Last month’s Coronation of King Charles and Queen Camilla included a Reception at Buckingham Palace and a Concert at Windsor Castle, but was in no way comprable to spectacular celebrations held for the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II in 1953, which involved weeks of Banquets, Parades, Galas and Processions 70 years ago.
Royal Guests and Relatives from around the world joined date British Royal Family to celebrate the spectacular Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II at Westminster Abbey, followed by a Procession through London and an appearance on the Balcony of Buckingham Palace.
On the evening of the Coronation, the Queen (wearing the George IV State Diadem and the Coronation Necklace and Earrings) and Duke of Edinburgh appeared multiple times on the Balcony of Buckingham Palace, presumably after a Banquet for Foreign Royal Guests and Dignitaries.
Three days later, the Queen (wearing the Grand Duchess Vladimir Tiara, Queen Victoria’s Pearl Earrings and Ruby and Diamond Floral Bandeau Necklace) attended a Banquet hosted by the Foreign Office at Lancaster House in London, which was also followed by an appearance on the Balcony of Buckingham Palace.
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On June 8th, after a day at the Epsom Derby Royal Guests and the British Aristocracy joined the Queen (wearing the Girls of Great Britain and Ireland Tiara and the Coronation Necklace and Earrings) and members of the Royal Family for a splendid Coronation Gala Performance of ‘Gloriana’ at the Royal Opera House in Covent Garden.
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The following day, the Queen and members of the Royal Family attended a Service of Thanksgiving at St Paul’s Cathedral, following the Lord Mayor of London, Sir Rupert de la Bere, as he carried the Pearl Sword down the steps of the Cathedral.
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On the 11th of June, the Queen presided of the Trooping the Colour Ceremony on Horse Guards Parade followed by another appearance on the Balcony of Buckingham Palace.
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The following day, the Lord Mayor and the City of London hosted the traditional Coronation Luncheon at the Guildhall for the Queen and members of the Royal Family, which was followed by the Queen travelling in the Royal Barge from Tower Pier to Westminster on the River Thames.
The Queen (wearing the Girls of Great Britain and Ireland Tiara and her City of London Fringe Necklace) and Duke had Dinner with 40 Admirals and 75 Naval Captains aboard the HMS Vanguard on June 15th, following the Coronation Fleet Review at Spithead.
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Before going to Spithead, the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh drove in a carriage through the streets of Windsor, and upon her return to Windsor, the Queen and members of the Royal Family attended five days at Royal Ascot, as well as the Order of the Garter Service, followed by the Coronation Cup match between England and Argentina at Cowdray Park on June 21st.
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A few days later, the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh arrived in Edinburgh for a week long visit to Scotland, with a series of Parades, Services and Banquets, as well as a ‘Scottish Coronation’ Ceremony at St Giles Cathedral in Edinburgh, during which the Queen was presented with the Scottish Crown Jewels.
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Next, the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh were on a three-day visit to Northern Ireland, where a Banquet was hosted by Governor Lord Wakehurst with Lady Wakehurst in honour of the Queen (wearing the Girls of Great Britain and Ireland Tiara) at Hillsborough Castle.
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Upon their return to London, the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh attended the Coronation Review of ex-Servicemen, who marched past bearing the flags of their units in Hyde Park, followed by a review from an open Land Rover.
The Queen (wearing the Girls of Great Britain and Ireland Tiara) also attended a Coronation Ball hosted by the Royal Empire Society, the Victoria League and the Overseas League at the Hurlingham Club.
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Next, the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh set off on a visit to Wales, which included a spectacular Ceremony at Caernarfon Castle and a visit to the Welsh National Eistedfodd.
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On July 15th, the Queen presided over the Coronation Review of the RAF at Odiham in Hampshire, inspecting 1125 officers and other ranks drawn from all commands of the RAF and over 300 aircraft with crew and personnel, with a fly past of more than 600 aircraft.
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The next day, the Queen hosted a Garden Party at Buckingham Palace, followed by a Cricket Match at Lord’s Cricket Ground a few days later.
The Coronation Celebrations continued later that year with the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh setting off on their six-month Tour of the Commonwealth, visiting Bermuda, Jamaica, Fiji, Tonga, New Zealand, Australia, Ceylon, Aden, Uganda, Malta and Gibraltar.
