The coronation of Edward IV in June 1461 presents a unique case in the ritual history of English monarchy. While officially crowned once, Edward’s accession involved a sequence of three distinct ceremonial events over three consecutive days. These events illustrate not only the political volatility of the Wars of the Roses, but also the intricate ways in which ritual, superstition, and public image were employed to secure legitimacy.
First coronation: Sunday, 28 June 1461
Edward IV was crowned at Westminster Abbey on Sunday, 28 June 1461, following his decisive victory at the Battle of Towton and the deposition of Henry VI. The ceremony was officiated by Archbishop Thomas Bourchier and marked the formal commencement of Edward’s reign. However, the choice of a Sunday for the coronation was controversial. In the medieval mindset, Sunday was a holy day reserved for worship and rest, and conducting a major political rite on that day was considered inauspicious. As Peter E. Schramm discusses in A History of the English Coronation (1937), the timing of coronation ceremonies was often dictated by liturgical calendars and superstition, with particular attention to omens and divine approval.
Second ceremony: Monday, 29 June 1461
To mitigate the perceived ill fortune of a Sunday coronation, a second ceremonial act reportedly took place the following day. Chroniclers such as John Stow, in his Annales, describe that Edward “was crowned again” at Westminster Abbey on Monday, 29 June. This was not a full repetition of the coronation but likely a symbolic re-enactment or blessing. The purpose was to reaffirm the sanctity and legitimacy of Edward’s rule in a more theologically appropriate setting. This kind of ritual repetition was rare, but not without precedent, particularly when monarchs sought to reinforce their divine right to rule amidst contested claims.
Third ceremony: Tuesday, 30 June 1461
The final act in the coronation sequence occurred on Tuesday, 30 June, at St Paul’s Cathedral in London. According to Stow and other contemporary accounts, Edward appeared publicly in full regalia and participated in a ceremonial service of thanksgiving. This event allowed the citizens of London to witness their new king and reinforced his authority through the Church’s visible endorsement. The location and audience of this third event suggest it was intended as a public reaffirmation of kingship, blending civic ritual with religious sanctification.