Coronation Day

[Dod101]

Some may like to be reminded that the last Coronation in this country was this day (2 June) in 1953. I remember my mother saying to me that there may not be another in her lifetime. She was correct.

Dod

[stewamax]

Reminded me of Foreign Secretary Sir Edward Grey's comment in 1914 "The lamps are going out all over Europe, we shall not see them lit again in our life-time"

[tjh290633]

Thanks for the reminder. I was doing my National Service at the time and watched the proceedings in the TV Room in our Officers' Mess, followed by a Cocktail Party at 6:30. That went on past midnight, and a lot was consumed. I know that we had voted £5 a head to cover the cost and it needed another fiver on top of that.

Bear in mind that mess prices were low, like 1/3d for a G&T, and we must have got through a considerable amount.

TJH

[bungeejumper]

But Her Maj's platinum Jubilee is being celebrated in June 2022, which is surely year 69, not year 70?

I presume that this is something to do with the fact that she ascended to the throne in February 1952. But that nobody fancied holding a party in February, so they cobbled together an amalgam of the right year and the wrong month and fudged it all from there.

As if it wasn't enough to have two birthdays every year.

BJ

[Dod101]

But Her Maj's platinum Jubilee is being celebrated in June 2022, which is surely year 69, not year 70?

I presume that this is something to do with the fact that she ascended to the throne in February 1952. But that nobody fancied holding a party in February, so they cobbled together an amalgam of the right year and the wrong month and fudged it all from there.

As if it wasn't enough to have two birthdays every year.

BJ

Yes I think you have answered your own query. She was Queen on the death of her father on 6 February 1952 but Coronations are usually not held until the following year presumably to allow for an extended period of official mourning, so her Jubilee as Queen is in fact year 70 as the reigning monarch. I guess that must be quite rare. Let's hope she makes it.

Dod

[genou]

Bear in mind that mess prices were low, like 1/3d for a G&T, and we must have got through a considerable amount.

TJH

My father told of being taken as a guest to the SSO's mess at Fallingbostel in the late fifties/ early sixties. Stood his introductory round, which was all spirits, apart from one beer. He didn't understand the collective mumbling when the beer was ordered ( to his relief, as he was mentally totting it all up at UK prices ). The beer was the most expensive drink on the round.

Moons later at a party thrown by the army school teachers ( Shackleton IIRC ) there was unlimited spirits, but the mixers ran out.

[AleisterCrowley]

But Her Maj's platinum Jubilee is being celebrated in June 2022, which is surely year 69, not year 70?



BJ

??
2022 will be 70 years (completed) as monarch on 6 February, when she will start her 71st year all being well!
She's currently done 69 years and 116 days, so is in her 70th year as monarch
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_c ... h_of_reign

[Rhyd6]

I remember our primary school putting on a pageant and being forced to dress up as a lady in waiting. I was not amused especially as the expensive looking rings I had to wear consisted of old earring on elastic bands that made my fingers go numb. We watched the actual coronation at my aunty & uncles on a very small telly that had a screen infront to magify the picture - still didn't get to see a lot.
I thoroughly enjoyed the street parties though - jelly and ice cream and blancemange. After years of rationing it seemed like a feast.

R6

[Cornytiv34]

Also on National Service in the Royal Artillery in Germany. Went to the Rhine Bank to fire the salute, it was pouring with rain and the journey back to barracks got the guns filthy. We had to clean the guns to spotless condition and then were given the rest of the day off. Lots of drinks in the NAAFI quickly made up for it all!
Mike

[Dod101]

I remember our primary school putting on a pageant and being forced to dress up as a lady in waiting. I was not amused especially as the expensive looking rings I had to wear consisted of old earring on elastic bands that made my fingers go numb. We watched the actual coronation at my aunty & uncles on a very small telly that had a screen infront to magify the picture - still didn't get to see a lot.
I thoroughly enjoyed the street parties though - jelly and ice cream and blancemange. After years of rationing it seemed like a feast.

R6

Yes funny the things we remember. I remember in my last year at Primary School 1952/3 being instructed draw and paint an orb. I guess it must have been the easiest thing to do because I was and am no artist.

Dod

[UncleEbenezer]

Yes funny the things we remember. I remember in my last year at Primary School 1952/3 being instructed draw and paint an orb. I guess it must have been the easiest thing to do because I was and am no artist.

Dod

Did you have any idea what an orb was? Even today I'd be too hazy on it to draw one (in my imagination, let alone on paper). Well, OK, I could google, but this is now ...

I guess one would've been plastered across all the meeja from the coronation around that time, but a young kid would see it only if the adults in his life took an interest so those pics were around? And if the meeja pics involved a whole lot of regalia, would you be able to name the individual items?

[Dod101]

Is it not a round cannonball like object with sort of little cross on top? I have not Googled it but that is how it has always been in my mind. Obviously somebody carried it at the coronation itself.

Dod

[Dod101]

My off the top of my head description is not bad if you Google an Orb as Coronation regalia. Well I learned something from being asked to do that drawing all these years ago.

Dod

[servodude]

Yes funny the things we remember. I remember in my last year at Primary School 1952/3 being instructed draw and paint an orb. I guess it must have been the easiest thing to do because I was and am no artist.

Dod

Did you have any idea what an orb was? Even today I'd be too hazy on it to draw one (in my imagination, let alone on paper). Well, OK, I could google, but this is now ...

I guess one would've been plastered across all the meeja from the coronation around that time, but a young kid would see it only if the adults in his life took an interest so those pics were around? And if the meeja pics involved a whole lot of regalia, would you be able to name the individual items?

Just think "Holy Hand Grenade" like the one from Antioch, or as carried by the "Child of Prague"

[stewamax]

Gruntle
All state-school children appeared to have been given a model golden coach-and-horses toy/ornament. I was 'private' and never got one.
Snort.

[AleisterCrowley]

The earliest royal occasion I can remember was HM the Queen's Silver Jubilee in 1977
Street parties...
(possibly vague memories of the marriage of Princess Anne in 1973?)

[scotia]

Gruntle
All state-school children appeared to have been given a model golden coach-and-horses toy/ornament.

Not in my part of Central Scotland - I got a mug. My future wife from the North of Scotland got a mug and a New Testament.
We both remember there was also a coin - I think it was a shilling. Neither of our families had a television.

[Dod101]

Gruntle
All state-school children appeared to have been given a model golden coach-and-horses toy/ornament.

Not in my part of Central Scotland - I got a mug. My future wife from the North of Scotland got a mug and a New Testament.
We both remember there was also a coin - I think it was a shilling. Neither of our families had a television.

Yes. I was going to say the same. I was given a Coronation Mug which I still have somewhere.

Dod

[UncleEbenezer]

The earliest royal occasion I can remember was HM the Queen's Silver Jubilee in 1977

I think you were (like me) a schoolboy at the time? Why didn't our generation get given those mugs? Not fair!

TBH, I'm sure I'm not the only one who'd've hated the humbuggery of any such thing.

[AleisterCrowley]

I was 11 at the time.
- pretty sure we didn't get anything from school- I've got a commemorative crown somewhere but probably bought by a relative

Now worth almost £1 if you're lucky...