THEY’RE the iconic British ceremonies that have been keeping our country in Kings and Queens ever since the Dark Ages. They’re Coronations – the point at which the acting monarch becomes ruler in the eyes of God. We Brits have talked of little else these past months, but how much do we REALLY know about these time honoured rituals? Since we haven’t had one in the UK since 1953, the answer is probably the thick end of fuck all. So string up the bunting, grab your crown, orb and sceptre, and get comfy on the throne, as we bring you…
The earliest recorded coronation is in 55 AD. The event took place in Camulodunum, with thousands of Brittonic tribespeople flocking to the town – now modern-day Colchester – buying commemorative beakers, plates and tea towels. A 2,000-year-old cruet set marking the ceremony, emblazoned with an image of the warrior queen’s face and her iconic knife-wheeled chariot, turned up recently on an episode of where pottery expert Henry Sandon valued it between £25 and £40 for insurance purposes.
