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The Coronation Service has been slightly changed, of course, from time to time, but its chief parts are much the same as they were when William the Conqueror was crowned at Westminster in 1066. From very early times the coronations had been partly religious and partly civil ceremonies, and had taken place in a church, the day chosen being either a Sunday or some high festival, like Christmas Day, Whitsunday, or a Saint’s Day. The Saxon Kings were usually crowned in Winchester Cathedral. Canute was crowned at St. Paul’s.

Before speaking of any of the old Westminster Coronations, it will be a good plan to describe, very shortly, what is done at Coronations in our own day. We will take the little book of the “Form and Order for the Coronation of King Edward and Queen Alexandra,” and see what it says.

To begin with, the Sacred Oil for the anointing of the King was consecrated in the Confessor’s Chapel, and then placed on the altar. The Litany was said, and a hymn was sung as the clergy, carrying the Regalia, went down to the west door to meet the King and Queen.