Windsor monarchy
English monarchy has reached the 21st century, and has to face its use of media and public interest. Therefore, the Windsor monarchy looks back to the middle ages. It has got to appeal to a mass audience and does this by being self-consciously popular. It uses weddings, birthdays, jubilees, and other sorts of festivities, to stage them on a public scale. The last wedding, for instance, that was celebrated in St. Paul’s Cathedral was Arthur and Katherine of Aragon’s wedding in 1501. The first to do this again were Prince Charles and Princess Diana in 1981. In between those two, royal weddings were held in the chapel royal, which means in private.
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Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee
The royal barge Gloriana leading the royal flotilla
But now, the monarchy needs new, popular, ceremonies in order to appeal to a mass audience. In 2012, the Queen celebrated her 60th anniversary on the English throne. Besides other festivities, a grand water pageant was held on the Thames. “The flotilla was divided into ten squadrons, each representing different types of craft. Leading off were the 264 manpowered boats – rowed and paddled – setting the pace for the flotilla. Following behind, in order of departure, were the 54 Sea Cadet ‘Commonwealth boats’, the Royal Squadron; Dunkirk Little Ships; historic boats, service and working boats and barges, and Thames Passenger boats” (Thames Alive, 2013).
This was a comparable, but modernised version of Tudor river pageants. In contrast to them, every citizen of Great Britain could attend the procession by ship. Every common man could send a request, and if they were selected, they were part of the show.
This was a comparable, but modernised version of Tudor river pageants. In contrast to them, every citizen of Great Britain could attend the procession by ship. Every common man could send a request, and if they were selected, they were part of the show.
('The Queen's Jubilee Pageant in all its glory', by The Telegraph. See: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2dVPTVGyl4s)
Other events
Henry VIII's look-alike on the 'Jubilant'
Besides these royal processions, the Thames is used for some other events that are linked to the history of river and the monarchy, such as The Tudor Pull, or the 500th anniversary of King Henry VIII.
On 20th June, 2009 Thames Alive, in association with Historic Royal Palaces staged a river pageant on the Thames to celebrate the 500th anniversary of King Henry VIII’s coronation. Traditional barges, shallops and cutters, all decorated with flags and banners rowed from the Tower to Hampton Court Palace.
"Pride of place in the flotilla was given to the royal Shallop Jubilant, which carried Henry and his royal trumpets, while every boat in the pageant wore a specially designed white and green flag defaced by a gold fleur de lys, displaying Henry’s coat of arms as ‘The French King’. Crews were issued with specially designed T-shirts and a bright red Tudor style hat, which gave a unified and distinctive feel to whole flotilla. The Lady Mayoress followed behind the Jubilant with Henry’s first wife, Catherine of Aragon" (Thames Alive).
On 20th June, 2009 Thames Alive, in association with Historic Royal Palaces staged a river pageant on the Thames to celebrate the 500th anniversary of King Henry VIII’s coronation. Traditional barges, shallops and cutters, all decorated with flags and banners rowed from the Tower to Hampton Court Palace.
"Pride of place in the flotilla was given to the royal Shallop Jubilant, which carried Henry and his royal trumpets, while every boat in the pageant wore a specially designed white and green flag defaced by a gold fleur de lys, displaying Henry’s coat of arms as ‘The French King’. Crews were issued with specially designed T-shirts and a bright red Tudor style hat, which gave a unified and distinctive feel to whole flotilla. The Lady Mayoress followed behind the Jubilant with Henry’s first wife, Catherine of Aragon" (Thames Alive).
('Henry VIII's coronation weekend', Video by Thames Alive. )
What comes next?
We have seen how the Tudor monarchs pioneered pageantry on the Thames and used the river as a stage for their political interests. After years of seperation of river and monarchy, it seems as if the Windsor Royals re-establish festivities and pageants on the Thames. So it's getting interesting to find out what comes next. We'll see...
(Find out more about Thames events, even though not royal?)
(Find out more about Thames events, even though not royal?)