Photos of the elaborate historic robes, that King Charles III (74) will wear at his coronation on May 6, have been released in London. According to the photos, he will wear a heavy, priest-like, golden robe like his ancestors. As 'Mail Online' further reports he will put on layer after layer, of the shiny garment, during the service in the Coronation Hall of Westminster Abbey.
The multilayer coronation robe
For the investiture, at which the coronation takes place, Charles receives a long, shimmering gold coat, the so-called 'Supertunica'. This garment was designed in 1911 for his great-grandfather George V (1865-1936) and worn at several coronations including, his mother, Queen Elizabeth II (1926-2022) in 1953. The 'Supertunica', also known as the 'Close Pall of Cloth of Gold', is made of gold cloth, that is silk threads, wrapped with thin pieces of gold and/or silver metal. It weighs about two kilograms and is embroidered with stylized arabesques and floral motifs.
Over the 'Supertunica' is worn, a floor-length mantle, the so-called 'Imperial Mantle' - or 'Robe Royal' - which was made, in 1821, for the king's extravagant ancestor George IV (1762-1830). The mantle is inspired by ancient coronation robes. It is made of gold fabric and decorated with colorful motifs, including fleur-de-lis alluding to England's ancient claim to France, as well as imperial eagles and national floral emblems of reddish-pink roses, blue thistles and green clovers. The mantle weighs about three to four kilograms - to which must be added for Charles the St. Edward's crown, which weighs another 2.23 kilograms.
The heir to the throne, Prince William (40), will play a role in the ceremony by entering the Coronation Hall to help hand over the mantle to his father.
"They are the epitome of the coronation ceremony"
Caroline de Guitaut, deputy head of collections of the king's artworks for the Royal Collection Trust, described the garments as "absolutely radiant" and the most important historic textiles in the royal collection. "They are the epitome of the coronation ceremony," she said. They have been worn at numerous coronations and His Majesty, the King, is following that tradition by wearing these very old and historic garments again.
