the Coronation of King George V

 On 22nd June in 1911, the Coronation of King George V and his consort, Queen Mary, took place at Westminster Abbey...

George V - the great-grandfather of King Charles III - became King in 1910 and reigned for 26 years after the death of his father, King Edward VII.

Of this momentous day, His Majesty wrote in his diary: “May and I left B.P. in the Coronation Coach at 10:30 with 8 cream-coloured horses. The Service in the Abbey was most beautiful and impressive… It was grand, yet simple & most dignified & went without a hitch.”

Queen Mary’s coronation dress was embroidered with actual gold thread that would have reflected the light beautifully during the coronation ceremony. Every detail was carefully considered and the embroidered design depicts an English rose, Scottish thistle, Irish shamrock, lotus of India, as well as English oak leaves and acorns.

(Portrait: “King George V (1865-1936) and Queen Mary (1867-1953) in Coronation robes” attributed to W & D Downey, 22 June 1911 & Photos: “Queen Mary’s Coronation Dress” by Reville & Rossiter, 1911 via The Royal Collection Trust; Photo via @RoyalFamily on X)

76