King 'relaxed' about coronation which will be 'jaw-dropping', says Dean of Westminster
The Very Reverend David Hoyle said the regalia will be "startling to see", adding: "I'm the Dean of Westminster, I'm used to ceremony on a national level. Even I think this is pretty jaw-dropping."
Thursday 4 May 2023 14:41, UK
The King is "relaxed" about his coronation, which will be "jaw-dropping", according to the Dean of Westminster, who's been rehearsing with the Royal Family at the Abbey.
The King and Queen Consort practiced the regalia part of the ceremony yesterday, including the actual orb and sceptre. Up until now, replicas had been used.
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The Very Reverend David Hoyle said the regalia will be "startling to see", but admitted this section of the ceremony involves "an awful lot of people moving quite quickly" so things need to be precise.
As for the two crowns, replicas are still being used.
In previous coronations, there has been confusion and even mistakes over which way round St Edward's Crown sits.
The Dean, who's responsible for handing the crown to the Archbishop of Canterbury, says they've mapped out every move to ensure it's not on back-to-front.
"Our secret is not to tie bits of thread to it because someone removes them. But just to practice picking it up and handing it to someone. And having so rehearsed the number of movements that it is the right way around by the time it gets to where it needs to be."
Just over 2,000 people are invited to Westminster Abbey for the coronation, but millions are expected to watch it around the world.
The Dean said judging by the rehearsals, this isn't troubling the King.
"The King was relaxed... whilst he has a huge burden on him, a lot for him to do, he doesn't give the sense of being a man who's really anxious about this."
The Prince and Princess of Wales' children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis, all attended the rehearsal on Wednesday.
Dr Hoyle said "it was wonderful to have them here, and I could see them watching with huge interest".
Prince George will be one of the King's four Pages of Honour during the ceremony. The Queen Consort will also have her grandchildren and family serving as hers.
The Dean will be wearing a ceremonial cope worn at the coronation of Charles II in 1661.
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He believes the ceremony will make sense to audiences: "I think an awful lot of people will be impressed by the spectacle and realise they've seen something significant.
"I'm the Dean of Westminster, I'm used to ceremony on a national level. Even I think this is pretty jaw-dropping.
"You have the most extraordinary ceremonial dress, you have the most extraordinary piece of regalia being carried through the Abbey and the music is absolutely spine-tingling."
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As for whether the coronation will be heavy on pomp but light on relevance, he said: "Of course I hear that conversation... but if you can dig a little bit there are interesting things being said and done."