TUESDAY 18 APRIL 2023
The National Maritime Museum and Queen’s House will host a series of free events marking the coronation of King Charles III over the bank holiday weekend, including royal-themed tours, picnics on the lawns and a screening of the coronation.
The royal connections to Greenwich date back to Humphrey, Duke of Gloucester, the brother of Henry V, who built his home in the fifteenth century on the site that Charles II gave for the Royal Observatory Greenwich. Greenwich was the birthplace of Henry VIII and Elizabeth I, and in the seventeenth century the Queen’s House was built for the Queen Consorts of James I and Charles I.
The National Maritime Museum was opened in 1937 by the King’s grandfather, George VI, two weeks before his own coronation. He was accompanied by the eleven year old Princess Elizabeth on one of her first official engagements as heir to the throne.
Over the long weekend, there will be free tours and talks in the National Maritime Museum and the Queen’s House, exploring the early history of the Museum, Queen Consorts and the court of Henrietta Maria, wife of Charles I. There will also be an opportunity to step back in time to the reign of Charles II and meet a seventeenth-century astronomer, cartographer and rope-maker.
Additionally, on Monday 8 May Sea Cadets will be attempting to break the Guinness World Record for ‘World’s Largest Boatswain’s Call Lesson’ on the lawns outside the Queen’s House. A boatswain's call is a pipe used on naval ships. Historically, it was used to pass commands that couldn’t be heard over the sounds of the sea and foul weather. It is also used for piping on board important guests, saluting a seafarer retiring from active duty and other significant ceremonies. Sea Cadets units across the country have been challenged to participate in a national task to play the ‘Call the Hands’ tune on the boatswain’s call at the same time on Monday 8 May at 16:00pm to launch The Big Help Out.
CORONATION EVENTS AT ROYAL MUSEUMS GREENWICH
All events are free and subject to staff availability.
FRIDAY 5 MAY
Talks: The Early History of the National Maritime Museum
The National Maritime Museum was opened by the King’s grandfather, George VI, two weeks before his own coronation. He was accompanied by the eleven year old Princess Elizabeth, one of her earliest official engagements as heir to the throne. Join this fifteen minute talk to learn more about the first few years of the National Maritime Museum’s history.
Time: 11.00, 13.00, 15.00
Age: Suitable for all ages
Location: National Maritime Museum
Website: www.rmg.co.uk/coronation
Admission: Free
SATURDAY 6 MAY
Talks: Royal Gallery Favourites
Learn about royal-related objects in fifteen-minute talks across the National Maritime Museum.
Time: 11.00, 13.00
Age: Suitable for all ages
Location: National Maritime Museum
Website: www.rmg.co.uk/coronation
Admission: Free
Talk: The Early History of the National Maritime Museum
The National Maritime Museum was opened by the King’s grandfather, George VI, two weeks before his own coronation. He was accompanied by the eleven year old Princess Elizabeth, one of her earliest official engagements as heir to the throne. Join this fifteen minute talk to learn more about the first few years of the National Maritime Museum’s history.
Time: 15.00
Age: Suitable for all ages
Location: National Maritime Museum
Website: www.rmg.co.uk/coronation
Admission: Free
Talk: Queen Consorts
The Queen’s House was built for Anne of Denmark, Queen Consort to James I, and Henrietta Maria, Queen Consort to Charles I. Learn about these and other Queen Consorts, including Queen Camilla, in these twenty-minute talks.
Age: Suitable for all ages
Location: Queen’s House
Website: www.rmg.co.uk/coronation
Admission: Free
Art: Royal Drawing Workshop
Join a drop-in drawing workshop, focusing on the royal portraiture in the Queen’s House, including Queen Anne in her coronation robes.
Time: 11.00-13.00, 14.00-16.00
Age: Suitable for all ages
Location: Queen’s House
Website: www.rmg.co.uk/coronation
Admission: Free
SUNDAY 7 MAY
Talks: Royal Gallery Favourites
Learn about royal-related objects in fifteen-minute talks across the National Maritime Museum.
Age: Suitable for all ages
Location: National Maritime Museum
Website: www.rmg.co.uk/coronation
Admission: Free
Talk: The Court of Henrietta Maria
The Queen’s House was completed between 1629 and 1638 for the Queen Consort of Charles I, Henrietta Maria. Learn more about her court, her role as a patron of the arts and her relationship with the Queen’s House.
Age: Suitable for all ages
Location: Queen’s House
Website: www.rmg.co.uk/coronation
Admission: Free
Talks: Queen Consorts
The Queen’s House was built for Anne of Denmark, Queen Consort to James I, and Henrietta Maria, Queen Consort to Charles I. Learn about these and other Queen Consorts, including Queen Camilla, in these twenty-minute talks.
Age: Suitable for all ages
Location: Queen’s House
Website: www.rmg.co.uk/coronation
Admission: Free
Step into the Seventeenth Century
Take a step back to the world of Charles II in the grounds of the National Maritime Museum with three seventeenth-century visitors. An astronomer will discuss the prevailing theories about stars and constellations, as understood in the late 1600s. A cartographer will demonstrate traditional instruments used by sailors to help chart the oceans and explore new worlds, and a rope maker will be on-site with a period (replica?) rope machine.
Time: Throughout the day
Age: Suitable for all ages
Location: National Maritime Museum
Website: www.rmg.co.uk/coronation
Admission: Free
Art: Royal Drawing Workshop
Join a drop-in drawing workshop, focusing on the royal portraiture in the Queen’s House, including Queen Anne in her coronation robes.
Time: 11.00-13.00, 14.00-16.00
Age: Suitable for all ages
Location: Queen’s House
Website: www.rmg.co.uk/coronation
Admission: Free
Kids’ Trail and Crown Making Workshop
Children can learn more about the royal history of Greenwich and make their own crowns for the coronation.
Time: Throughout the day
Age: Suitable for all ages?
Location: Re-Think Space, National Maritime Museum
Website: www.rmg.co.uk/coronation
Admission: Free
MONDAY 8 MAY
Sea Cadets Guinness World Record
The Sea Cadets will be attempting to break the Guinness World Record for ‘World’s Largest Boatswain’s Call Lesson’, with between 250 and 300 cadets whistling together.
Time: 15.30-16.00
Age: Suitable for all ages
Location: Central East Lawn, National Maritime Museum
Website: sea-cadets.org
Talks: Royal Gallery Favourites
Learn about royal-related objects in fifteen-minute talks across the National Maritime Museum.
Age: Suitable for all ages
Location: National Maritime Museum
Website: www.rmg.co.uk/coronation
Admission: Free
Talk: The Court of Henrietta Maria
The Queen’s House was completed between 1629 and 1638 for the Queen Consort of Charles I, Henrietta Maria. Learn more about her court, her role as a patron of the arts and her relationship with the Queen’s House.
Age: Suitable for all ages
Location: Queen’s House
Website: www.rmg.co.uk/coronation
Admission: Free
Talk: Charles II and the Van de Veldes
Before Charles III, Charles I and II were patrons of the arts. In 1676, Charles II granted a studio in the Queen’s House to Willem van de Velde the Elder and his son, Willem van de Velde the Younger, two renowned Dutch artists who established the English school of marine painting. Discover how the royal patrons influenced their work.
Age: Suitable for all ages
Location: Queen’s House
Website: www.rmg.co.uk/coronation
Admission: Free
Art: Royal Drawing Workshop
Join a drop-in drawing workshop, focusing on the royal portraiture in the Queen’s House, including Queen Anne in her coronation robes.
Time: 11.00-13.00, 14.00-16.00
Age: Suitable for all ages
Location: Queen’s House
Website: www.rmg.co.uk/coronation
Admission: Free
NOTES TO EDITORS
- Royal Museums Greenwich incorporates the National Maritime Museum, the 17th-century Queen’s House, Royal Observatory Greenwich and the famous clipper ship Cutty Sark. This unique collection of museums and heritage buildings form a key part of the Maritime Greenwich UNESCO World Heritage Site and is also a major centre of education and research. The mission of Royal Museums Greenwich is to enrich people’s understanding of the sea, the exploration of space, and Britain's role in world history. For more information, visit www.rmg.co.uk.
- Sea Cadets is the UK's largest maritime youth charity, inspiring 9-18 year olds to achieve their potential through challenge and nautical adventure, guided by the customs and traditions of today’s Royal Navy. Working across the UK in over 400 units with some 14,000 young people, we help them develop into resilient, confident young people who can launch well in life, whatever their background.
For further information or images please contact
Royal Museums Greenwich Press Office
Tel: 020 8312 6545
Email: press@rmg.co.uk