AND the most anticipated Royal auction of the year, the one organized by Christie’s in London next October. An opportunity to acquire a piece of British history: they will, in fact, be put up for auction 12 oak chairs, complete with the monogram of the king and queen, used by guests (around 2 thousand) inside Westminster Abbey during the Coronation ceremony of King Charles III on May 6th. Just as was done for the chairs of his investiture as Prince of Wales, way back in July 1969.
The “mysterious” chairs of the Coronation of King Charles III
Christie’s has decided, however, to sell the chairs accompanied by a secret that will never be revealed. After being inundated with inquiries about the occupants of each chair inside Westminster Abbey (a head of state? Perhaps a Royal relative?), the auction house has made the decision to sell them all without “names”, in in order to keep prices stable and not trigger a real upward war.
The proceeds will go to charity
The auction is aimed at an international audience and will end on November 3, but those in London will be able to see them in person in an exhibition that will be held from 24 to 30 October. The starting price is around 4 thousand pounds (just under 5 thousand euros). THEthe proceeds will be donated to four British charities, personally chosen by Carlo and Camilla and dedicated mainly to the homeless and the youngest (The Prince’s Trust And The Prince’s Foundation, founded by Carlo himself, SafeLives and Emmaus UK).
Queen Elizabeth’s Coronation Chairs
All the chairs that crowded Westminster on the occasion of Elizabeth’s Coronation in June 1953 have not yet been sold. At the time, Buckingham Palace had decided to sell them to recover at least part of the expenses for the solemn ceremony but the chairs, continued to pop up over the decades. After all, Elizabeth had not done things quietly, with 8 thousand guests in the Abbey alone. The most recent were sold last April, a few weeks after Charles’ Coronation, for around £6,000 each.
Souvenirs of the Coronation of Charles III are still little sought after
Souvenirs from the day of Charles’ Coronation are not yet in high demand and can be purchased online for a few tens of pounds, but experts warn: the situation can change at any moment. Advice? Better to keep everything that has to do with as real treasures the event of May 6, 2023. From invitations illustrated by artist Andrew Jamieson, to sacred ones Order of Service of the ceremony, up to the menus and napkins of the lunch at Buckingham Palace. One day they could be worth a fortune.
King Charles and Queen Camilla on their coronation day, 6 May 2023 (Hugo Burnand/Royal Household 2023/PA Wire/Avalon)
How much will the Coronation Quiche of Carlo?
Collectors from all over the world have also set their sights on the leftovers from the Royal lunch organized at Buckingham Palace following the ceremony in Westminster. The precedents are not to be ignored: an old slice of cake from Carlo and Camilla’s wedding, celebrated in 2005, it made the owner who put it up for auction over £1500. Excellent potential, therefore, for Coronation Quichethe dish created specifically for the Coronation of Carlo. In about twenty years, although not edible, it could prove to be a gold mine.
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