
On 17 November 1558, Elizabeth I ascended the throne of England, following the death of her half-sister Mary I. Elizabeth was residing at Hatfield Palace, Hertfordshire, at the time of her accession, and it was here that the Privy Council gathered throughout the day. A new administration was formed, with appointments to various roles and positions of those who had previously demonstrated loyalty and allegiance, and arrangements began to made regarding new appointments within her household (Weir, 1999).
Six days later, on 23 November 1558, Elizabeth left Hatfield for London, making her way through Hertfordshire and Middlesex. She was accompanied by a retinue of over 1000 courtiers, including those that had gathered at Hatfield; these included Robert Dudley, a long-time friend and ally of the new queen, whom she had appointed him as her Master of Horse, and his elder brother Ambrose Dudley, as Master of the Ordnance, both of whom would play central roles at her coronation procession (Weir, 1999; Gristwood, 2009). Elizabeth initially stayed at The Charterhouse for five nights, a newly-constructed grand mansion on the site of a former Carthusian monastery in Smithfield, just outside the city gates of London (Map of Early Modern London, 2025).

It was from The Charterhouse, on 28 November, that Elizabeth made her formal entry into the City of London, and on to the Tower of London; one of the many who accompanied her from Smithfield was Thomas Howard, 4th Duke of Norfolk, who had remained in London during the first days of the new reign. As the only Duke in Elizabeth's reign, and a distant cousin of the new queen (through her mother's Howard ancestry), Howard took precedent in the procession to the Tower above all other courtiers, including his future rival Robert Dudley. Significant crowds lined the streets to the Tower, singing and cheering the procession as it passed, with hundreds of church bells pealing and trumpeters announcing the queen's triumphant arrival in the capital (Williams, 1964; Weir, 1999). During the following six weeks, Elizabeth moved to a variety of different properties across London and Westminster, including Somerset House and Whitehall Palace, her favourite residence, where she spent Christmas 1558. The new queen and her administration wasted no time in establishing a routine; holding Privy Council meetings, hosting formal receptions (including for foreign ambassadors), and visiting and dining with courtiers. Even Mary's funeral, held on 14 December at Westminster Abbey, did little to interrupt the workings of this new regime (Weir, 1999). One of Elizabeth's earliest decisions regarding her approach to England's religious policy came at Christmas, when a pronouncement was issued, confirming that parts of the mass were henceforth to be said in English and not Latin; this decision signalled a shift towards Protestantism, which was later reflected in the coronation proceedings (de Lisle, 2013). Arrangements for the ceremony and subsequent celebrations were made by the council over the Christmas period. In addition, significant amounts of cloth of gold and silver, satin, velvet, and silk were imported, and fashioned into hangings, banners and clothings for those participating in the upcoming events, with additional alterations being made to Mary's existing coronation gowns. The cost was significant, with the fabrics costing in excess of £4000, whilst the celebrations cost in excess of £16,000 (Somerset, 1991; Weir, 1999).

The appointment of a Protestant monarch had been welcomed by many in England and the continent, with many 'Marian Exiles' now able to safely to return to their homes, without fear of reprisal; these included Elizabeth's cousin Catherine Carey, her husband Sir Francis Knollys, and their youngest children (Tallis, 2017). However, there were those, at home and abroad, who did not welcome this new reign, being aware that it would bring further religious reform; this included the French Catholic astrologer and 'seer' Michel Nostradamus, who foresaw Elizabeth's accession as 'catastrophic' for those in England and on the continent (Whitelock, 2013). In response to this potentially-ruinous narrative, Elizabeth reportedly employed the services of John Dee - mathematician, astrologer, necromancer and 'magician'. Dee was well known to Robert Dudley, having been involved in his early education, and being likely responsible for his life-long interest in mathematics, and subsequently cartography. Dee had remained close to Dudley and his family into their adult lives, as well later being involved in the education of Dudley's favoured nephew, Sir Philip Sidney (French, 1972). Whether it was as a result of Dudley's praise, or his championing of his former tutor to the queen, but Dee was entrusted with performing horoscopes in a bid to invalidate the 'predictions' from the French Court, alleviate anxieties, and to promote the belief that Elizabeth would have a long and successful reign. It was also Dee who reportedly chose the date of the coronation, in accordance with his calculations: 15 January 1559 (de Lisle, 2013; Whitelock, 2013).

On 12 January 1559, Elizabeth made her way up river to the Tower from Whitehall Palace, where it was tradition that English monarchs would stay prior to their coronation, as her mother had done before her in 1533 (Somerset, 1991). Two days later, on the morning of 14 January, the royal court, including Privy Councillors, began to congregate outside the Tower, whilst Elizabeth continued to dine in the Royal Apartments. After lunchtime, Elizabeth joined the assembled thousand-strong company, and the horseback procession left the Tower by the early afternoon (Weir, 1999; de Lisle, 2013). Two of the principal ladies in this magnificent procession were Elizabeth's cousin Margaret Douglas, Countess of Lennox, and Margaret Audley, the newly married Duchess of Norfolk. They rode side-by-side, leading the group of thirty-nine ladies, all of whom were dressed in crimson velvet and gold gowns (Williams, 1964; Weir, 1999).

Elizabeth was dressed in the altered coronation gowns, over which sat a large mantle of gold and silver cloth, trimmed with ermine; these layers and a canopy being carried over her, attempting to protect herself from the cold January air (Somerset, 1991). She was carried in an open litter, it being decorated with white satin trimmed with gold, which was pulled by 'two handsome mules'; one of these mules was led by Ambrose Dudley. His younger brother, Robert Dudley, as her Master of Horse, rode directly behind Elizabeth, leading the rest of the procession (Gristwood, 2009), As de Lisle (2013, p.305) reflects, the brothers's new positions, close to the queen's person, were "a reminder...that many of the unpopular Edwardian elite were back in power". The procession made its way from the Tower, through the City of London, on way to its final destination: Westminster and her favourite palace of Whitehall. The procession travelled through the streets of Blackfriars, Cheapside, St Paul's and then down Fleet Street and The Strand, past the Cheapside Cross and St Paul's Cathedral, where thousands of people lined the streets to catch a glimpse of their new queen. Multiple small pageants and plays were performed, with musicians also lining the route. As the procession passed through the city streets, it paused at five different points, where more elaborate, theatrically-staged pageants were performed for the queen: Gracechurch Street, Cornhill, Soper Lane, Little Conduit and Fleet Street (LEAF at Bucknell, 2024).

These allegorical performances were not only in celebration of her upcoming coronation, but also intended to provide a powerful message to those in attendance. The pageants depicted Elizabeth's family history and heritage, cementing her legitimacy as a daughter of Henry VIII and rightful successor, as well as representing the perceived virtues of a monarch which were required for a long and successful reign (de Lisle, 2013; LEAF at Bucknell, 2024). There was a clear Protestant message presented throughout, with criticism of the 'True Faith' (that is Catholicism), and embracement of the newer Reformist beliefs. Following her arrival at Cheapside, Elizabeth was given a copy of an English Bible, which she kissed, raised aloft and then held to her breast, promising to read and study it attentively (Gristwood, 2009; Whitelock, 2013).

The following morning, Sunday 15 January 1559, Elizabeth walked the short distance from Westminster Hall, to Westminster Abbey, accompanied by ladies of her household. These included her cousin Catherine Carey, Lady Knollys, who on her return to England had subsequently appointed as a Lady of the Bedchamber. Two of Catherine's daughters, 15 year old Lettice and 9 year old Elizabeth, both of whom who had been gifted coronation livery, also accompanied the new queen; Lettice had been also recently been granted a place in Elizabeth's household, as a Gentlewoman of the Privy Chamber, with Elizabeth later being appointed to the same role in 1566 (Tallis 2017; Folgerpedia, 2025). Despite known animosity towards her Grey cousins, 18 year old Catherine Grey, was also present at the coronation, albeit in a lower role, given her recent demotion from the privy chamber to the presence chamber, the position she held during Mary I's reign. Her younger sister, Mary Grey, does not appear to have been present, nor their mother, Frances Brandon, the Dowager Duchess of Suffolk (de Lisle, 2008).

Walking in the crisp January air, the Norfolks played a visible role: walking in front of the queen, holding St Edward's Crown, was the Duke of Norfolk, with Elizabeth's train being carried by Margaret, the newly married Duchess. A rich blue carpet had been laid on the snow-covered ground on the short route taken by Elizabeth, who was protected from the elements by a canopy held over her. As soon as their new monarch had passed them, gathered crowds started to pull apart at the carpet, causing Margaret to trip and stumble, and almost be knocked to the ground (Williams, 1964; Weir, 1999).

Elizabeth herself was again dressed in her sister's altered coronation robes, over which sat an elaborate mantle of embroidered silk, lined with ermine and gold. Her bare head, with her long strawberry blond hair falling loose around her shoulders, was initially covered with a crimson velvet cap, embellished with gold and pearls. However, following her being anointed with holy oil, a central and spiritual part of the coronation ceremony, Elizabeth changed into a crimson velvet gown, which was covered with a gold mantle, coordinating with the livery that had been provided to her ladies (Weir, 1999; Tallis, 2017).
The coronation service was conducted by Bishop of Carlisle, Owen Oglethorpe. It had initially been difficult to identify a bishop to perform the ceremony, given the recent shift from her sister Mary's overt Catholic policies; many of the high-ranking bishops had been removed from their posts, given their ongoing dedication to the Catholic faith, and these positions had not yet been filled (Williams, 1964). Elizabeth's coronation combined elements of tradition and reform, in keeping with her approach to religious policy. There were parts of the ceremony spoken in Latin, although the gospel and epistle were read in both Latin and English. The decision was also made by Elizabeth to take communion behind a screen, as to not overtly display her beliefs surrounding the Eucharist (Somerset, 1991; de Lisle, 2013).
At the top of the ceremony, Elizabeth took the coronation oath, in which she pledged to dedicate her life to upholding the laws of the land and church. The ceremony then progressed with the queen being anointed, and then crowned, initially with St Edward's Crown, and then with the smaller Imperial Crown (potentially made for her mother Anne Boleyn's coronation in 1533) (Somerset, 1991; Weir, 1999). The final part of the coronation ceremony came when Bishop Oglethorpe paid homage to Elizabeth following his crowning of her. Norfolk was the first to follow Oglethorpe, given his Dukedom, being the first of the Lords and Peers to pay homage and give their allegiance to their newly-crowned monarch (Williams, 1964).

Following the completion of the ceremony, Elizabeth walked out of the west door of the Abbey, holding the orb and sceptre in one hand, and St Edward's Crown in the other, whilst continuing to wear the Imperial Crown: all symbols of her new anointed sovereign power. The coronation party made their way back to Westminster Hall; Norfolk and his father-in-law Henry FitzAlan, 12th Earl of Arundel, as appointed Earl Marshal and Lord Steward respectively, had left the abbey before the end of the ceremony, in order to complete these final preparations. A sumptuous banquet was subsequently held, which lasted 10 hours - from three o'clock in the afternoon until 1 o'clock the following morning (Williams, 1964; Weir, 1999). Further festivities were planned for the following day, including a tournament; however, this was delayed a day, due to Elizabeth suffering from a cold, and feeling tired from the previous day's exertions. From Tuesday 17 January, celebrations subsequently continued over the next few days, with banquets, masques, dancing and jousts being held to commemorate the beginning of her new reign, Robert Dudley being one of the primary competitors (Weir, 1999).
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