Coronation Carpet
In celebration of HRH King Charles III & Queen Consort Camilla we are taking a deep dive into the historical coronations at Westminster Abbey. Of course our focus starts on the floor. It all began with a paradise garden carpet woven in 1520 & borrowed for Queen Victoria’s son King Edward VII’s coronation in 1902 along with the Holms Hepburn carpet that was woven in the 17th century.
In 1911 James Templeton & Company produced the first Axminster coronation carpets for King George V. They then made the next two coronation carpets for, George VI in 1937 & Queen Elizabeth II in 1953. They power loomed royal monograms and national emblems into the design. The pile was short in order for robes and trains to glide, however Queen Elizabeth’s robe got stuck against the nap of the gold carpet halting the ceremony for a few moments. All together 31 carpets were made for each coronation. 16 gold in color and 15 blue. These carpets were laid along the anex & nave of Westminster Abbey. The Nave carpet measured 188 feet 6 inches long by 17 feet wide. For the coronation theater itself the carpets were made up of gold. 12 separate carpets made up this group, the largest being 86 feet by 32 feet.
These carpets had previously covered the Cosmati mosaic pavement which will be uncovered and on display for King Charles III’s coronation. The Cosmati pavement is a intricate mosaic floor of marble, stone, glass and metal in front of the high alter. Many of the elements are from ancient Roman ruins of Greece, Turkey & Italy. It was commissioned by Henry III and completed in 1268.
