It was never supposed to be him. That’s the thing people forget about the coronation of George VI. We tend to look back at history as if it were a straight line, but in 1937, the British monarchy was basically staring into an abyss. King Edward VIII had just walked away for Wallis Simpson, leaving his "Bertie"—a man with a debilitating stammer and a profound dislike for the spotlight—to pick up the pieces.
Imagine the pressure.
The world was watching. Not just the British Empire, but a global audience tuned in via radio and, for the first time, a limited television broadcast. It was a massive logistical nightmare. If he messed up his lines or stumbled during the ceremony, it wasn’t just an embarrassment; it was a potential PR disaster for a family that looked increasingly fragile.
Preparation for a Ceremony Nobody Expected
The date was already set. May 12, 1937, was originally meant for Edward VIII. When he abdicated in December 1936, the organizers had a choice: move the date or keep it. They kept it. This meant the new King had exactly five months to prepare for a ceremony that usually takes a year or more to plan.
He was terrified.
George VI wasn't a natural performer. He spent hours with Lionel Logue—the Australian speech therapist popularized by The King’s Speech—working on his breathing and his confidence. Honestly, the coronation of George VI was as much a medical triumph as it was a state event. While the public saw the gold and the velvet, the King was mostly worried about whether he could get through the Oath without a long, painful silence.
The Earl Marshal, the Duke of Norfolk, was in charge of the logistics. He had to squeeze 8,000 guests into Westminster Abbey. To do this, they built temporary "theaters" or tiered seating that reached up to the roof. It was cramped. It was dusty. People were basically sitting on top of each other for seven hours.
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The Chaos Inside Westminster Abbey
You’d think a royal event would be perfect. It wasn't.
Actually, the ceremony was kind of a mess behind the scenes. The Archbishop of Canterbury, Cosmo Gordon Lang, was an aging perfectionist who nearly caused several accidents. At one point, he held the St. Edward’s Crown—which weighs nearly five pounds—at such a weird angle that the King thought it was on backward.
Then there was the issue of the "Colobium Sindonis." It’s a simple white linen garment the King wears during the anointing. The Dean of Westminster's assistants managed to get it on the King upside down at first. They had to fumbled around to fix it while the King stood there in front of the most powerful people in the world.
The service lasted over three hours.
- The King was anointed with holy oil.
- He was invested with the Spurs and the Sword of State.
- He put on the Imperial Mantle of gold cloth.
- Finally, the crown was placed on his head.
There’s a funny detail in the King’s own diary. He mentioned that the crown was so heavy he felt like his neck was going to snap. He also complained that the Archbishop’s thumb was covered in oil, which smeared all over the King’s face during the blessing. Not exactly the "divine" experience you see in the paintings.
A Global Media First
The coronation of George VI was a turning point for how the public consumed royalty. It was the first time the BBC was allowed to film a coronation, though they weren't allowed to film the actual anointing because that was considered too "sacred" for the common eye.
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Over 50 countries received the radio broadcast.
Think about that for a second. In 1937, the technology was barely there. The BBC used three EMI-Marconi television cameras parked outside the Abbey. It was the first "outside broadcast" of its kind. People in London with "televisor" sets—which were incredibly expensive and had screens the size of a postcard—could see the King passing by in the Gold State Coach.
It was a massive success. It turned the King from a shy, stuttering younger brother into a symbol of stability. People felt like they were there.
The Queen Consort and the Change in Tone
Elizabeth, who we later knew as the Queen Mother, was the secret weapon. She was the first British-born Queen Consort since the Tudor era, and the public loved her. During the coronation of George VI, she was crowned alongside him.
Her crown was special. It featured the Koh-i-Noor diamond, a stone with a long and, frankly, controversial history. But on that day, it just served to make her look like the rock the King needed. She was the one who kept him calm.
They also introduced a new vibe to the monarchy. Edward VIII had been all about glamour and jazz-age parties. George and Elizabeth were about "family values." They brought their young daughters, Elizabeth (the future Queen Elizabeth II) and Margaret, onto the balcony of Buckingham Palace. This specific image—the nuclear family waving to the crowds—became the blueprint for the modern Royal Family.
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Why the 1937 Coronation Still Matters Today
Most people think of coronations as just old-fashioned dress-up. But for George VI, it was a survival tactic. Europe was on the brink of World War II. Hitler was gaining power. The British Empire needed to show that it wasn't falling apart after the abdication crisis.
The ceremony used the "Liber Regalis," a 14th-century manuscript that outlines exactly how a King should be made. By following these ancient steps, George VI was telling the world that the monarchy was permanent. Leaders change, but the Crown remains.
Looking back, the coronation of George VI was actually the first "modern" coronation. It balanced ancient ritual with modern mass media. It proved that the monarchy could survive a scandal.
Actionable Takeaways for History Enthusiasts
If you want to understand the modern British monarchy, start with 1937. You can actually find the original BBC radio recordings and some of the grainy black-and-white footage online.
- Watch the footage: Look for the moment the King exits the Gold State Coach. You can see the sheer weight of the robes. It's a physical burden, not just a symbolic one.
- Read the King's Diary: He wrote a very candid account of the day, including all the things that went wrong. It's much more human than the official reports.
- Compare to 1953 and 2023: See how the "Gold State Coach" has been used in every coronation since. It’s notoriously uncomfortable—George VI called it one of the worst rides of his life.
- Visit the Crown Jewels: If you’re ever in London, go to the Tower. Seeing the St. Edward's Crown in person gives you a real sense of the physical strain George VI went through during those three hours in the Abbey.
The transition from a nervous Duke of York to a wartime King began the moment that crown touched his head. It wasn't perfect, it was messy, and it was human. That’s probably why it worked.