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THE CORONATION OF QUEEN VICTORIA

29 June 1838

Shortly after the procession had passed Apsley-house, the amusements of the fair commenced in good earnest. We say in good earnest, because for the last two or three days business in a partial manner has been going on. The altered appearance presented to the eye yesterday from that we had observed on the preceding day, was almost as surprising as the masses of beef and ham to which we then referred; for then there were not any swings, scarcely any shoes, and apparently but few arrangements made to afford entertainment other than those of a supportive nature, or for the cultivation of the disportation of the human frame in the wily mazes of dance.

The lapse of 12 hours, however, worked marvellous results, and at an early hour it became evident that sleep alone had not been the object of the fair-makers. A number of theatres of a minor class had sprung up, and swings, almost beyond enumeration, had been erected, whilst it had been arranged that donkey races and several other attractive pursuits should be added to the originally proposed objects. Much merriment was afforded in the course of the afternoon by a race between donkeys, one of which was ridden by a sailor. It happened that the sea-farer was astride of the second-best runner, whereupon he took it into his head that it would be but proper for him to endeavour to retard the rapid progress of the foremost animal. No sooner, therefore, did the idea strike upon his mind than he coolly slipped off his own donkey, and, running onward laid hold of the tail of the one in advance, with the manifest intention of retarding his hitherto successful progress, and it was not without very considerable difficulty that “Jack” was made to understand that he had been guilty of an action for which the Jockey Club would have imposed some penalty.

During the day a balloon went up from the Green-park, and another from Vauxhall, as was understood, passed over the same place. In reference to the ascent of the former, it was rumoured that Mrs. Graham had met with an accident by a rapid and unexpected descent.

After a minute inspection of the arrangements in Hyde Park, it may be said that on the entrance thereto the spectator was introduced to an extraordinary scene; at the first glance it appeared as if hostilities and not enjoyments were about to occupy all, for an immense encampment covered the crown of the Park from the margin of the tranquil Serpentine to within a trifling distance of the several main entrance to the usually tranquil scene. Marquees, tents, booths, of every form and construction, lay grouped together with, at first, all the confused appearance of haste and chance; but a closer survey showed that much indeed of military regularity had been observed in setting out the grand line of circumvallation, as well as the almost numberless parallels and intersections of the interior. And although banners and pennons there were of every country, tribe, and hue, the breeze that unfurled them passed over the regions of peace. Pleasure had sent forth her pioneers, and had occupied the ground to some purpose, in the provision of every entertainment the most numerous of her votaries could desire.

Victoria had come to the throne the previous year, aged just 18. Her coronation, organized by the government of Lord Melbourne, was the first to be staged since reforms meant that MPs as well as peers had to witness it.

Melbourne, however, went much further with changes to tradition, lengthening the route of the carriage procession so that it ran, for the first time, from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Abbey. This would enable larger crowds to see it. Carried by the new railways, more than 400,000 people came to London for the occasion, with many visiting the vast fair in Hyde Park.

The five-hour long ceremony itself was marred by the lack of any rehearsal. The Archbishop of Canterbury forced the Queen’s ring onto the wrong finger, and she had to be called back after part of the service was skipped by mistake. Later, she watched the fireworks display in Green Park and the next day went herself to the fair. There would not be another coronation for more than 60 years.