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As King Charles III’s Coronation approaches, Chelsea Pensioners remember past Coronations 

The King’s Coronation holds a special significance for the Royal Hospital. Each and every Chelsea Pensioner swore allegiance to The Queen and that pledge of loyalty continues to her successor. And the Royal Hospital itself would not be here today without our current King’s namesake, King Charles II. 

As King Charles III’s Coronation approaches, the Chelsea Pensioners remember how they marked the Queen’s Coronation on 2 June 1953. Fifty-four of our current Pensioners were serving at the time – and four are proud owners of the Coronation medal, which was issued sparingly. Some were serving overseas and others were part of the parade, or lining the streets.  

How we celebrated Queen Elizabeth II’s Coronation

Seventy years ago, the Royal Hospital was preparing for Queen Elizabeth’s Coronation, just as our community is anticipating King Charles’s Coronation today. The cupola and weathervane over the Octagon were floodlit and permission was granted to hold a celebratory fete on the South Grounds. On the big day, 200 Chelsea Pensioners and staff viewed the Coronation procession from the south side of the Mall, near the Queen Victoria memorial. A line of Chelsea Pensioners also formed at the end of Royal Avenue for Her Majesty’s Coronation drive through West London.

This year, two Chelsea Pensioners – Barbara and Patrick – will be going to Westminster Abbey with the Governor to see the Coronation. Barbara says it’s an honour she never would have imagined in her younger days:

Chelsea Pensioner Barbara Whilds

“To be chosen to represent The Royal Hospital at Westminster Abbey for the Coronation is such an honour. Seven-year-old me watching the 1953 Coronation on the TV, seeing the little Prince Charles there with his grandmother, would never have believed that I would be there for his Coronation.”

In addition, Regimental Sergeant Major Ross Martin will be leading the Chelsea Pensioners on a march down the King’s Road in Scarlets and tricornes. On the following day, celebrations at the Royal Hospital will include services in the Wren Chapel, a parade accompanied by the Guards Association Band, a ‘street party’ on the North Front and Coronation karaoke in the Chelsea Pensioners’ Club.

“I remember the Queen’s Coronation – and the one before” 

Back in 1953, today’s Chelsea Pensioners were marking the Queen’s Coronation in a number of ways. Some came to see the parade as spectators. Among them were Connie – now 100 – and Ernie, a D-Day veteran. Connie recalls her feelings at the time:

Chelsea Pensioner - Connie Evans

“When the Queen came along there was loads of clapping and she had this gold ball and she had a crown when she came out of Westminster Abbey. The atmosphere was absolute magic – people everywhere! I felt very, very proud of being British. We were excited to have a Queen and she was young, while King George V and Queen Mary were old school.”

Ernie also has clear memories of the occasion:

“I watched the Coronation from Haymarket with my family. There were lots of people and a coach procession.”

However, Queen Elizabeth’s was not the only Coronation Ernie attended:

“I remember George VI’s Coronation in 1937 when I was 13. My father was a great Royalist and we were up all night before watching the procession coming down St James’s Street. I was also there when they announced the proclamation of Edward VIII, before he abdicated. I saw him standing in the window at the entrance of St James’s Palace.”

Playing a part in the parade 

Several of today’s Royal Hospital residents played a part in the Coronation parade itself – either marching or lining the streets. 

Basil, who was in the Queen’s Royal Irish Hussars, was newly married and completing a year’s course at Knellor Hall School of Music at the time. All the musicians there had a role in the celebrations:

“I was in a little team outside of fanfare trumpeters. It rained all day – we got soaked. In those days we used to whiten the belts we wore with Blanco and when it gets wet it just runs, so the uniforms got covered in white. One thing that really did stick in my mind was the Queen of Tonga, who was a really large, jolly looking lady. She was in an open coach and she stood up and waved at everybody while it was pouring down with rain.

I remember seeing the Queen and she looked gorgeous. It was a great day, there were crowds everywhere and we all loved doing it. It was a big year for me too - I was 21 and just married. Like a few of the Pensioners here I will have seen five monarchs in my lifetime - George V, Edward VIII as he should have been, George VI, Elizabeth and now Charles. I don’t think anyone could have done any better than the Queen. I’m pleased for Charles – his Coronation will be a ceremony too – it’s what we do best.”

“We marched 23 miles on the day of the Coronation”

Chelsea Pensioner Ivor was in the Welsh Guards at the time of Queen Elizabeth II’s Coronation. He remembers the run-up to the big day:

“We had been training weeks beforehand, marching all over Surrey. We would meet other parties of soldiers – Australians, Fijians, New Zealanders – all doing the same as us. And we were also training with our bearskin hats for the big day.”

On the day of the Coronation, Ivor and his regiment marched 23 miles, at the head of the parade – not only from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Abbey prior to the ceremony, but all over London during the afternoon. 

“I can’t say I saw much, because when you’re marching you look straight ahead, but the crowds were cheering all the way, thousands and thousands of people – it was absolutely incredible.”

The rain had unfortunate consequences for Ivor and his fellow Welsh Guards:

“There were 500 horses up ahead and they left their droppings on the road. We had to have our uniforms taken straight off us as we were due to be Guard of Honour the next day, with The Queen inspecting us.”

Lining the streets to see the new Queen

Chelsea Pensioners George and Brian both got to see the parade first hand. In 1953, George had just joined his local TA unit – the 8^th Battalion of Royal Fusiliers at the Tower of London. He volunteered for the ‘street-lining party’ on Coronation day:

“Twenty-six of us were transferred from our HQ at the Tower of London to a school in Mill Hill where we practised under our RSM. Then after a few days we were moved into a tented area in Kensington Gardens where we were to stay for the next few days in four-man tents. On Coronation Day we were up at 5am and on the road well before the traffic built up. We marched through Hyde Park to our position at Apsley House. Then we split into two sections and took up our place on either side of the road.”

Like Basil and Ivor, George remembers the relentless rain:

“We had been issued Blues with white buckskin belts and rifle slings both of which had been Blancoed white and all in all we looked very smart with our bulled boots. After the lovely week in the lead up, what did the weather do on the day? Poured with rain of course!”

Brian was just 16 at the time of the Coronation and had recently joined the boys’ Royal Artillery regiment. He got to see the Coronation as a prize and even the weather didn’t dampen his enthusiasm:

“I was awarded Best Recruit and my reward was to attend the Coronation of Her Majesty. I stood on the front step of the Queen Victoria statue in front of the Palace and had a wonderful view of the Royal coach. I remember being so impressed by Her Majesty’s escort – Cavalry Guards in all their splendour – their uniforms looked so impressive to me. It was raining heavily and I was soaked, no overcoats or raincoats were issued to boy soldiers and the six of us had ground sheets which helped us to a degree to keep us dry.”

Toasting the Queen from overseas

Chelsea Pensioners serving at the time of the Queen’s Coronation celebrated from their postings overseas, as well as here in the UK.

Helen was in the ATS (Auxiliary Territorial Service) before transferring to the WRAC (Women’s Royal Army Corps) on their formation in 1949. At the time of the Queen’s Coronation, she was a Sergeant stationed with HQ Hong Kong Land Forces, in Victoria Barracks. She recalls a parade, timed to coincide with the Coronation, a weekend of parties, a special meal for all ranks – and Hong Kong decked with flags and bunting. Helen is proud that she was a member of the ATS at the same time as The Queen. 

Edgar remembers the rather unusual celebration he took part in while he was serving, in the Suez Canal Zone:

“We were going out on an exercise and to celebrate the Coronation we were each given a bottle of beer. I was in a Bren gun carrier and, along with the rest of the crew, stowed the bottle for later consumption. Part way through the day, we were given time to eat our haversack rations so out came the bottle of beer. On opening it we got a mini fountain and all the beer from all the bottles in the well of the carrier. So our celebration consisted of a few well-chosen words and a mouth full of warm water!”

As this year’s Coronation approaches, the Chelsea Pensioners are looking forward to celebrating at the Royal Hospital and beyond. Watch this space for more Chelsea Pensioner memories of the Queen’s coronation.