Co-founder of Rye News, Kenneth Bird hasn’t put away his reporter’s pad quite yet, he’s been doing some research and left us with an interesting conundrum.
Historically, top ranking Cinque Ports men, defending ancient rights, have been at the centre of brawling at more than one royal coronation as by tradition, going back hundreds of years, those selected from the Cinque Port towns to be barons were entitled to carry a canopy over the monarch as he or she walked to and from their coronation.
Another tradition was that the Barons of the Cinque Ports should sit on the immediate right hand of the king or queen at the banquet that followed the ceremony. That was the cause of much of the brawling among those who wanted to be regarded as “first at the banquet”.
According to an article entitled The Monarchs’ Canopy by Terry Sutton: “Cinque Port Barons are still invited to coronations – but without their canopies. William IV, who reigned for only seven years, did not invite them nor did Queen Victoria in 1837 who was not amused. However, Edward VII renewed the tradition in 1902 and ensured they had an honourable place as spectators in the abbey as have successive monarchs including Queen Elizabeth II.”
The burning question is: has the speaker of the Cinque Ports received an invitation to attend the coronation of Charles III on May 6?
If you read this weeks article on mayor making day at Winchelsea, you will find the answer.
Image Credits: Rebekah Gilbert .