What Will King Charles' Coronation Look Like? Look Back At Photos From Queen Elizabeth II's Ceremony
The monarch's crowning in 1953 marked the official start to her historic 70-year reign.
In 1953 Queen Elizabeth II was recognised as the new monarch of the United Kingdom, and seven decades later, became the longest-reigning British monarch in royal history.
On February 6, 1952, King George VI—father of then-Princess Elizabeth—passed away, consequently prompting Her Majesty's immediate rise to the throne. On June 2 of the following year, at just 27 years old, the young new monarch became formally crowned as queen of the United Kingdom during a lavish three-hour procession held at Westminster Abbey, marking the official start to her 70-year reign.
In a broadcast on that historic evening in 1953, the freshly anointed queen famously vowed to the public, "I have in sincerity pledged myself to your service, as so many of you are pledged to mine. Throughout all my life and with all my heart I shall strive to be worthy of your trust."
Now, for the first time in 70 years, another coronation is set to take place in England, this time for the late Queen Elizabeth's eldest son, King Charles III. The monarch will be coronated alongside his wife, Camilla, the queen consort, on May 6, 2023.
As we await the royal event, look back at photos from Queen Elizabeth's extravagant coronation.
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The new monarch poses for a portrait in the Green Drawing Room at Buckingham Palace alongside her six maids of honour —Lady Mary Russell, Lady Rayne, Baroness Willoughby de Eresby, Lady Glenconner, Lady Rosemary Muir, and Lady Moyra Campbell—who are set to hold her velvet train throughout her upcoming procession held at the royals' longstanding coronation venue, Westminster Abbey.
Queen Elizabeth II is assisted with her velvet train while leaving Buckingham Palace ahead of the service at Westminster Abbey.
An estimated 3 million observers gather around Trafalgar Square to honour Her Majesty throughout her procession passing, where she travels by Gold State Coach from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Abbey.
Elizabeth II and husband Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh aboard the Gold State Coach en route to Westminster Abbey for the coronation procession.
The Gold State Coach passes through Trafalgar Square, where a crowd of millions gathers to honour the queen.
Queen Elizabeth II, in her coronation regalia, and the Duke of Edinburgh, in his full Navy uniform, arrive out of the Gold State Coach for the start of the procession at Westminster Abbey.
The queen makes her entrance at Westminster Abbey alongside her six maids of honour, who carry her long velvet train.
Queen Elizabeth II sits beside Prince Philip at the commencement of the procession.
The monarch is bestowed the St. Edward's Crown by the archbishop of Canterbury. Henceforth, Queen Elizabeth II—Westminster Abbey's thirty-ninth Sovereign—is officially anointed the head of commonwealth, and queen of the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Ceylon, and Pakistan.
The new queen sits on her throne wearing St. Edward's crown, and carries two sceptres: Sovereign's Sceptre with Cross, representing the monarch's power and governance; and Sovereign's Sceptre with Dove, representing the monarch's spiritual role as head of the Church of England.
Archbishops pay homage and swear allegiance to the queen following the crowning ceremony.
Her Majesty receives a kiss from the Duke of Edinburgh, who wears a coronet and robe over his uniform, following the ceremonial crowning.
The queen wears the Imperial State Crown and carries her spectre and orb.
The queen walks alongside her maids of honour toward Abbey's West Door at the close of the procession.
The Gold State Coach passes back through Trafalgar Square in a return to Buckingham Palace following the queen's coronation procession at Westminster Abbey.
The newly-crowned queen smiles through the window of the Gold State Coach during her return to Buckingham Palace.
The newly-crowned queen waves at the crowd from her Buckingham Palace balcony alongside her maids of honour.
Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh give coronation waves to the crowd.
Her Majesty waves to the crowd from the balcony at Buckingham Palace alongside the Duke of Edinburgh and the pair's two children: four-year-old Prince Charles (now King Charles III) and two-year-old Anne, Princess Royal.
The newly-crowned queen poses for a portrait in the Throne Room in her coronation regalia alongside members of both her immediate and extended royal family—including Prince Philip, the Queen Mother, and Princess Margaret.
The queen stands alongside young family members, including her two eldest children, four-year-old son Prince Charles (now King Charles III) and two-year-old daughter Anne, Princess Royal.
In a famous portrait taken by Cecil Beaton, Elizabeth II wears the Imperial State Crown made for her father, George VI, at his own coronation in May 1937.
Her Majesty additionally carries the Sovereign's Sceptre with Cross, a symbol of the monarch's power, and the Sovereign's Orb, a symbol of the divine power deriving a monarch's authority. Both ceremonial objects date back to 1661 and have, since that date, been used at the coronation of every British monarch.
All pieces are part of the Crown Jewels of the United Kingdom, a famed collection of ceremonial items located at the Tower of London.
In a coronation portrait, Queen Elizabeth wears St. Edward's Crown—the same one that was placed on her head by the archbishop of Canterbury during the crowning ceremony. The Crown Jewel was originally made for King Charles II in 1661.
The queen wears her coronation regalia and Imperial Crown, and holds the sceptre and orb.
The queen, in her full coronation regalia, poses alongside Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, in his full Navy uniform, for a coronation portrait.
Two days after her coronation, Queen Elizabeth II wears a gown designed by Norman Hartnell.
This article originally appeared in Harper's BAZAAR US.