Conjuring Up a King The Use of Magic and Ritual in the Coronation of King Charles III

Title
Conjuring Up a King The Use of Magic and Ritual in the Coronation of King Charles III
Publication Date
2023
Author(s)
Hackett, Lisa J
( author )
OrcID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0900-3078
Email: lhacket4@une.edu.au
UNE Id une-id:lhacket4
Coghlan, Jo
( author )
OrcID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6361-6713
Email: jcoghla3@une.edu.au
UNE Id une-id:jcoghla3
Type of document
Journal Article
Language
en
Entity Type
Publication
Publisher
Queensland University of Technology, Creative Industries Faculty
Place of publication
Australia
UNE publication id
une:1959.11/56249
Abstract

The coronation of King Charles III was steeped in the tradition of magic and ritual that has characterised English, and later British, coronations. The very idea of a coronation leverages belief in divinity; however, the coronation of Charles III occurred in a very different social environment than those of monarchs a millennium ago. Today, belief in the divine right of Kings is dramatically reduced. In this context, magic can also be thought of as a stage performance that relies on a tacit understanding between audience and actor, where disbelief is suspended in order to achieve the effect. This paper will examine the use of ritual and magic in the coronation ceremony. It will discuss how the British royal family has positioned its image in relation to the concept of magic and how social changes have brought the very idea of monarchy into question.

Link
Citation
M / C Journal, 26(5), p. 1-7
ISSN
1441-2616
Start page
1
End page
7
Rights
Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International

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