From the crowning of Charles III, thirty-nine coronations have been held in Westminster Abbey since the Norman Conquest. Only two monarchs – Edward V and Edward VIII – were uncrowned, and a further twenty or so Scottish monarchs were crowned elsewhere, usually at either Scone Abbey or Holyrood Abbey.

In The Throne, Ian Lloyd turns his inimitable, quick-witted style to these key events in British royal history, providing fascinating anecdotes and interesting facts: William the Conqueror's Christmas Day crowning, during which jubilant shouts were mistaken by his guards as an assassination attempt; the dual coronation of William and Mary in 1689; the pared-back 'Half Crown-ation' of William IV; the televised spectacle of Elizabeth II's 1953 ceremony; and how Charles III's ceremony brought the British monarchy into modern times.

Detailing everything from the famous Coronation Chair made for Edward I and the Crown Jewels to the infamously uncomfortable Gold State Coach – this is a truly spectacular celebration of British culture and the ultimate pomp of royalty.



- Title

- Copyright

- Contents

- Foreword

- The Normans, 1066 –1154



- William I, 1066–1087

- William II, 1087–1100

- Henry I, 1100–1135

- Stephen, 1135–1154



- The Plantagenets, 1154–1399



- Henry II, 1154–1189

- Richard I, 1189–1199

- John, 1199–1216

- Henry III, 1216–1272

- Edward I, 1272–1307

- Edward II, 1307–1327

- Edward III, 1327–1377

- Richard II, 1377–1400



- House of Lancaster, 1399–1461



- Henry IV, 1399–1413

- Henry V, 1413–1422

- Henry VI, 1422–1461, 1470–1471



- House of York, 1461–1485



- Edward IV, 1461–1483

- Edward V, 10 April 1483–25 June 1483

- Richard III, 1483–1485



- House of Tudor, 1485–1603



- Henry VII, 1485–1509

- Henry VIII, 1509–1547

- Edward VI, 1547–1553

- Mary I, 1553–1558

- Elizabeth I, 1558–1603



- House of Stuart, 1603–1714



- James VI & I, 1567–1625

- Charles I, 1625–1649

- Charles II, 1660–1685

- James II, 1685–1688

- William III, 1689–1702 and Mary II, 1689–1694

- Anne, 1702–1714



- House of Hanover, 1714–1901



- George I, 1714–1727

- George II, 1727–1760

- George III, 1760–1820

- George IV, 1820–1830

- William IV, 1830–1837

- Victoria, 1837–1901



- House of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha and House of Windsor, 1901–Present Day



- Edward VII, 1901–1910

- George V, 1910–1936

- Edward VIII, 20 January 1936–11 December 1936

- George VI, 1936–1952

- Elizabeth II, 1952–2022

- Charles III, 2022–



- Bibliography



An entertaining jog through 38 coronations at the Abbey.



'Lloyd is to be commended for knowing his way round British regal history.'



'Lloyd relishes the human detail.'