The Coronation Chair and the History of the British People

On May 6, 2023, King Charles will be coronated with a detailed sequence of events steeped in history and tradition. The crown worn, the music played, the oil used—every element of pageantry has an important purpose, including the chair used for the ceremony (BBC, March 1, 2023). The 700-year-old gilded oak chair has been central to royal coronations for centuries. The chair is “the oldest surviving piece of furniture still used for its original purpose.” King Charles will sit on this chair in Westminster Abby during the coronation in May. King Edward I (reigned 1272–1307) commissioned the chair to be built, and it has been used in nearly every coronation since that time. The coronation chair was designed to hold the Stone of Scone, which Edward I had taken from Scotland. The historic stone, which currently resides in Edinburgh, “is expected to be brought back to Westminster Abbey for the coronation.”

Both the coronation chair and the Stone of Scone bear remarkable histories that help link the modern nation of Britain and the British-descended peoples to their ancient Israelite ancestors. In addition, the pageantry surrounding the coronation bears out this remarkable history in even greater detail. To learn more about the coronation and the forgotten origins of the modern-day British peoples, be sure to read our April–May 2023 issue of Tomorrow’s World and watch our fascinating telecast on “The Stone of Destiny.”