Details Released of King Charles's Coronation Procession Inside Westminster Abbey
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When Queen Elizabeth was crowned in 1953, the procession inside Westminster Abbey was made up mostly of white, male members of the clergy and aristocracy. But when King Charles and Queen Camilla arrive for their coronation next Saturday they will enter alongside a more diverse line-up showcasing modern Britain today.
Buckingham Palace has released details of who will take part in the procession into the Abbey as well as who will be involved during the ceremony. “The ceremonial roles include bearing the regalia in the procession and presenting the items to their Majesties,” the Palace said in a statement. “Those undertaking these historic roles in the service have been chosen to recognise, thank and represent the Nation due to their significant service, and include representatives from Orders of Chivalry, the military and wider public life.”
In contrast to the 250 people who paraded into the Abbey over several minutes in 1953, this procession looks set to be shorter. The aristocracy is still well-represented, with the Marquess of Anglesey, Duke of Westminster, Earl of Caledon, and Earl of Dundee among those taking part, highlighting the four corners of the United Kingdom. And carrying the Royal Standard flag—the flag representing the Sovereign—will be Francis Dymoke, whose family has been involved with coronations since William the Conqueror’s in 1066.
However, much of the procession looks of the present, not the past. Women and people of color feature prominently in the line-up carrying the Crown Jewels into the Abbey and presenting them during the investitures. The Bishop of Dover, the Rt. Reverent Rose Hudson-Wilkin, who became the first Black female bishop in the UK in 2019, is presenting Camilla with her rod. She was previously the Chaplain to the Queen and read prayers at Harry and Meghan's wedding in 2018. In a statement released by the Palace, she said, “I am surprised, excited and honoured to have been asked to play a part in this historic once in a lifetime occasion. As I make my presentation, both their Majesties will remain in my prayers as they seek to serve the nation and the Commonwealth.”
Royal Navy Petty Officer Amy Taylor will be the first woman to carry the Jewelled Sword of Offering into the Abbey. She has been selected to represent service men and women as a tribute to King Charles’s active naval career. “Having served most of my senior career as an Aircraft Engineer on 845 Naval Air Squadron at RNAS Yeovilton where His Majesty originally trained and served as a pilot, I am deeply honoured and humbled to play my part in this historic event,” she said in a statement from the Palace.
Baroness Floella Benjamin and Dame Elizabeth Anionwu will be carrying the King’s Sceptre with the Dove and the Orb into the Abbey respectively. They were both recently appointed to the Order of Merit, awarded for exceptional service, by Queen Elizabeth. Baroness Benjamin said that she felt diversity and inclusion were "being embraced." "To be selected to carry the Sovereign’s Sceptre with Dove, which represents spirituality, equity and mercy, is for me very symbolic as it’s everything I stand for and sends out a clear message that diversity and inclusion is being embraced."
Buckingham Palace also shared that the first processions into Westminster Abbey will be made up of faith leaders and faith representatives followed shortly afterwards by representatives from the 14 countries—known as Commonwealth Realms - outside of the UK where Charles is also now head of state. Flags of each realm will be carried by national representatives accompanied by the Governors General and Prime Ministers.
Here are the details of the people carrying and presenting the coronation regalia:
Carrying Queen Camilla's Regalia to the Altar
Baroness Helena Kennedy of The Shaws – Carrying The Queen Consort's Rod
General Sir Patrick Sanders – Carrying The Queen Consort's Sceptre
The Duke of Wellington – Carrying Queen Mary’s Crown
The Rt. Reverend and Rt. Hon the Lord Chartres– Carrying The Queen Consort's Ring
Presenting Queen Camilla's Regalia
The Rt. Reverend Rose Hudson-Wilkin CD, The Bishop of Dover – Presenting The Queen Consort's Rod
The Rt. Reverend and Rt Hon. Lord Chartres – Presenting The Queen Consort's Sceptre with Cross
Brigadier Andrew Jackson, The Keeper of the Jewel House at HM Tower of London – Presenting The Queen Consort's Ring
Carrying King Charles's Regalia to the Altar
General Sir Gordon Messenger, the Governor of HM Tower of London – Carrying St Edward’s Crown as Lord High Steward of England
Baroness Elizabeth Manningham-Buller LG – Carrying St Edward's Staff
The Duke of Buccleuch and Queensberry KT – Carrying the Sceptre with Cross
Baroness Floella Benjamin OM – Carrying the Sceptre with the Dove
Dame Elizabeth Anionwu OM – Carrying the Orb
The Keeper of the Jewel House, Brigadier Andrew Jackson – Carrying The Sovereign’s Ring
Petty Officer Amy Taylor – Carrying the Sword of Offering
Lord Hastings and The Earl of Loudoun – Carrying the Spurs
Lord President of the Council, Penny Mordaunt – Carrying the Sword of State in The King’s Procession
Air Chief Marshal the Lord Peach – Carrying the Sword of Mercy (The Curtana)
General the Lord Richards of Herstmonceux – Carrying the Sword of Spiritual Justice
General the Lord Houghton of Richmond – Carrying the Sword of Temporal Justice
Presenting King Charles's Regalia
The Lord Carrington, Lord Great Chamberlain – Presenting the Spurs
The Lord Syed Kamall– Presenting the Armills
Baroness Gillian Merron – Presenting the Robe Royal
The Most Reverend John McDowell, the Church of Ireland Archbishop of Armagh – Presenting the Orb
Lord Narendra Patel KT – Presenting the Ring
Lord Indarjit Singh of Wimbledon – Presenting the Coronation Glove
The Most Reverend Mark Strange, Bishop of Moray, Ross and Caithness, and Episcopal Primus of Scotland – Presenting the Sceptre with Cross
The Most Reverend Andrew John, the Archbishop of Wales – Presenting the Sceptre with Dove
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