Coronation Day 1937

Today is the seventy-fifth anniversary of the Coronation of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth in 1937.

This was the first British coronation to be fully photographed and filmed, and one in which the liturgy was further revised on traditional lines. Most noteworthy was the fact that the King having been crowned with St Edward's Crown did not have it immediately replaced with the Imperial State Crown, as his father did in 1911, but wore it for the enthronisation, the homage and up to the Communion.

The beginning of the ceremony

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The dialogue with the Archbishop of Canterbury at the Oath-taking

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In these photographs of the King and Queen, Queen Mary and the Princesses Elizabeth and Margaret the crowns can be seen. 
The Imperial State Crown was altered and provided with a new frame for the present Queen's Coronation in 1953 and the arches returned to their somewhat lower angles as when it was made for Queen Victoria's coronation in 1838.
Queen Elizabeth's Crown was made for her in 1937, using as its base a circlet made for Queen Victoria.
Queen Mary is wearing the crown made for her in 1911, but without its arches and cross.
The two Princesses circlets were designed by their father, there not being a precedent in modern times for such coronets.  

The King and Queen enthroned.

The King holds the Sovereign's Sceptre and the orb, the Queen the Queen's Sceptre with the cross and the Queen's Ivory Rod with the Dove.

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The King and Queen in state

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