ExploringtheroleandsymbolicmeaningoftheCrownJewelsinthecenturies-oldcoronationceremony,TheCoronationshowstheseobjectsofastonishingbeautyinnewhigh-resolutionfootage.ThefilmtellstheextraordinarystoryofStEdward'sCrown,whichwasdestroyedaftertheEnglishCivilWarandremadefortheCoronationofCharlesIIin1661.IthasonlybeenwornbyHerMajestyonce,atthemomentshewascrowned.
On2June1953,ononeofthecoldestJunedaysofthecenturyandafter16monthsofplanning,TheQueensetoutfromBuckinghamPalacetobecrownedatWestminsterAbbey,watchedbymillionsofpeoplethroughouttheworld.AceremonydatingbackmorethanathousandyearswastomarkthedawnofanewElizabethanage.
Viewingbothprivateandofficialfilmfootage,TheQueenrecallsthedaywhentheweightofbothStEdward'sCrownandthehopesandexpectationsofacountryrecoveringfromwarwereonhershoulders,asthenationlookedtotheir27year-oldQueentoleadthemintoanewera.
Inthefilm,TheQueensays:「I'veseenoneCoronation,andbeentherecipientintheother,whichisprettyremarkable.」
ForaudiencesunfamiliarwiththestoryoftheCrownJewelsandtheregalia,thefilmexplainstheircontemporaryrelevancetotheUKasanationandtotheenduringpurposeandtheworkofmonarchy.TheyaresymbolsoftherelationshipbetweentheSovereignandthepeople,andthedutiesandresponsibilitiesofleadership.
Thefilmalsofeatureseyewitnessaccountsofthosewhoparticipatedinthe1953Coronation,includingamaidofhonourwhonearlyfaintedintheAbbey,anda12year-oldchoirboywhowaslefttosingsolowhenhisoverwhelmedcolleagueslosttheirvoices.