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| Coronation Service, John Henry Frederick Bacon, 1913 (Detail) |
Following King Edward VII's death on 6 May 1910, his burial ceremony two weeks later became one of the most remarkable funerals in world history. In her classic work, The Guns of August, historian Barbara Tuchman begins her exploration of the opening of the Great War with the funeral of King Edward VII of Great Britain. Tuchman believed, as do we, that the ceremony's grandeur and conspicuous participation by nine kings and long list of royals (some of whom were doomed to be deposed or murdered) was symbolic of the passing of a soon-to-vanish "Old Order" that had led Europe and the world for a millennium. Nine monarchs would play roles in the First World War of varied degrees, one of whom, King George V, was yet to be crowned. The coronation of George V and his wife, Mary, as king and queen of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions, and as emperor and empress of India, took place at Westminster Abbey, London, on Thursday 22 June 1911. His coronation is far less remembered than his father's funeral.
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| Nine Monarchs in Edward VII's Funeral Procession |
King George V, second son of King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra, was born in 1865 and served in the Royal Navy until 1892, when he became heir to the throne following the death of his elder brother, Prince Albert Victor (the Duke of Clarence). Prince George was created Duke of York in the same year and was created Prince of Wales in 1901. He married Princess Mary of Teck in 1893 in the Chapel Royal, St James's Palace. Their children were Edward VIII; George VI (christened Albert); Henry, Duke of Gloucester; George, Duke of Kent; Prince John (who died young); and Princess Mary, Princess Royal and Countess of Harewood.
On this Coronation Day, it seems fitting to recall the crowning of the monarch who tirelessly inspired his people through the unexpected conflict that would break out in the fourth year of his reign. In researching this article, I discovered that George V himself left a fine account of the event in his diary. Let us begin there:
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| Grenadier Guards Carrying the King's Colors Led the Procession |
It was overcast & cloudy with slight showers & a strongish cool breeze, but better for the people than great heat. Today was indeed a great & memorable day in our lives & one which we can never forget, but it brought back to me many sad memories of 9 years ago when the beloved Parents were crowned. May & I left B.P. in the Coronation coach at 10.30. with 8 cream coloured horses.
There were over 50,000 troops lining the streets under the command of Ld. Kitchener. There were hundreds of thousands of people who gave us a magnificent reception. The Service in the Abbey was most beautiful & impressive, but it was a terrible ordeal. It was grand, yet simple & most dignified & went without a hitch.
I nearly broke down when dear David came to do homage to me, as it reminded me so much when I did the same thing to beloved Papa, he did it so well. Darling May looked lovely & it was indeed a comfort to me to have her by my side, as she has been ever to me during these last 18 years.
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| The Royal Progress in the City of London |
We left Westminster Abbey at 2.15. (having arrived there before 11.0) with our Crowns on & sceptres in our hands. This time we drove by the Mall, St James' Street & Piccadilly, crowds enormous & decorations very pretty. On reaching B.P. just before 3.0. May & I went out on the balcony to show ourselves to the people. Downey photographed us in our robes with Crowns on.
Had some lunch with our guests here. Worked all the afternoon with Bigge & others answering telegrams & letters of which I have hundreds. Such a large crowd collected in front of the Palace that I went out on balcony again. Our guests dined with us at 8.30. May & I showed ourselves again to the people. Wrote & read. Rather tired. Bed at 11.45. Beautiful illuminations everywhere.
The Big Event
George and Mary’s coronation was 13 months after Edward’s death, to allow time for mourning and planning of the celebratory event. Their coronation, held on 22 June 1911, largely followed the 1902 coronation, aside from a newer and shorter translation of the texts used during the crowning.
In honor of their coronation, George and Mary presented new hangings for the High Altar to the Abbey; these hangings are still in use today. King George’s coronation, although traditional, marked some firsts and lasts. The 1911 coronation was the last coronation that representatives of foreign empires attended. The Austro-Hungarian, Russian, German, and the Ottoman Empires would fall over the next decade. George and Mary’s coronation was the first coronation where photography was allowed within the Abbey.
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| Official Coronation Portrait |
After the coronation, the king and queen traveled to Delhi, where they attended a vast outdoor gathering known as the Delhi Durbar. The Imperial Crown of India (now in the Tower of London) was specially made for the occasion. The greatest challenge of George V's reign came with the outbreak of the First World War in 1914. The king and queen worked tirelessly throughout, and when the war ended, the king supported proposals for the burial of the Unknown Warrior in Westminster Abbey. On 11 November 1920, George V unveiled the Cenotaph in Whitehall and then processed behind the gun carriage that brought the Unknown Warrior's coffin to the Abbey for its burial.
George V was much mourned at his death, on 20 January 1936. After lying in state in Westminster Hall, the king was buried in St George's Chapel, Windsor. Queen Mary is buried with him.
Sources: Royal Central; Westminster Abbey, Wikipedia, Getty Museum
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