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The coronation of Charles III will certainly cost less, but it will not be easy to stand out from his mother, Queen Elizabeth II. In 1953, the ceremony had lasted more than 3 hours, in front of 8,000 guests. For the first time in history, it had been broadcast worldwide.
Movie credits. A golden carriage from a fairy tale. This June 2, 1953, the film of the life of Elizabeth II begins in front of 3 million Britons, and 277 million spectators around the world. An unforgettable moment, 62 years later, for those like Stella de Rosnay, who attended. “It was a moment of history, we were very, very aware of that. There was a crazy world”, she recalls. Draped in her ermine cloak, Elizabeth enters Westminster Abbey in majesty. The ritual has been unchanged for centuries.
A ceremonial outfit against a linen dress
The 27-year-old queen is first solemnly presented to the people. In the official gallery, his son, Prince Charles, 4 years old, the one who will succeed him, finds the time a bit long. He hasn’t finished waiting. Then Elizabeth takes the oath. Comes the high point of the ceremony. She exchanges her ceremonial outfit for a simple linen dress, a symbol of purity, to receive the anointing, which makes her the sole representative of God in England. An intimate moment that she did not want to film. Here she is sacred and crowned. “God saves the queen”, intones the assembly, the first official of a very long series. On the throne of Saint Edward, more than 600 years old, the sovereign brandishes the royal scepters.
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