Is it true that Good Queen Mary asked the Pope to send her a specially blessed chair for her Coronation; made of wood, covered with purple velvet and fastened by gilt nails, which is still kept in Winchester Cathedral?
According to the records, Her Majesty was proclaimed as "the most high, most puissant, and most excellent Princess, Mary the First, by the grace of God Queen of England, France and Ireland, Defender of the Faith, and of the Church of England and Ireland supreme head."
"the first" is interesting; on the large tower at Westminster, if my eyes do not deceive me, Victoria is described as 'Victoria Prima'.
6 comments:
Isn't this a contradiction? Asking the Pope to bless her coronation chair, and proclaim herself "of the Church of England and Ireland supreme head".
I notice that in the recent proclamation “ puissant prince” was omitted
I seem to remember reading somewhere that Mary felt St.Edwards throne had been profaned by her heretical brother's coronation.
"of the Church of England and Ireland supreme head" was the title Henry VIII had Parliament enact for himself (and his successors). Mary I had Parliament repeal it as soon as she could. "Puissant prince" was never in accession proclamations. What was omitted in this one was "high and mighty" (because the expression has acquired a certain pejorative character for some people?). The Canadian proclamation, except for "by the grace of God" in the King's actual legal title in Canada, omitted every other mention of God. Even "God Save the King" was replaced by "Long live the King — Vive le Roi".
Richard T thanks for the correction. I think “ puissant prince” used to be in the Proclamation of Styles and Titles, so presumably was omitted in the case of the Queen
A Marquess is styled a puissant prince.
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