King Charles to recycle George VI’s throne at coronation in spirit of ‘sustainability’
KING Charles will use his grandfather George VI’s throne chair at his coronation rather than have a new seat specially crafted in the spirit of “sustainability”.
The royals have revealed both Charles and Camilla have chosen to reuse old chairs at their coronation next Saturday at Westminster Abbey.
It comes after Camilla, 75, decided to wear an ‘upcycled’ crown from 1911 when she is made Queen rather than commission a new one.
But lucky punters can get their hands on one of 100 specially-made coronation chairs used by the congregation when they are auctioned off for charity.
The palace announced last night that all five chairs used by the King and Queen at their dual crowning will be passed down from previous coronations.
The Chairs of Estate in which Charles and Camilla rest were first used at the crowning of Queen Elizabeth II in 1953.
While the Throne Chairs were used by King George VI and the Queen Mother in 1937.
It is a change of 1,000-years of Coronation tradition which dictates that new monarchs are usually handed new chairs and thrones for the Westminster Abbey ceremony.
The two recycled chairs are in addition to the St Edward’s Chair which Charles will use for the moment of crowning – which dates back to 1300.
Palace sources say the decision was made in the “interests of sustainability” and comes after the Royals decided to ‘upcycle’ Queen Mary’s 1911 crown rather than pay for a new one.
The reused Chairs of Estate and Throne Chairs have been conserved, restored and adapted after being preserved by the Royal Collection.
The Chairs of Estate were first made in 1953 by the London firm White, Allom and Company for the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II on 2nd June 1953.
The Throne Chairs – on which they use the Enthroning and the Homage. These chairs were made for the Coronation of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth on 12th May 1937.
Earlier this year, Their Majesties visited the Royal School of Needlework to meet craftspeople and embroiders who contributed to the project.
As The Duchess of Cornwall, Her Majesty The Queen Consort became Patron of the Royal School of Needlework in 2017.
It can also be revealed that hundred specially-made chairs for the congregation to use inside the Abbey will be auctioned and money given to charity
The Chairs have been covered in blue velvet and feature the cyphers of Their Majesties.
The frames of several of the Congregation Chairs were made by six young graduates from The Prince’s Foundation at the Snowdown School of Furniture at Highgrove using traditional materials and techniques to create the chairs with sustainable British oak.
Following the Coronation, the Chairs will be auctioned, and the proceeds will be donated to charity.
Swear row
CORONATION planners have defended asking the public to swear allegiance to the King and his heirs.
Some claimed they felt uncomfortable because it could include not only Prince William but Harry and Andrew.
Lambeth Palace has added the “invitation” for the congregation and millions to join in. Advances in technology mean people can play their own part in the service on TV, internet and on big screens.
Faced with criticism after The Sun on Sunday revealed the Homage of the People, a Lambeth Palace source pointed out it was “very much an invitation rather than an expectation or request”.