King Charles III Receives Stunning Coronation Roll
By Sean Coughlan, Royal Correspondent
King Charles III was recently presented with a meticulously illustrated record of his Coronation, almost a year after the historic event at Westminster Abbey. The “Coronation roll” has been a tradition for at least 700 years and this particular one stretches for an impressive 69 feet. Crafted by calligrapher Stephanie von Werthern-Gill, the hand-stitched manuscript features 11,500 elegantly inscribed words, all done in specially made ink.
The King and Queen were shown the impressive roll, with King Charles praising it as a marvelous work of art and Queen Camilla jokingly mentioning she would need her glasses to read it. This masterpiece, the first not to use animal skin, was crafted over 56 days of intense focus by Stephanie, resulting in what she describes as a true piece of art.
The document serves as the official state record of the monarch’s accession and Coronation, showcasing intricate illustrations by Tim Noad. Notably, the Coronation roll will now be digitized for wider accessibility, offering a peek into the grand ceremony and the distinguished attendees.
Deputy Prime Minister Oliver Dowden expressed excitement over the roll’s digitization, marking a significant move towards modernization in preserving historical records. The King, whose fascination with signing things led to some humorous observations about the previous rolls, looked forward to the public display of this exceptional piece of history.
This Coronation roll, blending tradition with innovation, symbolizes a new era of record-keeping, ensuring that this momentous occasion is preserved and celebrated for generations to come.
Vocabulary List:
- Coronation (noun): The ceremony of crowning a monarch.
- Meticulously (adverb): In a way that shows great attention to detail very precisely.
- Illustrated (adjective): Decorated with pictures or other graphical representations.
- Tradition (noun): A long-established custom or belief that has been passed down through generations.
- Manuscript (noun): A handwritten or typed piece of textespecially a book.
- Intricate (adjective): Very complicated or detailed.
