Enjoy the Coronation at the Cathedral

Salisbury Cathedral is screening the Coronation and the Coronation Procession live from 09:30 on Saturday, 6th May.

This most historic of Anglican services, which dates back to William the Conqueror (the first monarch to be crowned in Westminster Abbey), is to be shown on the big screen in the Cathedral Nave and two 65” TV screens in the North and South Transepts.

The screening will be followed at 13.00 by an afternoon of music and dancing on the West Front (or in the Cloisters in the event of rain) with music provided by Swing Unlimited Big Band.

The programme, which includes the Alcock Sisters trio, features songs made famous by Ella Fitzgerald, Glenn Miller, Count Basie and Frank Sinatra, with one or two Blues Brothers numbers to complete the list. Lindy Hop and Jive fans are welcome to join us, and a barbecue and bar will be provided.

Throughout the week of the Coronation (from Tuesday, 2nd May), the replica of Queen Elizabeth II’s Coronation robe created by a team of 24 Cathedral Flower arrangers will be displayed in St Lawrence’s Chapel.

First shown during the Cathedral’s 2022 Flower Festival, this gorgeous exhibit is made from dyed and natural pampas grass, with gilded ruscus leaves, ferns and helichrysum flowers.

Following its showing in the Cathedral, the replica robe will be taken to Sandringham, where it will take centre stage during the nine-day Sandringham in Bloom show, which runs from Saturday, 3rd June and Sunday, 11th June.

Normal visitor charging will be suspended during the morning screening but resumes in the afternoon.

Preparations for Coronation Day begin the week before with daily Bunting Making activities for children and adults on the West Lawn (or in the Cloisters in the event of rain) between 10.00 – 15.00 from Saturday 29 April. The finished bunting will be hung in the Cloisters on Friday 5 May in time for the Coronation Day opening.

The Education and Outreach team are also offering Crown Making activities for preschool children (Under 4s) in the South Nave Aisle of the Cathedral from 10.00 – 12.00 on Friday, 5th May, complete with a Selfie throne for small kings and queens.

Crown Making and the Selfie Throne will also be available on Coronation Day (Saturday, 6th May), when the team will be set up in the Cloisters.

There’s also a special exhibition in the medieval Cathedral Library during Coronation week.
Encounters with Kings features treasures that have connections to kings of the past from among the thousands of ancient books and documents held in the Cathedral’s Library and Archive.

The exhibition is open every day from 10:30-12:30 and 13:30-15:30 on Saturday, 29th April, to Friday, 5th May. Sunday, 30th April, the opening is from 13:39-15:30 only.

Entry is included in the Cathedral admission, but the number of visitors that can be accommodated at any one time in the Cathedral Library is limited due to space, so you may be asked to queue for entry during busy periods. Please also note that no dogs are allowed in the Library, which is accessed by 37 steps up a steep and uneven spiral staircase.

Feature Image: Henk Leerin