Fascinating Side-by-Side Photos Show The Differences Between Charles’ And Elizabeth's Coronations
They may have shared genetics, but Queen Elizabeth II and King Charles III couldn't have been more different in many ways. She was known for her reticence and for being the longest-reigning Queen in history; he is famous for his eventful personal life and for the decades he spent waiting to take the throne. Yet what mother and son both have in common cannot be denied: their duty to their country and to the role of monarch. So when it came to their coronations — two historic days, 70 years apart — were there any similarities? While some traditions haven’t changed at all, there were small but meaningful changes made to Charles' coronation ceremony that showcase just how different he and his mother really were.
A historic carriage ride
Queens and kings may change, but the iconic Gold State Coach always stays the same. With its ornate, golden design, the carriage looks like it hopped out of a fairytale. It has carried many a monarch to and from their coronation, including William IV in 1831, Queen Victoria in 1838, and Queen Elizabeth II at many points throughout her 70-year reign. But her most important trip in the coach happened on her coronation day in 1953.
1953: In the Gold State Coach
On that unseasonably chilly day in June, the new queen and her husband, Prince Philip, rode the golden carriage through Westminster Abbey to get to her coronation. Rumor has it that royal staff members put a hot water bottle in the carriage for Elizabeth because of the cool, wet weather. And unlike her son, Elizabeth rode to and from the coronation in the fancy gold leaf carriage.
2023: In the Diamond Jubilee State Coach
Charles, meanwhile, opted to set off for the coronation in the Diamond Jubilee State Coach, which is a much newer carriage that's equipped with air conditioning. But on the way back, the King and Queen Consort took their rightful places in the Gold State Carriage, just as Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip did 70 years ago.
1953: The anointing ceremony
The most sacred part of the coronation ceremony, the anointing, holds the same reverence as it did 70 years ago. When 27-year-old Queen Elizabeth was anointed with holy oil by the Archbishop of Canterbury, she was concealed by a tall, enclosed awning so that guests (and TV cameras) wouldn't be onlookers to the holy moment between herself and God. Charles' anointing was a bit more elaborate.
