From Past to Present: A Visual Comparison Of Charles III’s And Elizabeth II’s Coronations

The Wave Of Pride

After receiving the crown jewels and the Imperial Crown, it’s tradition for the new reigning monarch to turn and wave to the crowd. You can easily see the looks of pride and joy on Queen Elizabeth II and King Charles III’s faces in these photographs. It’s interesting to think about the fact that King Charles III may have been waving to the descendants of those who attended Queen Elizabeth II’s coronation ceremony. The circle of life and coronation ceremonies continues!

The Traditional Flypast

After the coronation ceremony, it’s tradition to do a flypast. These side-by-side photos showing the flypast during Queen Elizabeth II’s coronation in 1953 and King Charles III’s coronation in 2023 are fascinating! The flying pattern appears to be slightly different, and it’s hard to say whether they left behind a colorful array during Queen Elizabeth’s coronation like they did during King Charles III’s. Either way, it’s a significant moment at the end of the ceremony that onlookers and royals enjoy watching.

Young Royals Enjoying The Flypast

If there’s one thing that doesn’t change over the span of seven decades, it’s young children being enamored with aircraft! You can’t help but smile looking at these side-by-side pictures of young royals on the balcony of Buckingham Palace during Queen Elizabeth II and King Charles III’s coronations. In each picture, there is a young royal pointing up at the sky in wonderment. It’s nice to see the next generation enjoying the traditions of their family and country!

The Coronation Site

Can you believe these photos show the exact same building set seventy years apart? These photos show Westminster Abbey, the site of Queen Elizabeth II’s and King Charles III’s coronations. Actually, Westminster Abbey has been the site of nearly every British monarch’s coronation since 1066. It’s pretty unbelievable to think about the massive historical significance this single building holds. We wonder how many more Kings and Queens will be coronated in this impressive building.

Leaving The Abbey

After the coronation ceremony, Queen Elizabeth II was photographed leaving the Abbey. Her six Maids of Honor followed her, carrying her train, and the moment captured is strikingly similar to the photo on the right. As King Charles III left the Abbey, he was also followed by those carrying his train. Instead of Maids of Honor, he had Pages of Honor, but the moment still feels very similar.

The Admiralty Arch

After their respective coronations, Queen Elizabeth II and King Charles III both took a procession back to the Palace. Queen Elizabeth II’s procession followed a much longer route than King Charles III’s, but they both passed under the Admiralty Arch. These photos show a fun glimpse into the differences from 1953 to 2023. Namely, the arch has undergone some serious updating and construction! But it’s still an important moment in the procession that onlookers were able to experience.

Behind The Scenes Of Each Coronation

The coronation of a new monarch is an extensive event that requires a significant amount of preparation. After all, it’s important to have every inch of Westminster Abbey and the Palace picture-perfect for the occasion. These rare photos show the staff working to get everything in tip-top shape for the historical events. While the tools used to clean up have changed over the past seven decades, the dedication of the staff to give their monarchs a perfectly clean environment.