Editing Westminster Abbey (section)

=== Coronations ===
{{Main|Coronation of the British monarch|List of British coronations}}
[[File:Matthew Dubourg after James StephanoffCoronationGeorgeIVpubl1822.jpg|alt=A colour drawing of George IV seated on a raised platform in the middle of the abbey, with a huge crowd of people in attendance.|thumb|The 1822 coronation of [[George IV]] in the abbey]]

Since the [[Coronation of William I|coronation of William the Conqueror]] in 1066, 40 English and British monarchs have been crowned in Westminster Abbey (not counting Edward V, [[Lady Jane Grey]], and [[Edward VIII]], who were never crowned).{{sfn|Wilkinson|Knighton|2010|p=61}}<ref name="FitzGerald-2023">{{Cite web |last1=FitzGerald |first1=James |last2=Owen |first2=Emma |last3=Moloney |first3=Marita |last4=Therrien |first4=Alex |date=6 May 2023 |title=Coronation live: Charles and Camilla crowned King and Queen at Westminster Abbey |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/uk-65474712 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230629091754/https://www.bbc.com/news/live/uk-65474712 |archive-date=2023-06-29 |access-date=6 May 2023 |website=BBC News |language=en-gb}}</ref> In 1216, Henry III could not be crowned in the abbey because London was occupied by hostile forces at the time. Henry was crowned in [[Gloucester Cathedral]], and had a second coronation at Westminster Abbey in 1220.{{sfn|Wilkinson|Knighton|2010|p=15}} When he had the abbey rebuilt, it was designed with long transepts to accommodate many guests at future coronations.{{Sfn|Wilkinson|2013|p=10}} Much of the order of service derives from the ''[[Liber Regalis]]'', an illuminated manuscript made in 1377 for the coronation of Richard II and held in the abbey's collections.{{sfn|Wilkinson|Knighton|2010|p=62}} On 6 May 2023, the [[Coronation of Charles III and Camilla|coronation of Charles III]] took place at the abbey.<ref name="FitzGerald-2023" /> The area used in the church is the crossing, known in the abbey as "the theatre" because of its suitability for grand events. The space in the crossing is clear rather than filled with immovable pews (like many similar churches), allowing for temporary seating in the transepts.{{sfn|Wilkinson|Knighton|2010|p=61}}

[[File:The Coronation Chair.jpg|alt=An old gilded wooden chair on a raised platform in front of a red curtain.|thumb|The [[Coronation Chair]], with a slot underneath the seat to hold the Scottish [[Stone of Scone]]]]
The Coronation Chair (the throne on which English and British sovereigns are seated when they are crowned) is in the abbey's St George's Chapel near the west door, and has been used at coronations since the 14th century.{{sfn|Wilkinson|2013|p=11}} From 1301 to 1996 (except for a short time in 1950, when the stone was stolen by Scottish nationalists), the chair housed the Stone of Scone upon which the kings of Scots were crowned. Although it has been kept in Scotland at [[Edinburgh Castle]] since 1996, the stone is returned to the Coronation Chair in the abbey as needed for coronations.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2023-04-28 |title=Stone of Destiny heads south for coronation |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-65411666 |access-date=2023-10-08 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230908120420/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-65411666 |archive-date=2023-09-08}}</ref> The chair was accessible to the public during the 18th and 19th centuries; people could sit in it, and some carved initials into the woodwork.{{sfn|Trowles|2008|p=68}}

Before the 17th century, a king would hold a separate coronation for his new queen if he married after his coronation. The last of these to take place in the abbey was the coronation of [[Anne Boleyn]] in 1533, after her marriage to Henry VIII.{{sfn|Wilkinson|Knighton|2010|p=43}} Fifteen coronations of [[queen consort|queens consort]] have been held in the abbey. A coronation for [[Jane Seymour]], Henry VIII's third wife, was planned but she died before it took place; no coronations were planned for Henry's subsequent wives. Mary I's husband, [[Philip II of Spain|Philip of Spain]], was not given a separate coronation due to concerns that he would attempt to rule alone after Mary's death. Since then, there have been few opportunities for a second coronation; monarchs have generally come to the throne already married.{{sfn|Wilkinson|Knighton|2010|p=61}}

[[Henry II of England|Henry II]] held a coronation ceremony at Westminster Abbey in 1170 for his son, known as [[Henry the Young King]], while Henry II was still alive in an attempt to secure the succession. However, the Young King died before his father and never took the throne.{{sfn|Wilkinson|Knighton|2010|p=61}}