This post was published on the now-closed HuffPost Contributor platform. Contributors control their own work and posted freely to our site. If you need to flag this entry as abusive, send us an email.
Queen Elizabeth II is never going to sparkle on the talk show circuit.
Still, watching Britain’s longest serving monarch discuss the Crown Jewels provides a unique moment Sunday at 8 p.m. ET when the Smithsonian channel unveils The Coronation.
The hour-long special, roughly tied to June’s 65th anniversary of Elizabeth II’s own coronation, spends much of its time talking about Britain’s most extravagant tradition.
Advertisement
While many countries have monarchs, no others welcome them with the pomp and circumstance of the Brits.
Elizabeth’s coronation on June 2, 1953, was preceded by 16 months of planning, from meticulous rehearsal of the ceremony to construction of grandstands for some two million parade-route viewers.
Westminster Abbey, which has hosted the coronations of 39 kings and queens going back to the 11th century, was closed for the six months preceding the ceremony so a railroad track could be laid down the center to facilitate the elaborate rituals.
Advertisement
For this show Queen Elizabeth does a rare sit-down with Royals historian and expert Alastair Bruce, watching footage of coronation day and talking about the weight of the crown.
That’s the literal weight, not the metaphoric weight. The queen very carefully talks only about the elements of the coronation ceremony, and then in a measured, rather guarded manner.
Since it’s the sort of thing she never does, it’s a moment to remember even if she never gets much more droll than suggesting the five-pound crown, laden with jewels, feels heavy enough to break your neck if you’re not careful.
That crown is placed on the table where she’s talking to Bruce, who of course never touches it. By law and custom, it can only be touched by the queen, the Archbishop of Canterbury and the crown jeweler.
Bruce and the queen also discuss her everyday crown, the three-pounder that she wears when it’s a state occasion and she’s not being coronated. She admits that one, too, is “uncomfortable.”
Advertisement
The show notes that the coronation crown is studded with some of the prize pieces from the 23,000-stone crown jewels collection. That includes the world’s largest clear cut diamond, the 535-karat Cullinan.
A large ruby in the crown is said to have been worn by King Henry V at the battle of Agincourt, and viewers can see where a hole was drilled in it to hold his plume.
The Coronation takes us through the colorful and extravagant history of crown ceremonies while tying much of it into Elizabeth II’s.
She was coronated at a time when Britain was still struggling to recover from the devastation of World War II, during which a German invasion was considered likely enough that the crown jewels were stashed in a hidden room 60 feet under Windsor Castle.
Windsor Castle is also where Elizabeth and her family were stashed during the war, which makes it interesting that she says she didn’t know the jewels were also in the house.
Advertisement
The Coronation provides a good primer on its subject, with a few harmless mild anecdotes about what happened on Elizabeth II’s big day and her casual remark that in many ways, that’s when her life began.
One of the few deviations from the solemn, military-style precision of that day came when a young boy helping carry the queen’s train playfully lifted it for a moment and ducked under it.
Bruce says that was amusing. Elizabeth, unamused, says, “That’s not what they were meant to do.”
One imagines she might have said much the same thing to her son Charles 40 years later, under different circumstances. But since that’s one of the many things the queen will certainly never discuss on television, we will for now just enjoy her thoughts on the world’s most elaborate and memorable coronation ceremony.
Our 2024 Coverage Needs You
It's Another Trump-Biden Showdown — And We Need Your Help
The Future Of Democracy Is At Stake
Our 2024 Coverage Needs You
Your Loyalty Means The World To Us
As Americans head to the polls in 2024, the very future of our country is at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a free press is critical to creating well-informed voters. That's why our journalism is free for everyone, even though other newsrooms retreat behind expensive paywalls.
Our journalists will continue to cover the twists and turns during this historic presidential election. With your help, we'll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can't find elsewhere. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support.
The 2024 election is heating up, and women's rights, health care, voting rights, and the very future of democracy are all at stake. Donald Trump will face Joe Biden in the most consequential vote of our time. And HuffPost will be there, covering every twist and turn. America's future hangs in the balance. Would you consider contributing to support our journalism and keep it free for all during this critical season?
HuffPost believes news should be accessible to everyone, regardless of their ability to pay for it. We rely on readers like you to help fund our work. Any contribution you can make — even as little as $2 — goes directly toward supporting the impactful journalism that we will continue to produce this year. Thank you for being part of our story.
It's official: Donald Trump will face Joe Biden this fall in the presidential election. As we face the most consequential presidential election of our time, HuffPost is committed to bringing you up-to-date, accurate news about the 2024 race. While other outlets have retreated behind paywalls, you can trust our news will stay free.
But we can't do it without your help. Reader funding is one of the key ways we support our newsroom. Would you consider making a donation to help fund our news during this critical time? Your contributions are vital to supporting a free press.
As Americans head to the polls in 2024, the very future of our country is at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a free press is critical to creating well-informed voters. That's why our journalism is free for everyone, even though other newsrooms retreat behind expensive paywalls.
Our journalists will continue to cover the twists and turns during this historic presidential election. With your help, we'll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can't find elsewhere. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support.
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. Would you consider becoming a regular HuffPost contributor?
Dear HuffPost Reader
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. If circumstances have changed since you last contributed, we hope you'll consider contributing to HuffPost once more.