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It might be 70 years since we鈥檝e 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)

The coronation scene from the film Elizabeth, in which Cate Blanchett plays Queen Elizabeth I.
Image caption,
Throne goal. Cate Blanchett gets to sit in the big chair as Queen Elizabeth I in Shekhar Kapur鈥檚 1998 film

Director Shekhar Kapur鈥檚 film about the early years of Elizabeth I鈥檚 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鈥檚 coronation portrait, a copy of which is in the National Portrait Gallery.

Macbeth (Justin Kurzel, 2015)

Macbeth (Michael Fassbender) sits on a throne after being crowned king. Scene from the film Macbeth (2015)
Image caption,
Changing thanes. Michael Fassbender's Macbeth is crowned in Justin Kurzel鈥檚 2015 adaptation of Shakespeare鈥檚 tragedy

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

Director Justin Kurzel鈥檚 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)

Anne Hathaway, Hector Elizondo and Julie Andrews sitting on the royal cart in The Princess Diaries II
Image caption,
Reign forecast. Anne Hathaway (left) has her eye on the big prize in The Princess Diaries 2 (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鈥檚 heir to the throne of a tiny European nation 鈥 she鈥檚 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)

A still from the coronation scene in The Young Victoria
Image caption,
Teen-queen. Emily Blunt plays the 18 year-old Victoria when she was crowned in 1838

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)

Michael B. Jordan and Chadwick Boseman fight in the film Black Panther
Image caption,
I鈥檒l fight you for it! The late Chadwick Boseman seizes the crown of Wakanda in Black Panther (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鈥

After the death of his father, T鈥機halla (Chadwick Boseman) returns to the secret nation of Wakanda to assume the crown but is challenged to ritual combat by tribal rival M鈥橞aku (Winston Duke). The winner is given a ceremonial necklace and is proclaimed king and Black Panther.

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

Simba, the main lion character from Disney's The Lion King, overlooks the horizon from a cliff.
Image caption,
King of the hill. Simba finally completes the circle of life in Disney鈥檚 The Lion King (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鈥檚 destined to become leader of the pride.

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

Thankfully Scar鈥檚 plans are foiled and, though there isn鈥檛 actually a crown involved, Simba finally assumes his rightful place as king of the pride to the swelling orchestral score. I鈥檓 not crying, 测辞耻鈥檙别 crying!

This article was published in April 2023

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