Celebrating Coronations - Royal Grammar School Newcastle

Explore how the Royal Grammar School, Newcastle has marked the crowning of a new monarch, since 1911.

1911: King George V & Queen Mary

The Newcastle Town Hall decorated for King George V's Coronation. Photograph taken by an RGS student in the Photographic Society, published in NOVO magazine, July 1911. [RGS Archives, ref: RGS/NOV/134]

Newcastle celebrated the coronation in 1911 with a whole "Coronation Week" - the decorations on the Town Hall captured perfectly here by a student in the RGS Photographic Society.

Three special Coronation Prizes for essays were given out to students by the Lord Mayor at the 1911 prize-giving ceremony.

According to the Novo magazine, an ON had been commissioned to write an official history of the 1911 coronation. The project undertaken by Mr C Gray was approved by His Majesty the King.

Another ON, William Plender, was awarded a knighthood at the coronation.

An RGS student was lucky enough to witness the Royal Procession in London on the day of the coronation on 22 June 1911:

"Now to the procession itself! I think the most striking thing in it was the great State coach in which the King and Queen rode. The contingent of Beef-eaters, dressed in quaint old-world costume, was very interesting. I recognised Lord Kitchener, Lord Roberts, and Sir Evelyn Wood among the military men present. I was surprised by the apparent apathy of the London people, who are not in the least enthusiastic. A Newcastle crowd would have created twice the amount of noise - indeed, when King Edward and Queen Alexandra came to Newcastle, I am sure the cheering was louder than that in Piccadilly yesterday, although, of course, there was no comparison between the two crowds in numbers."

NOVO, July 1911

1937: King George VI

For King George VI’s coronation, RGS celebrated by giving students a copy of the official coronation book. Ours were printed with special RGS binding, and a bookplate inside.

This copy was presented to ON Guy MacAlister Dowson (1931-1939) whilst at school.

A Coronation Assembly was also held, and a souvenir booklet produced.

*Coronation Assembly, RGS Visitors Book, page dated 11th May 1937. Illustrated by Cecil Marfitt-Smith (1929-1971) [RGS Archives, ref: 319]*

The RGS CCF marked the coronation:

"On Coronation Tuesday the contingent paraded, with the Vice-Chairman of the Governors taking the salute. Immediately after this parade, the CSM, the Drum-Major and Sgt Grieve, as official representatives of the Contingent at the Coronation, left for London, where they saw the processions from reserved places on the Queen Victoria Memorial."

NOVO, July 1937

Copy of the book King George VI, written on the occasion of his coronation by Dorothy Margaret Stuart,1937. In special RGS binding, with bookplate inside fly-leaf. Presented to ON Guy MacAlister Dowson (1931-39) whilst at school. [RGS Archives, ref: Acc 0291]

1953: Queen Elizabeth II

*Coronation Concert programme, 5 Jun 1953 [RGS Archives, ref: 171] ©RGS Newcastle*

RGS celebrated the coronation in a variety of ways. The CCF Infantry and Basic section were asked to parade with the band in the main Coronation procession through Newcastle on 6 June.

A Coronation Concert was also held at City Hall on the evening of 5 June, with performances from the RGS First Orchestra and choir, alongside the choir of Church High School. The finale was a performance of Handel's Coronation Ode, The King Shall Rejoice.

One RGS student, R Hall, recalls witnessing the coronation procession in London:

On June 2nd my father and I were among some of the fortunate thousands who were able to view the Coronation with their own eyes. The golden State coach was preceded by the Household Cavalry and escorted by the Yeomen of the Guard. The saying, 'Seeing is believing', had real meaning at this moment, for the Queen was just what one imagines in those 'once-upon-a-time' fairy tales."

NOVO, July 1953

Another student in London for the coronation was lucky to catch a "private view" of the new queen:

"What will be our most wonderful memory of this Coronation year? For many, it will be the sight of the Queen in the full pomp and pageantry of the Coronation Service and procession with thousands looking on. For my family, the unforgettable memory will be of seeing her in the seclusion of her private sitting-room in the Royal Train with only her husband beside her. No crowds were looking on and not another person was in sight"

NOVO, July 1953

2023: King Charles III

RGS celebrated King Charles III's coronation with a special assembly.

Students in Senior School were given a special postcard in form time, where they were asked to write what they thought would be the most significant change to the world in King Charles III's reign.

Junior School students received souvenirs of the coronation, including a special engraved wooden medal.

*Souvenir wooden medal, for the Coronation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla, 6 May 2023. RGS Archives*

Coronation Honours

A number of Old Novocastrians have had honours conferred to them on the occasion of a coronation.

John Scott was made Earl of Eldon in 1821 at the coronation of George IV.
His brother William Scott, was made Baron Stowell at the same ceremony.
William Plender was knighted at King George V's coronation in 1911.