On this day in history, 31st May 1533, a special procession took place through the streets of London: the coronation procession of Queen Anne Boleyn.
It was the eve of Anne’s coronation and at 5pm the pregnant queen departed from the Tower of London to make her way to Westminster Hall.
The procession included pageants, orations, music, wine and more, and you can read my detailed post on the procession, which includes maps to show the route of the procession and also primary source descriptions of the pageants involved, by clicking here.
It must have been a wonderful day, lots to see and enjoy, lots of noise and colour and free wine. Anne looked magnificent and pulled it off, but she must have been exhausted in the heat, lots of robes and heavily pregnant.
The sad thing about the coronation was that she did not know that her triumph was the beginning of her downfall – such is the wheel of fortune !