What is all the gold behind the Queen? - The display of plate at the British Coronation

[@Ea-Nasir_Copper_Co]

Anne of Cleves might not mind her gravesite being used to display such finery: she loved pretty dresses, fine plate and jewels, and all kinds of pageantry.

[@betttrbeth]

It’s so beautiful that Anne of Cleves always gets front row to coronations.

[@rosean374]

I was rather startled to just learn that the high alter is actually a tomb. 😮

[@davidniedjaco9869]

@@rosean374 I do know in the pre-revolt Catholic tradition, and possibly the anglican tradition, whether it was phased out and brought back or whatever, considering angicanism tended to go through phases of high church and low church, I do know in the Catholic tradition (incidentally Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox, and ACOE, maybe luthernism, although I highly doubt since they vehemently rejected the Sacrificial aspect of Holy Mass), that from the very beginning, Holy Mass was offered atop of the tombs of Holy Martyrs, which gave way to the practice of inbedding relics within the altars, and then altar stones for traveling priests, and the antimension cloth that have relics sewn into them in the Eastern Byzantine tradition..Now, I do know Anne of Cleaves is/was not a martyr, nor Saint, but I just bring up this whole thing to show that even though an altar is more than just a tomb, one could sort of, indirectly, look at it like this..now, I don't know anything about canon law within anglicanism (particularly of England), but maybe it's allowable to have there services atop of tombs, or the tomb itself can be an altar within their tradition..if so I wouldn't consider it that strange, considering the history of public worship in the west up until the protestant revolt.

[@dragonclaws9367]

I'm pleased Anne of Cleves gets to attend every important occasion in The Abbey. I had no idea that was her resting place. That makes me smile. ❤ to 🇬🇧 from 🇺🇸 .

[@Nurichiri]

I think Anne of Cleves would be very tickled that to be a part of coronations centuries later

[@allanbarton]

I think so too.

[@stepps511]

I have often wondered about this display of plate, and "now I know". Thank you, as ever, Allan for helping us understand the peculiarities of Coronation ritual. So very much appreciated!

[@allanbarton]

My pleasure, glad you enjoyed it!

[@maryloumawson6006]

I had also wondered about the plate, though I neglected to mention it in the comments. I'm glad someone else did, and that you took the opportunity to cover it. Thank you for this very thorough explanation.

[@allanbarton]

Glad you enjoyed it, thanks for watching!

[@carmenfoster6912]

Unbelievable history! Thank you so much Dr.Barton for sharing this rich knowledge of historical importance!

[@allanbarton]

Glad you found it interesting!

[@dianeaustin2414]

As I did. Thank you.

[@CZPanthyr]

Well, now I understand why the Vikings raided churches and monasteries.

[@DavidMiller.93]

Thanks Dcn Barton 😊😊

[@richardc8795]

That’s the tomb of Anne of Cleves? I had no idea. Remarkable items on display. I enjoyed learning about these. Very interested in what was destroyed by the parliament. 🤔

[@renferal5290]

I went to Westminster Abby last year. Very beautiful

[@sweptashore]

Happy to learn what all that (plate) gold is, and why it's on display. My favorite tidbit, though, is that Anne of Cleves -- deemed unsuitable and unceremoniously discarded by Henry VIII -- plays a role in the ceremony. (Albeit as a sideboard.)

[@smontone]

Wow! I’ve only ever seen the marker for Anne of Cleves, I’m so surprised that it’s been hiding in plain sight all this time as a sideboard!

[@joejanczak3014]

There's even a cake named for Anne of Cleves, still produced in her hometown, but so many variants of this Anne of Cleves Cake. Happily gracing any sideboard. 🍰

[@nadiabrook7871]

I greatly admire Anne of Cleves for SURVIVING being married to Henry viii AND remaining on good terms with him and the rest of his family!! Another BRILLIANT video, Allan!! 💗👍❤

[@allanbarton]

Thanks very much, glad you enjoyed it!

[@Shalott63]

It was fairly easy to remain on good terms with Henry VIII provided you were prepared to do whatever he wanted without making any fuss 😆. Henry was pretty generous to Anne, largely in return for her agreeing to 'go quietly' and not contest the divorce in the way that Katherine of Aragon had. (Also he wanted to remain on good terms as far as possible with her brother, the ruler of Cleves.)

[@nadiabrook7871]

@@Shalott63 So, it was a win-win situation!!

[@redmi9834]

Sadly she only lived to be 41. She was given a splendid funeral and pride of place for her tomb right in the sanctuary of the abbey.

[@vinceplatini]

Another great lesson about the regalia. Thanks!

[@allanbarton]

My pleasure!

[@Dogsnark]

This is so interesting. I wondered about all this gold while watching the coronation. I did figure these pieces were solid gold, so thanks for correcting that idea.

[@allanbarton]

Glad the video was helpful!

[@kenefdz]

At 10:16 the photo shows Elizabeth the Queen Mother and another woman (Princess Margaret?) looking downward between them...any idea what was causing the distraction?

[@russbear31]

A 5-year-old Prince Charles, obviously. There are other photos of Charles at his mother's coronation, where he sat with his grandmother and aunt. Charles had a few "Prince Louis moments" during the service. The Queen Mother and Princess Margaret are probably scolding Charles and telling him to behave. 😊

[@jeffersonkee6440]

@@russbear31 I believe he was four, turning five in November 1953.

[@leahnichol6665]

I believe one of the old aunts dropped her program onto someone below which Charles was fascinated by. That is my hazy memory of a story.

[@Thauan..]

Brazilian here🚨🇧🇷 Waiting every day for coronation

[@4sstg]

They certainly add to the glamour of the coronation.

[@wordscapes5690]

Fascinating as always. Thanks again.

[@allanbarton]

My pleasure!

[@RickshawMunky]

Marvelous video as always 👍

[@TheNaniNetwork]

So informative and beautiful video ! Thank you.

[@allanbarton]

My pleasure, glad you enjoyed it!

[@chrishall62]

For someone who was only Queen Consort for 6 months in 1540 Anne of Cleves has ended up with a very grand resting place! I think she may well have been the luckiest of Henry VIII's wives.

[@juliehydemew4575]

Definitely!

[@philiphoel4290]

Catherine Parr was pretty lucky, in that she survived.

[@juliehydemew4575]

And that she lived well for another 17 years a wealthy and independent woman! 😁

[@gyllenspetzfamily7993]

Could have been the inspiration for Kenny Roger's the gambler. She knew when to fold 'em and when to walk away ...

[@leahnichol6665]

She was able to leave home and to be kept in luxury for the rest of her life. She did. Or have to consummate the marriage. I don’t know what she felt about that, but I suspect she was a bit shocked when she met Henry. He was not a dashing young man at the time.

[@Austin8thGenTexan]

Several years ago, I went a little nuts trying to find out what all this means. As an 11th cousin of Charles, it's not as if I can pick up the phone and ring the palace as a halfway shirt-tail relation. Thank you so much for a very direct and thorough explanation of the altar plate. 🌞

[@allanbarton]

My pleasure, glad you found it helpful!

[@jeffersonkee6440]

Thanks very much for the video. Glad someone asked for it.

[@Chloe_Stella]

Another great video. Thank you!

[@lfaulkner5847]

I love and look forward to your videos! Keep them coming!

[@pixbychris3182]

Another interesting video. I did not know Anne of Cleves was buried there.

[@allanbarton]

Hiding in plain sight.

[@send2wj]

May I say, a better place than Henry VIII?

[@ChrisDonnelly-w7l]

Enjoying these videos greatly from Australia and it relevance to crowning of our new King.

[@allanbarton]

Thanks Chris.

[@barryjenkins4742]

Hi cris ,yes I'm also enjoying the videos viewing from new Zealand let's hope our two countries can retain the monarchy, we don't want the mean spirited Republicans

[@ChrisDonnelly-w7l]

@@barryjenkins4742 thanks Barry, yes although I'm very concerned the Commonwealth Realms are being a bit will supressed in Status unlike 1953 and 1937 when their names were proudly proclaimed.

[@norrieblackeby1041]

I do enjoy your very informative videos. Thank you very much!

[@allanbarton]

My pleasure, thanks for watching!

[@cherylchristian5673]

Though worth much less, I’m sure the silver gilt vessels have stood up better to time than would solid gold, however desirable. I was amused by the photo of Queen Elizabeth II’s coronation; in the box behind her, you can see her mother and sister presumably trying to control 3-year-old King Charles III. And the large collection plate has the Last Supper on it, and on the bottom is a little dog presumably cleaning up the scraps from the table! It is great to see info about these items; no other channel seems to even notice.

[@bevinboulder5039]

I'm a bit curious as to how they were able to plate gold onto base metal before they had electric current to assist in that process. Also can't imagine how heavy the original solid gold items were, though perhaps they were considerably smaller than the 17th century versions. Another great video!

[@allanbarton]

A process called fire gilding or mercurial gilding - it involved creating an amalgam of gold and mercury and then vaporising the mercury with heat. Needless to say mercurial gilders did not have a long life expectancy.

[@bevinboulder5039]

@@allanbarton It's a wonder that the expression isn't "Mad as a gilder". 🤣

[@grahamsmith9541]

​@@bevinboulder5039 Doesn't roll off the tongue so easily. Probably because more people encountered mad hatter's. Also from Mercury.

[@bevinboulder5039]

@@grahamsmith9541 Yes, I couldn't resist the obvious parallel.

[@SarahGreen523]

Thanks for all this good information! I did wonder, as I watched the Coronation, what the significance of all the gold plate behind Charles was. I also appreciate knowing that it was Anne of Cleves' tomb the plate was resting on and not a sideboard as I had assumed. I never walk away empty handed from one of your videos.

[@christyb2912]

Great video! thank you for sharing your knowledge

[@allanbarton]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@jldisme]

Lovely video. Thank you!

[@educanassa100]

Always watching, Allan

[@MKHobson]

Here is an odd question ... In looking at all the old photographs in this video I noticed that not one single person is wearing eyeglasses. Are eyeglasses considered not appropriate for formal ceremonial garb? Or is this just a coincidence?

[@Odo55]

Poor eyesight is considered a weakness, not to be revealed in high status formal ceremonies ? Clashes with the period costumes ? Just a couple of guesses.

[@cecilyerker]

They probably only used them to read

[@matthewconway9152]

I just received the April issue for the antiquary magazine. The articles I’ve read so far in the two issues I have received are fascinating. Thank you Dr Allen Barton for all the time and research you invest in this magazine. -sincerely Matthew Conway.

[@allanbarton]

Thank you very much, I'm so glad you're enjoying the Antiquary!

[@corkyoakes4839]

I watched Queen Elizabeth II coronation the other day, and was blown away by the display of all this finery. It seemed antithetic to the core of Christianity. I really appreciate your explanation of what the items are, and why they would be displayed. Feeling less judgmental now!

[@allanbarton]

Glad you appreciate the explanation, thanks for watching!

[@cecilyerker]

If you think about it, churches are the best place for our gold and finery, because it gives glory to God instead of ourselves, and everyone can see it and enjoy it instead of a wealthy few.

[@marthavanbeek-putters]

Thank you so very much for all the explanation of the coming crowning! I appreciated it so much😍

[@trinaedwards8182]

Winston I am on a disability pension and have been for years,so tell me sell what I have is stupid I have nothing to sell

[@99goosebumps16]

Could you please do a video on St Edward's Chapel for where the sovereign retires post coronation before leaving the abbey?

[@allanbarton]

Coming up, watch this space.

[@chesterplemany]

excellent video!

[@mic8952]

Very good information, I really enjoyed and appreciate your research. Thank you.

[@allanbarton]

Glad you enjoyed it, thanks for watching!

[@calumbaxter9946]

And there was me thinking they were going to have a buffet afterwards.. Seriously though, when I was a young chorister the rather amiable Rector of our church at the time used to put cakes and sandwiches on the church plate for the choir after a particularly important service.

[@jacquigriffin5973]

They do use the gold dishes from the Crown Jewels collection for the Coronation dinner.

[@joejanczak3014]

I've often wondered about all of that plate. Now I know! Hoping it's all displayed during the upcoming Coronation. Sadly there might not be a Royal Box behind the Cleves tomb.

[@allanbarton]

I hope it will be, no reason why not. I wonder too if there might be a royal box still and no other boxes. We'll see in a couple of weeks.

[@allanbarton]

@@donijaya it sits directly behind it in what is the aisle of the Abbey.

[@AulicExclusiva]

Fabulous!

[@dianespears6057]

Thank you. I enjoy your videos.

[@allanbarton]

Glad you're enjoying my channel, thanks for watching!

[@GlenSpurrell]

Yet again another very interesting video. Thank you. You say so much of these precious objects are now in the chapel at St James's Palace, doesn't Buckingham Palace have a chapel with such items?

[@allanbarton]

Buckingham Palace does have a tiny chapel restored in 1997, but it is for private devotion and is not used for regular worship. The official worship of the court is now confined to the chapel royal at the Palace of St James, which is why the plate is there.

[@Shalott63]

Buckingham palace did have a relatively full-sized chapel before the war but it was destroyed by a bomb. That chapel was not restored after the war, probably (I guess) because since the war the royal family have not been there very much at weekends (preferring to go to Windsor).

[@lindymcbroom953]

This was Fantastic Alan I Love your "Coronation Special" videos!

[@allanbarton]

Thanks Lindy, with just a week to go there are still more to come.

[@lindymcbroom953]

@@allanbarton I Cannot , Both for the Coronation and Your videos leading up to it!

[@postscript67]

Confusingly, "plate" can mean both items made out of solid gold or silver and items made out of other metal plated in gold or silver.

[@nurmaybooba]

very interesting, thank-you.

[@woodmason]

Interesting and very well done

[@allanbarton]

Thanks very much, glad you enjoyed it!

[@theodor-v2b]

The 2 chalices are made of gold, and all the silver-plates in the Tower are re-gilded for the coronation of Georges IV.

[@richardlahan7068]

As an American, I'm fascinated by the history, theology and tradition of royal coronations and funerals.

[@dianeaustin2414]

Same. I am in Nebraska, USA. You?

[@richardlahan7068]

@@dianeaustin2414 South Carolina

[@jwwt2000421]

Thank you! It seems like every documentary or article about coronation regalia or the crown jewels tend to completely gloss over these pieces

[@judycater2832]

I love the idea of fetching feathered flagons.😊

[@garygoeswild]

Thank you that was great

[@jilltagmorris]

I dont know how i missed seeing this but here i am! ❤

[@allanbarton]

Glad you found it!

[@emmanuelsalvadorenriquez4893]

Very interesting Very informative 😃

[@allanbarton]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@skate2ice]

Do you ship The Anitquary Magazine to the USA? Do you have a website in USD?

[@allanbarton]

I send the majority of my print run each month to the USA. The website converts everything to USD.

[@daniel_sc1024]

The monarch also has a large collection of silver-gilt plate that is put on display during state banquets. I believe that was a common practice amongst Europe's monarchs going back centuries, to show off their wealth.

[@richardring272]

Is there going to be a Annex built onto the door of Westminster Abbey like at previous Coronations?

[@allanbarton]

No, as there are fewer people present, I think there will be space for the procession to form up in the aisles of the Abbey nave.

[@TheFireflycam]

, the chalice from the palace has the brew that is true….lol

[@TyresaerysTargaryen]

Will there be a royal box this time?

[@populuxe1]

Have ordered the Coronation Special issue - we're rather deprived of quality commentary for the event here in New Zealand

[@allanbarton]

Thank you, I do hope you enjoy it when it arrives.

[@therealhellkitty5388]

Somehow I don’t see asking one’s flock for alms on golden plates in very good taste. Better they should use wooden bowls and baskets.

[@polemeros]

I smell a puritan. Boring.

[@leahnichol6665]

I always believe one ought to be honest. If one has the plate, flaunt it!

[@reneknaap1745]

Nothing like putting all your bling on show

[@spyderlogan4992]

Q: So after Charles II and the Reformation how much of the Abbey's and Royal Collection is actually solid gold and not 'plated'. Are there just a few select pieces in each? Great informative video, we really enjoyed pausing and discussing all the fantastic pictures. Thanks.

[@behramcooper3691]

Whenever I think of the coronation, I cannot help but think of the movie Johny English. 😊😅

[@allanbarton]

😂

[@Sango-po5pi]

Communion ware?

[@allanbarton]

It is.

[@Timdalf1]

You need to do a video on St. George's Day May 6/April 23 -- I am sure it is no happenstance that HRM Charles III chose this day... He knows about Orthodoxy, even if he is imprisoned in the Protestant constitution thanks to the Glorious Revolution and the Act of Settlement!

[@jcharbonneau7048]

😃

[@dominicganteaume8274]

Sunday, 23 April 2023 I sincerely hope that the coronation of King Charles III will be no less magnificent than that of Elizabeth II; however, I have a sinking feeling that the ceremony for the new king will not equal that of the late queen. With the reduction of the whole service from three hours to one, as I have seen elsewhere online, changes in the dress code and the loss of even such details a ermine, I am holding my breath. A coronation comes but once in a lifetime for those of us lucky enough to be alive for the event and a monarch can only ever have one coronation. Although I can understand the king’s sensitivity towards the current economic conditions in the U.K., much of London and other parts of the U.K. were still bombed out at the time of the coronation in 1953 and the economy had not recovered from WorldsWar II.

[@Shalott63]

It's not really true that coronations come only once in a lifetime, on average; I think the exceptionally long reign of Elizabeth II has skewed perceptions in several ways, including this one. It's worth remembering that in the earlier part of the twentieth century there were four coronations (1902, 1911, 1937, and 1953) in the space of 51 years.

[@dominicganteaume8274]

@@Shalott63 True. Point well made. 😁

[@leahnichol6665]

@@Shalott63 with 1937 being the year of three kings. I hope that does not happen again.

[@WinstonSmithGPT]

You can’t have a woke monarchy, a harsh lesson I think Charles will learn by doing.

[@dominicganteaume8274]

​@@WinstonSmithGPT Too true Winston.I think that the King is over compensating on "being relevant and modern". I see online that he plans to vacate Buckingham Palace. That would not be a good idea. Monarchy means status, symbolism and tradition, amongst many other things. I thought that he could have gone with the full three-hour coronation with all of the pagentry.

[@ericneilson1198]

"Fetching Feathered Flagons"

[@Deepfake820]

Is there an organisation that lobbies for the Monarchy to have more powers?

[@mgcocasal]

Lots of Wimbledon trophies😊

[@lollypop2413]

Fitting to have gold on high alter.....

[@joerudnik9290]

Closed captioning should say collect ‘alms’ not ‘arms’.

[@allanbarton]

Thanks for the feedback, the captions are auto generated and don't seem to be aware of the difference - much to my amusement the auto captions also think the sacrarium of Westminster Abbey is the aquarium of Westminster Abbey! Sadly short of cloning myself I have no time to solve the issue.

[@467-k1m]

@@allanbarton lol

[@leahnichol6665]

@@allanbarton 😂😂😂

[@CoreyChambersLA]

Ann of Cleves had no children, and died of cancer.

[@allanbarton]

Indeed, she did have two step daughters though and one buried her.

[@federicoprice2687]

Why don't arms dishes have Arms then?

[@allanbarton]

Because they contain alms, offerings.

[@franklesser5655]

I don't think I want to be buried in Westminster Abbey. Too many people walking all over me for centuries to come.

[@barrygriffiths4530]

Probably what we nicked

[@kjmav10135]

I come from Puritans. So, on behalf of my zealous ancestors, let me just say-sorry about the old serving bits! 😢

[@malopephasha5341]

They destroyed a lot of Englands heritage

[@kjmav10135]

@@malopephasha5341 Can’t argue with that, and in so dong, became a part of England’s heritage. But again-sorry about that.

[@giuliakhawaja7929]

“Destroyed by the Puritans” ie stolen and the money frittered away!

[@canadiankewldude]

*_Mat _**_24:13_**_ But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved._* *_KJB_*

[@StevenJeNova]

So it's all a big status show. Because they can. But it isn't (solid-) gold. Remarkable. 😃 Edit: so what did the Puritans do with all the gold?

[@allanbarton]

Made it into coin.

[@chrishoo2]

Anne of Cleves being the mother of Mary the first is a bit dubious!

[@allanbarton]

I said step mother.

[@eyeoenergy9665]

😂

[@donotneed]

Is that Venezuela's stolen gold?

[@allanbarton]

I doubt it.

[@donotneed]

@@allanbarton maybe not Venezuela's but certainly stolen!

[@allanbarton]

@@donotneed I doubt that too.

[@donotneed]

@@allanbarton I am sure!

[@ShriyaDamayanthi]

🇬🇧👑️👑️👑️✝️👀🖕❤️

[@noreenmurphy6298]

Too much pomp and chivalry for me.

[@amyfox9659]

MONEY??

[@elvisosei-bonsu7396]

Most of the Gold were stolen from The Asante Goldfield in Ghana!!! The British sent The King of Asante, Prempeh The First to excile in Seychelles Islands in India Ocean!!! After the King of Asante was sent to Exile in Seychelles Islands, in 1896, British raided The Palace of the King Prempeh The First and stole lots of the Royal Gold Regalia from the Palace of the Prempeh The First!!! Moreover, The Prempeh The First's Gold Mine, known as The Asante Goldfield was taken over by the British under Queen Victoria for over 100years!!!

[@trinaedwards8182]

The weath is disgusting

[@allanbarton]

Beauty is disgusting? When I look at such great works of art I think of the miners mining the materials, the refiners purifying them, the designers, and the skilled goldsmiths creating these beautiful works of art. The work not only brought them pride and satisfaction and created skill and beauty that continue to enrich society, but, and in a realistic world, such work fed the craftsmens families. If you don't appreciate the moral and spiritual value of art I think you've hit upon the wrong channel.

[@WinstonSmithGPT]

Sell everything you have then come back for further debate.

[@claygorovoy5467]

Moeny they stole from everyone else?

[@shraddashradda]

I think you might find that many of the wars were ‘won’ …

[@trinaedwards8182]

Sell it for the poor

[@allanbarton]

I think you should set us all an example and sell your goods first.

[@vegasmike]

All the stuff the British stole over the years. 😂

[@louiesmom7394]

Obviously you weren't listening.

[@allanbarton]

Err, no. Every single one of these items was commissioned by the King or the Abbey and made by London goldsmiths.

[@Odo55]

@@allanbarton How was it all financed ?

[@allanbarton]

@@Odo55 mostly on credit by borrowing from Sir Robert Vyner, his banker. By 1672 he owed Vyner the staggering sum of £400,000 - much of which was never paid back. Vyner also bankrolled the regalia, again never being properly recompensed.

[@argusfleibeit1165]

@@allanbarton Sounds like someone else we know.

[@georgecalvintharcisius586]

Thank you very much. Fantastic and i have learned something today. 🙏🇬🇧🕎✝️🔯👑🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🙏