Coronation of William & Mary ~ the first British monarchs to be crowned as equals, and reign together as King and Queen of England, Scotland and Ireland
William III and Mary II were England’s first joint sovereigns, with Mary sharing equal status and power.
William and Mary came to the throne after the “Glorious Revolution” of 1688 when Mary’s father, James II, was deposed for trying to enforce Catholic tolerance in England.
The King and Queen ruled jointly from 1689 until Mary’s death aged 32, in 1694.
William and Mary were cousins, sharing King Charles I and Queen Henrietta Maria, as grandparents.
Mary’s marriage prospects, as a potential future heir to the English throne, had been hotly debated since she was a young child.
William of Orange and Mary were married on 4th November 1677, aged 15 and 26 respectively ~ in Mary’s bedchamber at St James’s Palace.
In January 1689, William summoned a Convention of Lords and MPs in which he asserted that he would reign as king in his own right ~ not as his wife’s consort.
Mary, as the daughter of King James II and his first wife Anne Hyde was queen in her own right, but she loyally supported William’s wish, and it was agreed that they should be joint sovereigns.
William would also remain as sole monarch, should Anne die before him.
William and Mary were crowned as joint monarchs on 11th April 1689 in Westminster Abbey.
William was seated in the ancient Coronation Chair during the ceremony, and another chair was specially made for Mary to sit in.
William was crowned with the traditional sovereign’s regalia including the St Edward’s Crown and a new set of regalia was made for Mary.
Mary’s regalia is still on display among the Crown Jewels at the Tower of London, and have not been used since.
? King William III and Queen Mary II
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