State bed fit for the King

In amongst various details being announced revealed the Coronation several websites recently have had articles about the State bed designed for the use of the Monarch the night before the ceremony in Westminster Abbey. It is in the Speaker’s House in the New Palace of Westminster - to give it its proper name - and the story is also about how the bed, apparently forgotten and dismissed as old-fashioned or as surplus, was sold off and then recovered and restored in the 1980s.

The bed was commissioned and made in 1859 so that it could be slept in by the monarch on the night before their coronation as per the established practice. This was last done by King George IV in 1821. The custom had not been followed in 1831 or 1838, and, despite the creation of the bed, was not revived in 1902,1911,1937 or 1953. It is clearly a legacy of when the monarch lived for part of the year in the royal apartments in the medieval palace, but which were lost in a serious fire early in the reign of King Henry VIII. I need to check but I am not sure what the arrangement was thereafter. Until 1698 Whitehall Palace was close by and may have been used. With the loss of Whitehall, again to a fire, it may be that the overnight stay at the Speaker’s House began with Queen Anne in 1702. I am not sure when the idea of a permanent Speaker’s House first came into being, but doubt very much if there was one before the Civil War. 

As I recall it in theFrench coronation rite the two supporting bishops went to the King’s bedchamber in the archiepiscopal palace at Rheims and formally raised and escorted the King to his coronation. I do not think that was a feature of the English rite - the monarch’s first appearance was for the ceremonies in Westminster Hall before the procession to the Abbey.

The Mail Online has an illustrated article about the bed at Charles to be offered unique bedroom in Parliament before coronation

The BBC News site has an article at The family that bought the King's bed for £100

The Daily Express has the story in a shorter version at Charles may sleep in unique bed at Parliament on eve of Coronation

I cannot see the tradition being revived as the plans so far announced are for the King and Queen to travel in state from Buckingham Palace. However it is good to know that the bed has been returned to the Speaker’s House and has been restored.