History and Construction of the Coronation Chair
The Coronation Chair, also known as King Edward's Chair, was commissioned in 1300 by King Edward I to enclose the Stone of Scone, a historic Scottish coronation stone. The chair was crafted by the royal carpenter Walter of Durham and has been used in every coronation since 1308. It is currently housed in Westminster Abbey, where it has stood for over seven centuries Westminster Abbey official page.
The chair is constructed from oak and stands approximately 1.9 meters tall. It features four gilt lions added in 1727, replacing earlier plain legs. The seat originally had a wooden canopy, which was removed in the 18th century. The interior contains a compartment designed to hold the Stone of Scone, which was returned to Scotland in 1996 but is brought to Westminster Abbey for coronation ceremonies Historic Royal Palaces.
Value, Ownership, and Public Access
The Coronation Chair is not privately owned or for sale; it belongs to the Crown and is held in trust by Historic Royal Palaces, a charity managing several royal palaces. The chair is classified as a priceless artifact of the UK's national heritage. Its insurance valuation is not publicly disclosed, but similar royal artifacts in the collection are protected under government heritage schemes Historic Royal Palaces tickets.
Public access to the Coronation Chair is included with general admission to Westminster Abbey. The chair is displayed in the Abbey's ambulatory, near the site of the high altar. Visitor numbers at Westminster Abbey exceed 1.5 million annually, with the coronation chair as a primary attraction. The chair underwent a major conservation project in 2010, funded by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport DCMS official site.
Role in Recent Coronations and Future Ceremonies
The Coronation Chair was used for the coronation of King Charles III in May 2023, marking its seventh use in a coronation. The Stone of Scone was temporarily returned from Scotland for the ceremony, placed back in the chair's compartment. The chair was positioned on the Cosmati pavement, a 13th-century mosaic floor in Westminster Abbey Royal.uk official page.
Future coronations will continue to use the Coronation Chair, as it is the designated throne for the sovereign during the anointing and investiture. The chair is stored in the Dean's Yard area of Westminster Abbey between ceremonies. Conservation teams monitor its condition continuously, with recent reports noting stable structural integrity. The next coronation will follow established protocols, with the chair placed in its traditional position facing the altar BBC News coverage.