Prince Charles Shares Some Striking Details About The Queen's Coronation
Prince Charles will one day become King, but until then, he's relegated to stand beside his all-powerful mum, Queen Elizabeth II. While he's used to keeping his personal opinions quiet, once he takes the throne, he'll be able to point the royal family in his own direction, and some believe he'll break with tradition. In fact, Prince Charles shared some insights about his mother's coronation that may reveal how he intends to overhaul the oldest royal family practices.
Crowning Day
Elizabeth II was crowned queen on June 2, 1953, in Westminster Abbey, making her the 39th Sovereign to receive such an honor at the Abbey. This was the setting for every single coronation going all the way back to 1066, the year it was built.
A Huge Showing
Queen Elizabeth's coronation was the first ever to be broadcast on television, with 27 million viewers watching at home and a total of 8,251 guests attending the ceremony in person. There was a different kind of buzz to the event.
On TV
It was the first time so many people around the world could tune in and watch the newly crowned Monarch's Coronation speech in real time, and for many, the first glimpse into the strict and rigid rules of royal life.
Heavy Is The Head
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For example, although it looks beautiful, the royal crown the Queen wore was incredibly painful. Made of solid gold, it weighed almost five pounds, the near equivalent of balancing five cans of soup on your head.