Coronation of Anne Boleyn facts for kids
Near contemporary portrait of Anne Boleyn at Hever Castle, c. 1550
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| Date | 1 June 1533 |
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| Location | Westminster Abbey, London, England |
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The coronation of Anne Boleyn as Queen of England happened at Westminster Abbey in London, England. This important event took place on 1 June 1533. Anne Boleyn became the second wife of King Henry VIII. This happened after his first marriage to Catherine of Aragon was officially ended.
At the time of her coronation, the queen was expecting a baby. Using St Edward's Crown, which was usually only for ruling monarchs, helped show that Anne was the true queen. It also helped make her unborn child seem legitimate. Everyone hoped this child would be the boy heir King Henry wanted so much. Before the coronation, there was a grand parade. This parade started the day before at the Tower of London. Even though the celebrations were very fancy, many ordinary people did not like Anne. This was clear from what people wrote at the time.
Contents
Why Anne Boleyn Became Queen
King Henry's Need for an Heir
Princess Mary was King Henry VIII's only child. After more than 20 years of marriage to Catherine of Aragon, Henry still did not have a son. He was very keen to make sure the Tudor dynasty would continue. So, Henry wanted his marriage to Catherine to be ended. He said it was not valid because Catherine had been married before. Her first husband was Prince Arthur, Henry's older brother, who had died.
The King's New Marriage
Henry also had feelings for Anne Boleyn. She was a lady-in-waiting to Queen Catherine. Pope Clement VII would not agree to end Henry's marriage. This was probably because Catherine's nephew, Emperor Charles V, was very powerful. He was even holding the Pope prisoner at the time. Because of this, Henry decided to separate England from the Catholic Church. This started a big change known as the English Reformation.
As the new head of the Church of England, the king could now end his own marriage. He quickly did so. Catherine lost her title as queen on 23 May 1533. The new Archbishop of Canterbury made this decision. Five days later, he said that Henry's marriage to Anne was valid. This marriage had taken place secretly in Dover before the public ceremony.
The Grand Procession
A Parade Through London
Before the actual coronation, a grand parade took place on 31 May 1533. It went from the Tower of London to Westminster Hall. This parade was meant to celebrate the queen's upcoming coronation. It was supposed to start at 2 PM but began three hours late. The parade showed everyone that Anne was the king's rightful wife. It also showed that she was pregnant with the future heir to the throne. The procession traveled through many main streets of the city. Along the way, Anne enjoyed many beautiful shows and displays.
Pageants and Displays
The Lord Mayor of London and his group welcomed the queen. The parade then moved towards the northwest of the Tower. It soon reached Fenchurch Street. Here, Anne saw a show with children dressed as English and French merchants. Moving along, Anne saw a very expensive and amazing show. Merchants from the Steelyard paid for this show. It was designed by Holbein. It featured the Greek god Apollo with the Muses. They gave gifts to the queen.
The procession continued down Gracechurch Street. It stopped at Leadenhall Street for another show. This show featured a castle with a rose on top. Red and white roses grew from it. A falcon then landed on a tree stump. An angel in armor came down and crowned the falcon. This clearly represented Anne's special symbol. The coronation parade continued with many more sights and detailed displays for the queen to enjoy.
The Coronation Ceremony
Arrival at Westminster Abbey
On 1 June 1533, Anne was led from the Palace of Westminster. She had spent the night there. She then went to Westminster Abbey for her coronation. The Lord Mayor and important city officials, dressed in red velvet, were to meet Anne. This was in Westminster Hall before 8 AM. The queen herself appeared an hour later. She wore robes of purple velvet and ermine fur. Her hair was flowing freely. She also wore a circlet made of gold and jewels. Anne stood in the hall with the clergy and other religious people.
The Crowning Moment
After the procession of lesser nobles, the Marquis of Dorset and the Earl of Arundel followed. They carried the scepter and an ivory rod. Then came the Earl of Oxford, carrying the crown. He was followed by other important officials. The queen walked barefoot. Four Lords of the Cinque Ports carried her canopy. The Bishops of London and Winchester held up her robe. The Dowager Duchess of Norfolk held her long train.
Anne then rested briefly on a chair. After that, she knelt in front of the altar. This was difficult for her because she was very pregnant. She stood up and was then anointed with oil. Archbishop Cranmer then crowned her Queen of England with St Edward's Crown. She was given the rod and the scepter in her hands. The Queen's scepter with a dove had been made new by Cornelis Hayes in May.
A special song called a Te Deum was sung. The heavy crown was then swapped for a lighter one. This lighter crown was made just for the queen. After this, a church service was held. Anne received the sacrament and made offerings at Saint Edward the Confessor's shrine.
Return to the Palace
Anne then rested for a short time. After her rest, the procession went back to Westminster Hall. The newly crowned queen was supported by her father and Lord Talbot. When she returned to the palace, she rested again. Meanwhile, a big celebratory feast was being prepared for everyone.
