The Coronation, by Sir Gerald W Wollaston, Norroy and Ulster King of Arms
Many people think of the Coronation merely as a pageant, the most magnificent of those great State ceremonials which we in this country stage with, perhaps, unrivalled dignity. But it is not in essence a pageant, it is a religious ceremony in which the Queen is dedicated to the service of God and of her people. […]
The first item is the ‘Recognition’. The Archbishop of Canterbury […] proclaims Her Majesty as Queen and says ‘Wherefore all you who are come this day to do your homage and service, Are you willing to do the same?’ This Recognition dates back to early Saxon times, when the succession of the Sovereign had to be confirmed by the people. It may, perhaps, be compared with the well-known question asked in the marriage service about impediment, and, as in that case, no one quite knows what would happen if those present said ‘No’ to the Archbishop’s question! In fact, they reply with acclaimations of ‘God save Queen Elizabeth’. […]
The vessels with which this ceremony is performed – the Ampulla containing the holy oil and the Spoon into which it is poured – are the only relics of the ancient medieval Regalia, the rest of which was broken up by Oliver Cromwell and had to be remade for the Coronation of King Charles II.
The Queen remains in King Edward’s chair until she has received the Crown. She is there invested with the Royal and Priestly robes, all of which are of symbolic significance and some of which can be traced in origin back to Saxon times, and the Regalia are given to her – the Spurs and the Sword of Knighthood, the Orb and the Sceptre of Sovereignty, and the Ring indicative that she is wedded to the Church and to her People.
Finally she is crowned.
28 May 1953: The Royal Children, by Margaret Saville
‘Prince Charles, who will be five next November, and Princess Anne, three years old in August, are being brought up on modern lines without any undue fuss or formality[…]
The Queen’s children have a simple, quiet daily routine under the direction of their nannie. The Queen likes to visit the nurseries at least once every day… If the Queen has a little free time immediately before lunch, she goes out into the Palace gardens to play with the children, and the hour after tea is always preserved for them whenever possible.
Prince Charles and Princess Anne come to the Queen’s sitting room and there are merry games of railways… or horses or maybe tossing balls with Mummy and Papa. Prince Charles is a sturdy, active boy with an extremely inquiring mind and marked intelligence. He has the Queen’s thick, dark golden hair and sea-blue eyes, but his features and many of his mannerisms are like those of the Duke of Edinburgh.
The Prince has an ‘affection for noisy occupations’ – he loves to ‘play a tune’ on his trumpet or thump his drum energetically or to stand and recite aloud. He is also fond of the telephone, which he now knows how to use reasonably well. Owing to the size of Buckingham Palace, the telephone has to be used for inter-communication. Looking at the television is a treat, not a daily occurrence, for the Queen’s children, since they are always encouraged to amuse themselves rather than have ready-made entertainments… The Queen herself has taught her son the elements of the three Rs and he can spell out many of the words in his favourite books, which include Peter Rabbit and Babar the elephant.
11 August 1960: The Queen’s Daughter, by Margaret Saville
The princess will be the first daughter of a British sovereign ever to be educated outside her own home. It is a decision which has caused the Queen much thought, but she has been influenced by the successful manner in which the Prince of Wales adapted himself as a boarder at Cheam school. Mixing with his fellows on completely equal terms and learning the team spirit and discipline of a public school have helped the Prince tremendously. It is plain to everybody who meets him now that he has gained much more self-confidence and social poise as well as enjoying games and sport in a manner he could never have done with only a private tutor at Buckingham Palace. So the Queen feels that Princess Anne too will benefit from school days and enjoy her lessons and games and friendships there as much as the Prince of Wales does.
*Historical records available now give a different slant. The Queen wrote to Prime Minister Anthony Eden at the beginning of 1958, saying, ‘Charles is just beginning to dread the return to school next week – so much worse for the second term.’