10 things you didn't know about Coronations

A cat, a bat, an earthquake and even a banned Queen Consort have all made an appearance at previous coronation ceremonies. 

Find out about some of the interesting and unexpected things that have happened during previous coronations at Westminster Abbey. We’ve hosted them for over 1,000 years.

Richard I and the bad omens: 00:00:27
Mary I's new oil and chair: 00:01:27
Charles I and the earthquake: 00:02:27
James II and the early Coronation: 00:03:32
William III, Mary II and the wrong ring: 00:04:22
George III and the supper during the ceremony: 00:05:14
George IV and the banned Queen Consort: 00:06:17
Victoria and the wrong finger: 00:07:08
Edward VII and the postponed Coronation: 00:08:07
Elizabeth II and the Coronation Chair cat: 00:09:05

#coronation

[kellyshomemadekitchen]

Very interesting! I cannot wait to visit Westminster next summer!

[KA-suww]

Who said black cats are bad luck matins may have brought the queen good luck

[spacenerd]

The architecture is breathtaking. Wow

[janetwilcock]

Matins obviously brought Queen Elizabeth II a lot of good luck as she had a record breaking reign of over 70 years. 👸🏻👑🐈‍⬛

[RoxanneM-]

Loved the black cat story! 🐈 That cat symbolized the 7 lives, seven decades of her reign perhaps?

[jcortese]

I think all coronations should include a kitty as part of the ceremony now, or else they're invalid. 🐈

[yagnasrinambiar]

The United Kingdom had the best queen ever, in Queen Elizabeth ll

[chriscaughey]

Someone should write a book about Matins for children. "Matins the Coronation Cat!"

[marywest]

did you notice that it was 400 years exactly between the first crowned queen to the last crowned queen? Mary I 1553 Elizabeth II 1953? cool...

[roberthossen]

Lovely short documentary! You missed one thing though. At the coronation of king George VI, the Archbishop couldn't make out what was back and front of St. Edward's crown. Someone had removed a thread around the front cross pâté and so the Archbishop couldn't make out what was front or back. King George VI later wrote he thought the Archbishop had probably placed the crown backwards on his head.... so much for preparation...

[snuggles]

black cats always bring the best luck. QE2 would agree ( i outlasted them all 😊)

[elizabetha.morris]

A fascinating account of past coronations. Thank you. 🇨🇦

[miaomiaochan]

Cats still think themselves as royalty. And I regard them as such.

[musicandbooklover-po]

Obviously Matins was a favourable portent of what was to come. Great, and very interesting, video. Thank you.

[graphiquejack]

Anne Boleyn’s coronation was unique for a Queen consort because she was crowned with the monarch’s crown, not the consort’s one. There are theories that perhaps this was because she was pregnant and it was assumed the child would be a male heir. It ended up being Elizabeth I who was crowned queen regnant despite her sex.

[FitMediaChannel]

Queen Victoria, after being crowned, had a moment to retire to the Shrine of St Edward behind the altar, to allow her to change clothes. However, she was shocked to find the shrine was being used by some workmen as a place to eat their sandwiches. The queen complained about if afterwards in her diary.

[WendyInCollingwood]

I love facts 👏 Thank You for sharing Westminster Abbey’s Coronation facts 🙏 Viewed, with gratitude, from Georgian Bay, Ontario, Canada 🇨🇦

[bosdavy]

I read a wonderful story about the coronation of Edward VII once. Hubert Parry’s “I Was Glad” had been written specifically for use at the entry of the monarch into the Abbey. Apparently it started early, before the King had arrived, and so the anthem was played twice! (This anthem has been played at all subsequent coronations since, as has Handel’s Zadok the Priest since it was first commissioned in 1727)

[sandramorey]

I visited in 1967. All the Cathedrals are so impressive. I love the story about the horse and also about Matins, the black cat.

[chong]

Thank you! Amongst my most treasured memories are the two visits I made to the Abbey - the high points of two wonderful vacations. The vergers, on both occasions, were a wealth of information. 🍁