The first day of a new era
The Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II was to be the greatest show on Earth. It took 16 months to plan, partly to allow for royal tradition of allowing an appropriate amount of time to pass following the death of a monarch, and to give the planning committees enough time to organise the most glittering occasion the world had ever seen.
The Duke of Norfolk was charged with overseeing the event, and on January 1, 1953, Westminster Abbey was closed to the public to allow the stage to be set.
A 200-strong labour force was drafted in to build the theatre, and skilled craftsmen from across the nation were set to work to create a spectacle like no other.
In Glasgow, 31 blue and gold carpets were being made, in Bradford 4,000 yards of velvet were being woven to cover the chairs and stools, and it took 10 weeks to hand-weave the 20 yards of purple velvet needed for the Queen’s robe.
Behind the scenes huge debate was under way about whether the ceremony should be televised. Prime Minister Winston Churchill felt this would somehow cheapen it, but the young Queen was adamant that as many of her subjects as possible should be able to see history being made.
Norman Hartnell was commissioned to design the outfits for all members of the Royal Family, including her gown.
He came up with nine proposals with the final design of a white satin gown embroidered with the emblems of the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth; the rose for England, thistle for Scotland, leek for Wales, shamrock for Ireland, lotus for Ceylon, protea for South Africa, wattle for Australia, wheat and jute for Pakistan, maple leaf for Canada, and fern for New Zealand.
Thousands of tiny pearls covered the dress.
Elizabeth rehearsed for the occasion with her maids of honour, using a sheet for a train and set of chairs for a carriage. She also wore the heavy Imperial State Crown when doing her daily business so she could get used to its weight.
On June 2, the day of the Coronation arrived. Around three million lined the streets to get a glimpse of their Queen, many camping out overnight despite the rain to get the best spot.
Across the country street parties were planned and families who did not own TV sets rented them especially for the occasion.
The Coronation was the first major worldwide event to broadcast internationally on TV, with 27 million people watching in the UK alone, plus millions more around the world.
Royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliams says: “It was absolutely phenomenal. It was probably one of the greatest royal spectacles ever in history. Things were still pretty grim after the war, and rationing had continued, but the Coronation, just as her wedding to Prince Philip had been, was a bright moment which was very, very important for the country.
“It was absolutely magnificent and people talked about a new Elizabethan era. The Queen’s Coronation was a symbol of national unity and continuity at a time of extraordinary change.”
One of the greatest royal spectacles ever in history