Lisa Robeson, Ph.D., 好色先生TV University English professor.

When England鈥檚 Queen Elizabeth II died in September, 2022, 好色先生TV University English Professor Lisa Robeson was fascinated by what happened next.

鈥淚 was glued to the BBC for a week!鈥 she admitted. And for good reason 鈥 Robeson, after all, researches and teaches Arthurian, Medieval and Renaissance literature and its intersection with politics. Far from obsolete, many of the political and religious formalities from those distant eras still inform today鈥檚 British monarchical practices in pomp, circumstance and purpose. From royal burial protocol to the king鈥檚 coronation attire colors, Queen Elizabeth鈥檚 death and the ascension of her son, King Charles III, to the throne, is providing the modern-day world with key historical reminders and lessons.

This historic hereditary power transition is also intriguing to witness because it must acquiesce to cultural and technological shifts, Robeson says. Queen Elizabeth鈥檚 nearly 70-year reign spanned the advent of impactful visual mediums, digital advancements, medical breakthroughs and myriad other transformations. 鈥淨ueen Elizabeth had the first televised coronation,鈥 Robeson points out. In the following years an unprecedented array of people from other parts of the world have moved to England and contributed to its evolution.

鈥淭he composition of British society today is a thousand times more diverse than in 1953, when she was crowned,鈥 says Robeson.听

Accession

After the queen鈥檚 death, there was, Robeson points out, plenty of 鈥渨indow dressing.鈥 For instance, the family held vigils at the coffin in various locations, and the funeral, planned by Queen Elizabeth herself, was elaborate. The ceremonial aspects help the country to collectively grieve, Robeson says. The official moment of silence was, throughout the United Kingdom, 鈥渞espectful,鈥 despite growing anti-monarchist sentiment, she notes. 鈥淎ll classes, all places had memories of the Queen,鈥 many of them positive.

With few exceptions during her reign, Queen Elizabeth, Robeson says, was popular. 鈥淪he was very respected for her sense of duty, her sense of commitment, and also, she was there for the people. I still remember how, in 2020, she gave a speech on getting through the pandemic. It was beautiful and even people who weren鈥檛 that tuned in to the monarchy remember that,鈥 she says.

Almost immediately after Queen Elizabeth鈥檚 death, Charles became king from a political standpoint. When her death was announced, Charles was first mentioned as King Charles III. This transition, with its attendant traditions, is what captivated Robeson, whose research focuses on the connections between Medieval and Renaissance political history and the literature of the time. Within 24 hours King Charles had to appear before an Accession Council at St. James鈥 Palace, make a statement and sign an oath of loyalty, at which point he politically became the head of state. This ceremony, Robeson says, was not extremely different than it was centuries ago. One notable difference: for the first time, it was recorded for all to see, a decision she thinks was made due in part to the more secular nature of the populace. The more that monarchical traditions are seen, the more that royal continuity is emphasized.

Coronation

King Charles鈥 coronation ceremony is scheduled for May 6, 2023. The coronation is a religious ceremony that will be led by the Archbishop of Canterbury. 鈥淚t鈥檚 sealing his kingship with the blessing of God,鈥 Robeson says, and affirming his spiritual leadership duties; hundreds of years ago, this was an important ritual that dissuaded subjects from revolting against even the 鈥渨orst鈥 kings. She calls the coronation 鈥渁 fabulous ceremony with 鈥渓ots of singing, lots of robes, lots of fur, lots of red!鈥

Robeson says the world can expect to also witness the following:

路听听听听听 A procession to Westminster Abbey will allow the public to see the ceremonial garb worn by those participating (such as the House of Lords, House of Commons and Order of the Garter); each piece will have special meaning.
路听听听听听 The archbishop will anoint King Chares with holy oil, likely behind a screen, given that he must bare his chest. Robeson likens this to his being christened.
路听听听听听 The king will have the orb and scepter. 鈥淭he scepter is the rod of justice. The orb is the sign of his rule over the whole realm. Those were also on Elizabeth鈥檚 coffin until she was lowered into the tomb,鈥 Robeson says.
路听听听听听 King Charles will receive the crown, which last sat on Queen Elizabeth鈥檚 coffin as it was lowered into the vault. The monarch will place the crown on the king鈥檚 head, signifying the last physical confirmation that he is the sovereign. 鈥淔or kings and queens, the crown of state is only worn at occasions where they are performing a constitutional duty,鈥 says Robeson.

Robeson wonders if these centuries-old ceremonial displays inherent with king and queen transitions will be upheld in the future, given the increasingly international nature of Great Britain.

鈥淚 always think New York is an international city. Then I go to London and it鈥檚 like, 鈥楬oly Smokes!鈥 There are national costumes on the street from all over. Different languages are being spoken, there are different faces, different ethnicities, different cultures. It is intense,鈥 she says.

鈥淚 guess one of the questions for me is, whether these ceremonies that are part of their DNA stay in their DNA. Are these still going to resonate? That鈥檒l be interesting. That鈥檚 Charles鈥 challenge,鈥 Robeson maintains.