Mark Pelcher, age 14, of Lynn, Mass., for his question:
WHAT HAPPENS AT A BRITISH CORONATION?
The last British coronation took place in London on June 2, 1953 when Queen Elizabeth II received a crown as a symbol of rule. The ceremony was rich in color and tradition.
British coronations take place in Westminster Abbey. The new monarch is conducted from the west door of the abbey along the nave to crossing, where the ceremony is performed.
First the monarch sits in a Chair of Estate. The regalia, which includes the crown, orb, scepter, rod, swords of state, spurs, ring and bracelets used in the ceremony, are placed on the altar.
The Archibishop of Canterbury then presents the new ruler, who can be either the future king or queen, to the people in the abbey as the true ruler of the realm. The monarch takes the coronation oath, swearing to rule justly and to support the Church of England.
Next the monarch receives a Bible and the celebration of the communion service starts.
Then the monarch is moved to King Edward's Chair, also called the Coronation Chair. Here the monarch is anointed and clothed in a cloak of gold. The spurs of St. George, a symbol of knighthood, are presented. The Sword of State is taken from its scabbard and carried before the monarch during the rest of the ceremony.
Bracelets called armills are put on the wrists of the monarch. While sitting, the monarch receives the orb, a globe of gold surmounted with a cross signifying the rule of Christ over the world. The Coronation Ring, symbolizing the marriage of the ruler and the kingdom, is placed on the monarch's right hand. He receives a rod with a dove to hold in his left hand and in the right hand is placed a scepter which includes the Star of Africa, the world's largest cut diamond.
Finally, the crown of St. Edward is placed on the monarch's head and the guns of the Tower of London fire a salute to honor the coronation.
As the guns fire a salute to the new monarch, the monarch moves to the throne after receiving a blessing from the archbishop. Nobles, carrying the jeweled Sword of State, the Sword of Temporal Justice, the Sword of Spiritual Justice and the Sword of Mercy, which has a blunted point, surround the throne. The monarch receives homage and fealty from the clergy and public.
After removing the crown and taking Holy Communion, the monarch returns to the throne again where the crown, the scepter and the orb are presented. After walking in a procession down the nave, the monarch leaves the abbey through the west door.
A banquet follows the coronation.
In earlier times a fully armed knight, the King's Champion, rode into the banquet hall to challenge anyone who questioned the monarch's right to the throne.
The British coronation ceremony is quite ancient. The earliest record of the ceremony used in the coronation of an English king dates from about the A.D. 750s.
King Edward I made the Coronation Chair to contain the Stone of Scone, the Coronation Stone of ancient Scottish kings.