King Charles' cheeky six-word quip as he marks one year since Coronation with Queen Camilla
King Charles and his wife Queen Camilla have officially marked one year since the crowning ceremony held at Westminster Abbey.
The historical event saw them presented with the Coronation Roll - an official recording of Coronation proceedings traditionally presented to monarchs and their consorts.
Charles celebrated the anniversary of his Coronation with a witty six-word remark to the those behind the official record, as he turned to tell them: "you deserve a very stiff drink".
During his second public engagement since his cancer diagnosis, Charles admired the handwritten and ornately decorated record on Wednesday, according to reports in the Mirror.
He expressed his gratitude to heraldic artist Tim Noad and calligrapher Stephanie Gill, who dedicated 56 days in a row to inscribing the roll, by telling them: "Thank you very much, I cannot tell you how grateful I am."
This particular document is unique as it is the first to be made on paper instead of the customary animal skin, aligning with the King's stance on animal welfare.
The Coronation Roll was penned by Antonia Romeo, the Clerk of the Crown in Chancery, who finalised the document last Friday and highlighted its special attributes to the monarchs. She explained to them: "It's stitched together, so it's paper, there's no animal product involved and they're sewn in what's known as Chancery stitch, there's 57 pages, something like 11,600 words and it's rolled up."
Camilla was examining a section of the ceremonial roll in Buckingham Palace's 1844 room when she remarked: "Goodness me, I won't attempt to read it without my specs" In response to the historical use of Latin and French in past rolls, Charles quipped: "At least it's in English."
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The roll meticulously details the coronation ceremony, enumerating everyone involved from the procession into Westminster Abbey to the anointing, crowning, and the concluding moments.
Dr Sean Cunningham, Head of Medieval Records at the National Archives, where the roll will be preserved alongside 17 other extant examples, later explained: "So the roll is really to establish the King's authority and the allegiance of the people who attended the coronation as his loyal leading subjects, so that's the basis on which all these rolls have developed over time."
He further elaborated: "And originally they captured who came, what claims they had to perform at the service at the coronation - this is all part of establishing that relationship between the King and the leading subjects."
Wrapping up the presentation, the royal couple were shown the late Queen Elizabeth's own Coronation Roll along with those crafted for the crowning ceremonies of iconic monarchs like Queen Victoria, William, Mary and Edward II.
Mr Dowden reflected on the importance of such hereditary records, stating: "The Coronation Roll is a beautifully illustrated record and an important document of the accession and Coronation of Their Majesties the King and Queen. The Coronation marked a new chapter in our national story and it reflects the very best of our national traditions - which are admired the world over."
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