Pattie's Guide to the Coronation.
Commemorating The Coronation
Of The British Empire’s Most Powerful Woman
(Victoria, Queen). Pattie’s Guide to the Coronation, An Authorized Account of the Ceremonies to be Observed at the Royal Coronation of Her Most Sacred Majesty, Queen Victoria the First, in the Abbey of Westminster, on Thursday the Twenty-Eighth Day of June, in the Year of Our Lord One Thousand Eight Hundred and Thirty-Eight…. London: James Pattie, 1838.
12mo.; blue-grey printed wrappers, sewn; some pages loose and therefore unevenly bound; few fragmentary margin chips and folds to front wrapper, not affecting text; pages occasionally faintly soiled; publisher’s ad for other publications printed on rear wrapper; contemporary ownership signature on front wrapper. In a specially made cloth slipcase.
First edition of this 36-page pamphlet written for the British general public to help them understand and follow along with the events occurring on the day of Victoria’s coronation. Although a slim pamphlet, Pattie manages to pack a lot of information into very few pages, broken down into various sections, including “Route;” “Assembling of the Peers and Peeresses;” “Regalia;” “From the Abbey Into the Choir;” “Princesses of the Blood Royal;” “The Sceptre and Cross;” “Princes of the Blood Royal;” “The Queen;” “Arrangements of Seats;” “Body Guard;” “The Recognition;” “Cloth of Gold;” “The First Offering;” “Prayer;” “The Litany;” “The Communion Service;” “The Oath;” “The Anointing;” “St. Edward’s Chair;” “The Spur;” “Offering of the Sword;” “The Orb;” “The Ring;” “The Sceptres;” “The Crowning;” “Shouts From the People;” “The Holy Bible;” “The Benediction and Te Deum;” “Their Return;” “Guide for Persons Holding Tickets Into the Interior of The Abbey &c;” and, last but not least, “Dress.”
Upon the conclusion of the Anthem, the Archbishop of Canterbury will advance from his station at the south-east pillar, and, together, with the Lord Chancellor, the Lord Great Chamberlain, the Lord High Constable, and the Earl Marshall, preceded by the Deputy Garter, will move to the east side of the Theatre,, where the Archbishop will make the Recognition thus:—“Sirs, I here present unto you Queen Victoria, the undoubted Queen of this realm; wherefore, all you who come this day to do your homage, are you willing to do the same?” and repeat the same at the south, west, and north sides of the Theatre; during which time her Majesty will be standing up by her chair, and turn towards the people on the side at which the Recognition is made, the people replying to each demand, with loud and repeated acclamations of “God save Queen Victoria”… (pp. 18-19)
Queen Victoria was one of the longest-ruling and most influential British monarchs of all time. Born in 1819, she was the only child of the Duke of Kent, who was the fourth son of George III: He had married Princess Mary Louisa Victoria of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha specifically to produce an heir. Victoria’s father died when she was eight months old and she was brought up by her mother very frugally at Kensington Palace. Victoria was recognized as heir to the throne when George IV died in 1830 and she succeeded her uncle, William IV, in 1837. She was coronated in June of 1838.
Victoria was from the start a fiercely autonomous and confident woman. Once Victoria was Queen she immediately asserted her independence from her mother, her governess Louise Lehzen, and her uncle Leopold. As a ruler she was equally outspoken about her political and personal likes and dislikes. In 1840 she married her cousin, Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha, and the first of their nine children was born that year. She and Alfred discussed frankly political issues of the times and each respected, and was guided by, the political opinions of the other.
Victoria’s influence was far-reaching both within England and internationally: she had 37 great-grandchildren by the time of her death, and her descendants later ruled in Sweden, Denmark, Norwa
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