King Charles III To Use Recycled King George VI’s Chair For His Coronation

King Charles III will reuse a chair that his grandfather George VI used when he was made king 86 years ago as part of a sustainability theme for his historic Coronation at Westminster Abbey on Saturday.

According to royal custom, the various parts of the Coronation Service at the Abbey are conducted atop ceremonial thrones and chairs.

At various times throughout the religious service, the King and Queen Camilla will be seated in Chairs of Estate and Throne Chairs in addition to the St. Edward’s Chair or Coronation Chair used for the moment of crowning.

On May 12, 1937, the Throne Chairs for the Enthronement and the Homage were created for the Coronation of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth, afterward known as Queen Mother of Queen Elizabeth II.

Buckingham Palace said, “In the interests of sustainability, Their Majesties have chosen to use Chairs of Estate and Throne Chairs from the Royal Collection made for previous Coronations. These have been conserved, restored, and adapted as required”.

The Estate Chairs, which will be used on Saturday, were designed by the London firm White, Allom, and Company for Queen Elizabeth II’s Coronation on June 2, 1953.

Charles will be seated in the iconic St. Edward’s Chair, which was first used at King Edward II’s coronation more than 700 years ago and was constructed from Baltic wood.

The palace announced that the King and Queen visited the Royal School of Needlework early this year to meet the project’s crafters and embroiderers. Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, was appointed Patron of the Royal School of Needlework in 2017.

On Saturday, Charles and Camilla will be led through a religious ceremony lasting approximately two hours before being crowned King and Queen by the Archbishop of Canterbury.

In addition, 100 Congregation Chairs have been created in partnership with the Royal Household, Royal Warrant Holder furniture maker N.E.J Stephenson, and the Prince’s Foundation for use by important guests in Westminster Abbey.

The chairs are upholstered in blue velvet and bear their Majesties’ ciphers. Following the Coronation, these Chairs will be auctioned off, with the revenues going to charity.

(With input from PTI)

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