ExploringtheroleandsymbolicmeaningoftheCrownJewelsinthecenturies-oldcoronationceremony,TheCoronationshowstheseobjectsofastonishingbeautyinnewhigh-resolutionfootage.ThefilmtellstheextraordinarystoryofStEdward'sCrown,whichwasdestroyedaftertheEnglishCivilWarandremadefortheCoronationofCharlesIIin1661.IthasonlybeenwornbyHerMajestyonce,atthemomentshewascrownedeee On2June1953,ononeofthecoldestJunedaysofthecenturyandafter16monthsofplanning,TheQueensetoutfromBuckinghamPalacetobecrownedatWestminsterAbbey,watchedbymillionsofpeoplethroughouttheworld.AceremonydatingbackmorethanathousandyearswastomarkthedawnofanewElizabethanage. Viewingbothprivateandofficialfilmfootage,TheQueenrecallsthedaywhentheweightofbothStEdward'sCrownandthehopesandexpectationsofacountryrecoveringfromwarwereonhershoulders,asthenationlookedtotheir27year-oldQueentoleadthemintoanewera. Inthefilm,TheQueensays:「I'veseenoneCoronation,andbeentherecipientintheother,whichisprettyremarkable.」 ForaudiencesunfamiliarwiththestoryoftheCrownJewelsandtheregalia,thefilmexplainstheircontemporaryrelevancetotheUKasanationandtotheenduringpurposeandtheworkofmonarchy.TheyaresymbolsoftherelationshipbetweentheSovereignandthepeople,andthedutiesandresponsibilitiesofleadership. Thefilmalsofeatureseyewitnessaccountsofthosewhoparticipatedinthe1953Coronation,includingamaidofhonourwhonearlyfaintedintheAbbey,anda12year-oldchoirboywhowaslefttosingsolowhenhisoverwhelmedcolleagueslosttheirvoices.