A Supertunica is a robe worn by a British monarch at their coronation. It is donned shortly after the Anointing ceremony for the vesting of the Spurs, Sword of Offering and the Armills. Afterwards the Stole Royal and Robe Royal are worn on top of the Supertunica for the crowning of the monarch. The Supertunica, Stole and Robe are replaced with the Imperial Robe for the final procession from Westminster Abbey.
The monarch enters Westminster Abbey for their coronation wearing the Robe of State. This is removed for the Anointing ceremony in which they wear the Colobium sindonis ("shroud tunic"), an intentionally plain robe. After the Anointing the monarch dons the more ornate Supertunica over the Colobium. [1] It is worn whilst the monarch is invested with other regalia including the Spurs, Sword of Offering and the Armills after which the monarch dons the Stole Royal and Robe Royal over the top of the Supertunica for their crowning ceremony. [1] [2] [3] All of the robes are removed before the final part of the ceremony, the procession out of the Abbey, in which the monarch wears the Imperial Robe. [1] During the Coronation the monarch is enrobed by the Lord Great Chamberlain who is assisted by the Groom of the Robes and the Master of the Robes or Mistress of the Robes. [3]
The Supertunica, with the Colobium, have the longest history of any of the coronation robes, dating to the medieval period. The use of these garments is recorded in the Liber Regalis , a manuscript detailing coronation practice in the 14th century. [1] The Supertunica is designed to resemble ecclesiastical robes as a reminder of the divine nature of the monarchy. [4] Whilst most robes used in the coronation are newly made and particular to that monarch, the Supertunica used in modern coronations is that made for George V for his coronation in 1911. It was subsequently worn by George VI at his coronation in 1937, Elizabeth II at her coronation in 1953, and Charles III at his coronation in 2023. [1] [5] The Supertunica was one of several coronation robes reused by Charles III as an expression of his interest in reducing wastefulness by reusing items where possible. [6]
The Supertunica of George IV was a straight coat of gold cloth decorated with gold flowers and lined with crimson taffeta. The Supertunica was around 1.25 yards (1.14 m) in length and 3 yards (2.7 m) in circumference at the bottom of the skirt. A belt of cloth of gold, lined with white tabby weave fabric supported his sword scabbard. [7]
For reasons of time William IV was not invested with a Supertunica, though the ceremony was included in the programme for the coronation. His Supertunica was of cloth of gold decorated with flowers in gold. It measured around 4 feet (1.2 m) in length on the rear and 1.25 yards (1.14 m) on the rear. It had two skirts of 1.5-yard (1.4 m) width each. The skirt was closed with a belt of cloth of gold lined with white tabby weave fabric and with a gold buckle. The belt also supported the king's sword scabbard. [8]
Queen Victoria's Supertunica was 130 centimetres (51 in) long and made on yellow warp with gold thread through it. It is brocaded in silk of different colours with a scroll design using roses, thistles, shamrocks and palm leaves. It is edged with gold lace and gold-coloured spangles. It is lined in red satin. Silk decoration was attached by silver hooks either side of the centre front. The gown opens to the front and had skirts gathered in at the centre of the back. The neck is low and rounded and the sleeves hang to the knee. [9]
Edward VII wore a new Supertunica made from 12 yards (11 m) of cloth of gold (from which his Stole Royal was also made). The cloth of gold was woven by Messrs. Warner of Braintree, Essex, with around 9–10 inches (230–250 mm) made each day. The Supertunica was relatively plain. [10]
The Supertunica is inspired by the robes worn in the early Christian church and Byzantine Empire and features national symbols of the four Home Nations. [1]
It is a full length sleeved coat and belt made of gold-coloured silk and with a front opening, closed by a belt decorated with embroidery. The front is decorated by embroidery on a band either side of the opening. It is lined with red silk. It was made by Wilkinson & Son of Hanover Square. [11]
The belt buckle is made of gold and cast with details of roses, thistles and shamrocks. Its form is similar to that used in the medieval period. [4]
Crown jewels are the objects of metalwork and jewellery in the regalia of a current or former monarchy. They are often used for the coronation of a monarch and a few other ceremonial occasions. A monarch may often be shown wearing them in portraits, as they symbolize the power and continuity of the monarchy. Additions to them may be made, but, since medieval times, the existing items have been typically passed down unchanged, symbolizing the continuity of a monarchy.
The Crown Jewels of the United Kingdom, originally the Crown Jewels of England, are a collection of royal ceremonial objects kept in the Jewel House at the Tower of London, which include the coronation regalia and vestments worn by British monarchs.
The coronation of the monarch of the United Kingdom is an initiation ceremony in which they are formally invested with regalia and crowned at Westminster Abbey. It corresponds to the coronations that formerly took place in other European monarchies, which have all abandoned coronations in favour of inauguration or enthronement ceremonies. A coronation is a symbolic formality and does not signify the official beginning of the monarch's reign; de jure and de facto his or her reign commences from the moment of the preceding monarch's death or abdication, maintaining legal continuity of the monarchy.
The stole is a liturgical vestment of various Christian denominations, which symbolizes priestly authority; in Protestant denominations which do not have priests but use stoles as a liturgical vestment, however, it symbolizes being a member of the ordained. It consists of a band of colored cloth, usually of silk, about seven and a half to nine feet long and three to four inches wide, whose ends may be straight or may broaden out in the shape of a spade or bell. The center of the stole is worn around the back of the neck and the two ends hang down parallel to each other in front, either attached to each other or hanging loose. The stole is almost always decorated in some way, usually with two crosses, or sometimes another significant religious design. It is often decorated with contrasting galloons and fringe is usually applied to the ends of the stole following Numbers 15:38–39. A piece of white linen or lace may be stitched onto the back of the collar as a sweat guard, which can be replaced more cheaply than the stole itself.
The colobium sindonis is a simple sleeveless white linen shift worn by British monarchs during part of the coronation service. It symbolises divesting oneself of all worldly vanity and standing bare before God. The monarch is continually robed and disrobed during the ceremony, according to ancient custom.
Regalia is the set of emblems, symbols, or paraphernalia indicative of royal status, as well as rights, prerogatives and privileges enjoyed by a sovereign, regardless of title. The word originally referred to the elaborate formal dress and accessories of a sovereign, but now it also refers to any type of elaborate formal dress. The word stems from the Latin substantivation of the adjective regalis, "regal", itself from rex, "king". It is sometimes used in the singular, regale.
Danish Crown Regalia are the symbols of the Danish monarchy. They consist of three crowns, a sceptre, globus cruciger, the sword of state and an ampulla . The Danish Royal Regalia are kept in the treasury at Rosenborg Castle. The oldest of these is Christian III's sword of state from 1551. They further include King Christian IV's diamond; pearl- and gold-embroidered saddles; objects carved from ivory and rock-crystal; lapidary pieces of precious stones, and brooches in the form of fantastic animals.
An armill or armilla is a type of medieval bracelet, or armlet, normally in metal and worn in pairs, one for each arm. They were usually worn as part of royal regalia, for example at a coronation, or perhaps as part of especially grand liturgical vestments. They may have been worn outside ceremonies. Armillae presumably descend from the Ancient Roman armilla, which was a form of military decoration. These in turn seem to have developed from the armlets worn by some "barbarian" nations, including the ancient Celts and Scots. The form is variable; all three examples discussed below have completely different forms.
Typical of British heraldry, a cap of maintenance, known in heraldic language as a chapeau gules turned up ermine, is a ceremonial cap of crimson velvet lined with ermine, which is worn or carried by certain persons as a sign of nobility or special honour. It is worn with the high part to the fore, and the tapering tail behind. It may substitute for the torse in the heraldic achievement of a person of special honour granted the privilege by the monarch. It thus appears in such cases on top of the helm and below the crest. It does not, however, feature in the present royal coat of arms of the United Kingdom, which shows the royal crest upon the royal crown, itself upon the royal helmet.
Court uniform and dress were required to be worn by those in attendance at the royal court in the 19th and early 20th centuries.
Cloth of gold or gold cloth is a fabric woven with a gold-wrapped or spun weft—referred to as "a spirally spun gold strip". In most cases, the core yarn is silk, wrapped (filé) with a band or strip of high content gold. In rarer instances, fine linen and wool have been used as the core.
The Holy Roman Emperor received the imperial regalia from the hands of the Pope, symbolizing both the pope's right to crown Christian sovereigns and also the emperor's role as protector of the Catholic Church. The Holy Roman empresses were crowned as well.
The accession of the King of France to the royal throne was legitimized by a ceremony performed with the Crown of Charlemagne at the Reims Cathedral. In late medieval and early modern times, the new king did not need to be anointed in order to be recognized as French monarch but ascended upon the previous monarch's death with the proclamation "Le Roi est mort, vive le Roi!"
The coronation of William IV and his wife, Adelaide, as king and queen of the United Kingdom took place on Thursday, 8 September 1831, over fourteen months after he succeeded to the throne of the United Kingdom at the age of 64, the oldest person to assume the throne until Charles III in 2022. The ceremony was held in Westminster Abbey after a public procession through the streets from St James's Palace, to which the King and Queen returned later as part of a second procession.
The coronation of Henry VIII and his wife Catherine as King and Queen of England took place at Westminster Abbey, London, on 24 June 1509. Henry acceded to the throne two months prior, following the death of King Henry VII on 21 April, and Catherine became his wife and queen on 11 June. The ceremony was presided over by William Warham, the incumbent Archbishop of Canterbury, and organized by Lady Margaret Beaufort, the King's grandmother who died 5 days later.
The Robe of State is a robe worn by the British monarch on state occasions. A monarch typically has a robe made for their coronation and reuses it when attending the State Opening of Parliament at the start of each legislative session. Traditionally the robes have an ermine cape with a long train made of crimson coloured velvet, trimmed in gold lace and lined with ermine.
The Stole Royal is an item of regalia used during the coronation of a British monarch, similar to the stoles worn as vestments by clergymen. It is donned after the anointing of the monarch and is worn throughout the crowning, receiving of homage and conclusion of the communion. The Stole Royal is removed, with other garments, before the procession from Westminster Abbey for which the Imperial Robe is worn.
The Robe Royal is a robe worn by the British monarch when they are crowned at their coronation. It is donned just before the monarch is invested with the Orb, Ring and Sceptres. It is worn during the crowning and paying of homage. The Robe Royal used is one originally created for the 1821 coronation of George IV.
The Imperial Robe is a robe used in the Coronation of the British monarch. It is donned in the final stages of the ceremony for the procession of the monarch from Westminster Abbey to the waiting Gold State Coach. These Robes were last seen at the Coronation of Charles III and Camilla, with King Charles III wearing the Imperial Robe of George V, and Queen Camilla having a new robe made for her.
The coronation glove is a single white glove worn on the right hand by the British monarch during part of their coronation. It is donned after they are invested with the Sovereign's Ring and remains in place during the crowning ceremony. The glove is removed prior to the taking of homage from the bishops and peers of the realm. Presenting the glove to the monarch was a right associated with the Manor of Worksop and in the past the gloves have been embroidered with the arms of the owner of that manor. In 1953 the Court of Claims ruled that the Henry Pelham-Clinton-Hope, 9th Duke of Newcastle had lost the right by passing the manor to a limited company. At the 1953 coronation the glove, now embroidered with the royal cypher, was presented to the monarch by the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster.
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