The coronation ceremony is an occasion for pageantry and celebration, but it is also a solemn religious ceremony and has remained essentially the same over a thousand years. For the last 900 years, the ceremony has taken place at Westminster Abbey, London. The service is conducted by the Archbishop of Canterbury, whose task this has almost always been since the Norman Conquest in 1066.
The coronation of the new Sovereign follows some months after his or her accession, following a period of mourning and as a result of the enormous amount of preparation required to organise the ceremony.
Following the oath the Sovereign is then ‘anointed, blessed and consecrated’ by the Archbishop, whilst the Sovereign is seated in King Edward’s chair (made in 1300, and used by every Sovereign since 1626).
After receiving the orb and sceptres, the Archbishop places St Edward’s Crown on the Sovereign’s head.
Unless decided otherwise, a Queen consort is crowned with the King, in a similar but simpler ceremony.
Australia will be represented at this historic event by the Hon Anthony Albanese MP, the Prime Minister, and Ms Jodie Haydon, and by His Excellency General the Honourable David Hurley AC DSC (Retd), the Governor-General, and Her Excellency Mrs Linda Hurley, along with State Governors and a number of other notable Australians.
Outstanding Australians have been chosen to show the world the best of our values: caring for others, serving community and championing progress. There will be representation from First Nations people. There will also be a holder of the Victoria Cross for Australia, the Cross of Valour, and an Order of Australia recipient attending, as well as representatives of the Australian Defence Force.
There will be events in Australia to mark the Coronation:
On Saturday 6 May and Sunday 7 May 2023, significant buildings and monuments around Australia will illuminate in Royal purple.
On Sunday 7 May 2023, a National 21 Gun Salute will be conducted by Australia’s Federation Guard on the forecourt of Parliament House in Canberra, and weather permitting, followed by a flypast by the Royal Australian Air Force.
The Australian representatives are;
Ms Sam Kerr OAM is a world-leading Australian athlete and Olympian. Considered one of the best football players in the world and Australia’s leading goal scorer, Sam is currently Captain of the Matildas and a forward for the Chelsea Football Club. In 2022 Sam was awarded an Order of Australia for her service to football.
Ms Leanne Benjamin AM OBE performed as a principal ballet dancer for the Royal Ballet for 21 years. In 2005 Leanne was awarded an Officer of the Order of the British Empire in recognition of her services to dance and in 2015 she was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia. Leanne is the Patron of the Tait Memorial Trust, an annual award given in her name to support young Australian and New Zealand dancers to train in the UK.
Mr Nick Cave AO is a singer, songwriter, actor, novelist and screenwriter. In 2017 Nick was named an Officer of the Order of Australia for distinguished service to the performing arts, both nationally and internationally, and as a major contributor to Australian music, culture and heritage.
Ms Jasmine Coe is a Wiradjuri-British artist and the creator and curator of Coe Gallery – the first and only Aboriginal-owned art gallery in the UK. Jasmine has exhibited in over 20 exhibitions worldwide and is dedicated to supporting and celebrating Aboriginal artists.
Mr Adam Hills MBE is a comedian, presenter, writer and disability rights advocate. He is known as host of Spicks and Specks and for his talk show, The Last Leg. In 2022 Adam was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire for his services to Paralympic sport and disability awareness.
Dr Daniel Nour is the founder of Street Side Medics, a not-for-profit, GP led mobile medical service for people experiencing homelessness. Street Side Medics has 300 volunteers and 9 clinics across New South Wales. In 2022 Dr Nour was awarded Young Australian of the Year.
Miss Yasmin Poole is a public speaker, board director and youth advocate. Yasmin is currently a Rhodes Scholar at Oxford University and a non-executive Board Director of OzHarvest and YWCA Australia.
Ms Emily Regan is a London-based nurse who worked for the UK’s National Health Service in the emergency department of a major hospital during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Ms Minette Salmon is currently studying a PhD in Genomic Medicine and Statistics at Balliol College, Oxford. Minette is studying at Oxford under the prestigious Wellcome Trust Studentship, and was the 2019 Charles Perkins Scholar. Minette’s research focuses on genetic engineering technologies and immune mediated diseases.
Ms Claire Spencer AM is an arts leader and the inaugural CEO of the Barbican Centre. Claire is also a passionate advocate for wellbeing and equity and a member of Chief Executive Women. Claire was previously the COO for the Sydney Opera House and in 2020 she was conferred a Member of the Order of Australia for her outstanding contribution to the performing arts.
Professor Merryn Voysey is Associate Professor of Statistics in Vaccinology at the Oxford Vaccine Group. Professor Voysey helped to develop the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine, and was named Australian of the Year in the UK in 2022 in recognition of her brilliant career in medical research.
Corporal Daniel Keighran VC was awarded the Victoria Cross for Australia for his actions during the Battle of Derapet in Afghanistan in 2010. He is the third soldier to be awarded the Victoria Cross for Australia, and is the first member of the Royal Australian Regiment to receive the country’s highest military honour.
Mr Richard Joyes CV was awarded the Cross of Valour in 2003 for his courageous efforts following the 2002 Bali bombing. Along with others, Richard helped to rescue the wounded and carry them to safety. He is the fifth recipient of the Cross of Valour.
Ms Yvonne Kenny AM is one of the most distinguished sopranos of her generation. She debuted at the Royal Opera House in Covent Garden in 1975 where she performed as a member of the company until 1994. In 1989 she was made a Member of the Order of Australia for services to opera. Yvonne is currently Chair of the Australia Music Foundation UK and as a Professor of Voice, she is now dedicated to mentoring young singers.
The Royal Australian Engineers Association wish our new monarchs a long reign in their new roles and we hope to see the King as our Colonel-In-Chief soon.
Source; Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet
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