Coronation Tree
Environmental Action Group

Bexley Grammar is about to plant a new tree to commemorate the Coronation of King Charles III. It will be planted by Mr Gilmore and the caretakers in time for the ceremony on Saturday 6th May. James Spatz of the Environmental Action Group explains the historical significance of this wonderful addition to our school:

"It is meaningful to recognise King Charles' contributions to environmental preservation and sustainability in advance of his impending Coronation by planting a tree. No matter your opinions of the Monarchy, we can acknowledge that King Charles III has devoted himself to advancing a better and more sustainable future. In addition to being a representation of life and growth, trees are essential for preventing the adverse consequences of climate change which as a member of the Bexley Grammar School Environmental Action Group I know is something which we as a school must work on. We can pay homage to King Charles' legacy while simultaneously promoting a healthier and more resilient environment by planting a tree in his honour.

Additionally, this event can encourage others to act in an environmentally responsible manner and it serves as an important reminder that everyone has a responsibility to save the earth and maintain its natural beauty for present and future generations to enjoy. Let's commemorate this momentous event in our nation by reaffirming our dedication to sustainability and joining together to create a better, more sustainable future for all."

James Spatz, Year 12

The King’s Coronation

Saturday, May 6th 2023, is the Coronation of the recently acceded King Charles III, along with wife, and Queen Consort, Camilla. Charles III became King immediately after the death of the late Elizabeth II on September 8th 2022. This is the first Coronation of a British monarch since June 2nd 1953, in which Elizabeth II at just age 25 in the historic Westminster Abbey. Compared to previous Coronations, the Coronation of King Charles III will undergo alterations so that multiple faiths, cultures and communities are represented within the monarchy. In addition to this, the Coronation will be shorter than that of the previous crowning of Elizabeth II.

The order of the Service

The Coronation ceremony is broken down into six parts: the recognition, the oath, the anointing, the investiture, including the crowning of the new monarch, and finally the enthronement and homage. On the day of the Coronation, the King and Queen consort will travel to Westminster Abbey via the Diamond Jubilee Coach as part of “The King's Procession”.

The recognition of the new King will take place as follows: while standing beside the Coronation chair of King Edward and the King will be presented to those in the Abbey by the Archbishop of Canterbury - Justin Welby.

The Oath is next in which King Charles III will then swear to uphold the law and the Church of England as the ruler of the Commonwealth. The anointing of the King will not be directly televised.

The process of anointing is that the King’s ceremonial robe will be removed, and he will then be seated in the coronation chair. Gold cloth will then be used to conceal the King from the onlooking crowd as the archbishop anoints the King's hands, breast and head with anointing oil. The formula of the oil has always remained secret from the public, but it has been said to be replicating the same oil used at the coronation of the late Elizabeth II. 

Next is the Investiture of the King in which he will be seated in the Coronation chair and presented with different items: The Royal Orb, representing religious and moral authority, and the sovereign's sceptre. The spectre is a rod made of gold topped with a white enamelled dove. The archbishop will then place the crown atop the King's head.

The final stage of the Coronation is the enthronement of the King and the homage. This is when the King will be taken from the Coronation chair and moved to the throne. Peers will then kneel before the King and pay their homage to the newly crowned monarch. The Queen consort will then be anointed and crowned in the same manner.

Historical comparison

The last time a coronation for a King and Queen Consort was that of George VI and his wife Queen Elizabeth I on May 12th 1937. This differed to the previous coronation of Queen Elizabeth II as, despite being married to the late Prince Philip, she was crowned alone. The significance of the Coronation is that it is an opportunity to reflect upon the ever-changing Britain and embrace development in British values. Much of the Coronation of the King will be rooted in tradition, however, certain aspects have been changed in order to represent the diverse nature of the Commonwealth such as, during the Coronation concert, community choirs and amateur singers will perform in honour of the King. These include: Refugee choirs, NHS choirs, LGBTQ+ singing groups, and deaf singing choirs. Other differences between the Coronation of King Charles III and that of Elizabeth II includes the fact that the Coronation of the King will be significantly shorter than the previous (60 minutes compared to the previous 4-hour-long Coronation). Additionally, the guest list is notably shorter too as Elizabeth II was crowned in front of 8,250 guests, whereas the expected number of attendees at the Coronation of King Charles II is 2,000.

Significance of the Coronation

Out of the 43 monarchies in the world, the Monarchy of the Commonwealth is the only one that continues to hold the ceremonial event that is the Coronation of new Monarchs coming to the throne. The ceremonial Coronation represents the handing over of authorial power to the next in line to the throne as they take an oath to protect the Commonwealth and uphold the law. The ceremony is seen as a joyous occasion to be celebrated as it symbolises a new beginning for the Commonwealth under a new ruler.

Mya Fewell, Year 12 History Prefect