Six coronations in the movies

It might be 70 years since we’ve seen a real-life coronation in the UK, but in the movies people have been being crowned pretty regularly in the meantime.

So, to whet your appetite for the real-deal, here are six coronation scenes from famous films. How many of these have you seen?

Elizabeth (1998, Shekhar Kapur)

Director Shekhar Kapur’s film about the early years of Elizabeth I’s reign (1558 - 1603) was a box-office hit in 1998, despite facing some criticism for taking some liberties with the facts. For example, in the film Mary of Guise (mother of Mary, Queen of Scots) is depicted as being assassinated by Sir Francis Walsingham, but she actually died of natural causes.

Unable to film in Westminster Abbey, Kapur shot Elizabeth (Cate Blanchett) being crowned Queen of England, Ireland and France at York Minster.

Her spectacular coronation robes were closely based on Queen Elizabeth’s coronation portrait, a copy of which is in the National Portrait Gallery.

Macbeth (Justin Kurzel, 2015)

Macbeth’s doomed lust for power has been depicted in a number of movie adaptations, from Orson Welles’s ‘traditional’ version in 1948 to Japanese director Akira Kurosawa’s samurai-themed take on the tale, Throne Of Blood, in 1957.

Director Justin Kurzel’s 2015 adaptation, which starred Michael Fassbender as the overly-ambitious nobleman and Marion Cotillard as his equally power-crazed wife, was praised by critics both for its performances and its spectacular visuals.

But in all of them the moment when Macbeth is finally crowned, after murdering King Duncan, is a tragic turning point. Macbeth has what he wants, but at what terrible cost?

The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement (Garry Marshall, 2004)

The first Princess Diaries movie, released in 2001, was a surprise smash hit. Despite what some critics saw as slightly stereotyped ideas (a young American girl discovers she’s heir to the throne of a tiny European nation – she’s a princess, no less!) audiences lapped up this tale that has echoes of My Fair Lady.

For the inevitable sequel, director Garry Marshall upped the royal ante, with Mia (Anne Hathaway) not only being finally crowned Queen of Genovia at the end of the film, but also finding love.

The Young Victoria (Jean-Marc Valee, 2009)

Sarah, Duchess of York came up with the original idea for this account of the early years of Queen Victoria, and the movie was written by Downton Abbey screenwriter Julian Fellowes.

During the relatively brief coronation scene (in which Lincoln Cathedral doubles for Westminster Abbey) Victoria (Emily Blunt) exchanges coy glances with Prince Albert (Rupert Friend), whom she would marry two years later.

Black Panther (Ryan Coogler, 2018)

While most coronations are relatively sedate affairs, in the fictional nation of Wakanda they occasionally involve brutal physical combat. Well, it is a Marvel movie…

After the death of his father, T’Challa (Chadwick Boseman) returns to the secret nation of Wakanda to assume the crown but is challenged to ritual combat by tribal rival M’Baku (Winston Duke). The winner is given a ceremonial necklace and is proclaimed king and Black Panther.

The Lion King (Roger Allers & Rob Minkoff, 1994)

Becoming king involves a tough journey for young cub Simba (voiced by Matthew Broderick) in the 1994 animated classic from Disney. The son of King Mufasa and Queen Sarabi, he’s destined to become leader of the pride.

The big problem is that his uncle Scar (Jeremy Irons) covets the throne himself. And he’ll do almost anything to get it.

Thankfully Scar’s plans are foiled and, though there isn’t actually a crown involved, Simba finally assumes his rightful place as king of the pride to the swelling orchestral score. I’m not crying, you’re crying!

This article was published in April 2023