Royal Coronations (Shire Library)

In 1953, Britain celebrated the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II, an event greeted at the time with widespread, nationwide enthusiasm. Sixty years on, the images and memories of the event still resonate, partly for their nostalgic appeal, but also as a reminder that while the monarchy of the modern age has had to move with the times, the affirming ritual of the coronation, with its pageantry, theatre and symbolism, is centuries old. This book takes a thematic look at the phenomenon of the coronation from its earliest origins and the meaning of the ceremonial rituals, to the precise behind-the-scenes organisation and the robes and jewels worn. It will also look at public responses to coronations over the years and how the magnificence of the event from the time of William the Conqueror gradually evolved and rose to new levels with the glorious global (and televised) celebration of 1953.