also invited to greet the monarch.
