Rare official royal summons for the coronation of King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra, signed “Edward R.,” one page, 8 x 11.75, June 2 [1902]. The summons, issued to Hamilton Cuffe, 5th Earl of Desart, reads: “Whereas the twenty sixth day of June next is appointed for the Solemnity of Our Royal Coronation. These are to Will and Command you and the Countess your wife (all excuses set apart) to make your personal attendance on Us at the time abovementioned, furnished and appointed as to your Rank and Quality appertaineth, there to do and perform all such Services as shall be required and belong unto you respectively. Whereof you and she are not to fail. And so We bid you most heartily farewell. Given at Our Court at St. James’s this second day of June in the second year of Our Reign.” Signed in the upper border by the king and countersigned below by the Duke of Norfolk. In very good to fine condition, with some foxing and toning to the lightly trimmed top edge.
The coronation of Edward VII and his wife, Alexandra, as king and queen of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions took place at Westminster Abbey, London, on August 9, 1902. The coronation was originally scheduled for June 26th, as this summons states, but it was postponed with very short notice when the King took ill with an abdominal abscess that required immediate surgery.
In place of the coronation, a ‘solemn service of intercession’ was held at St Paul's Cathedral on June 26th, and was attended by many of the British and foreign dignitaries who were in London for the celebration. Determined to keep his promise to his people, Edward was insistent that regional celebrations and a planned ‘Coronation Dinner for the Poor of London’ should go ahead. Organized by Sir Thomas Lipton, 500,000 dinners were served to Londoners on July 5th at 800 locations around the capital, with the King personally contributing £30,000 toward the cost.
Royal summons to coronations rarely appear at market, with this being the first Edward VII example that we have ever offered.
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