The Coronation of King Charles III is on May 6, 2023. If, like me, you’re an American who is fascinated to witness this moment in history, I have a Coronation Reading List for you! This list has fiction and non-fiction books that feature coronations through the ages. Plus I have links to all my other royal book lists, in case you feel inspired to read some royal romance, royal historical fiction, or fantasy royal fiction.
Coronation Reading List: best fiction and nonfiction books about Coronations
In making this list, I chose books from different periods in history. All books on the list feature a coronation, but some are fiction and others non-fiction. Some feature royal love matches and others feature toxic royal romance. Hope you enjoy and will share your favorites (or Coronation plans) in the comments!
The White Princess by Philippa Gregory
Who: Henry VII and Elizabeth of York
Coronation: 30th of October in 1485
The Tudor dynasty officially began with the coronation of King Henry VII. His reign started two months earlier on a battlefield but was celebrated within the ancient walls of Westminster Abbey.
By taking the throne, Henry VII brought to an end the War of the Roses. He had defeated Richard III who became king in 1483 when he challenged the legality of the young king, his nephew, Edward V.
The reign of Richard III had been tumultuous and Henry had plotted to return and claim the crown. His win was interpreted by many people at the time as a sign from God. Henry VII was the last English king to obtain the throne on the battlefield.
Did you know? Many people think that Game of Thrones is based on the War of the Roses, the series of dynastic civil wars fought from 1455-1485 between the houses of Lancaster and York for the English throne.
Read and Watch: This book has been made into a Starz miniseries. You can watch The White Princess and the prior book, The White Queen!
The True Queen by Alison Weir
Who: Henry VIII and Katherine of Aragon
Coronation: 24 June 1509
The youngest daughter of the King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella, Princess Catalina of Spain is a coveted prize for a royal marriage. Arthur, Prince of Wales, and heir to the English throne, has won her hand.
But tragedy strikes and Catalina, now Princess Katherine, is betrothed to the future Henry VIII. She must wait for his coming-of-age, an ordeal that tests her resolve, casts doubt on her trusted confidantes, and turns her into a virtual prisoner.
Katherine’s patience is rewarded when she becomes Queen of England. The affection between Katherine and Henry is genuine, but forces beyond her control threaten to rend her marriage, and indeed the nation, apart.
Henry has fallen under the spell of Katherine’s maid of honor, Anne Boleyn. Now Katherine must be prepared to fight, to the end if God wills it, for her faith, her legitimacy, and her heart.
Legacy by Susan Kay
Who: Queen Elizabeth I
When: 15 January 1559
The story of Queen Elizabeth I, who spent a lifetime in search of a man strong enough to be her equal, and of the men who suffered for their devotion to her.
Her long and fascinating reign brimmed with all the court intrigue and pageantry of the sixteenth century. Her path to the throne was unlikely, from her tragic childhood to her ruthless confrontations with Mary, Queen of Scots.
And yet, she reigned as Europe’s most celebrated queen. The depth of her love for England required a sacrifice that would haunt her to the grave.
Victoria by Daisy Goodwin
Who: Queen Victoria
Coronation: 28 June 1838
Early one morning, less than a month after her eighteenth birthday, Alexandrina Victoria is roused from bed with the news that her uncle William IV has died and she is now Queen of England. The men who run the country have doubts about whether this sheltered young woman, who stands less than five feet tall, can rule the greatest nation in the world.
Fun fact: Queen Victoria, who reigned from 1838 until 1901, was the longest serving British monarch until 2015, when Queen Elizabeth surpassed her.
Read and watch: Victoria is a miniseries on PBS
George VI and Elizabeth by Sally Bedell Smith
Who: George VI and Elizabeth Bowes Lyon
Coronation: 12 May 1937
In the 1930s, Britain had two kings. The first, King Edward VIII, acceded to the throne in 1936. But his reign was short after he abdicated to marry American divorcee Wallis Simpson after just 325 days. The scandal of the abdication rocked the country. Next in line for the throne was his younger brother, King George VI, the father of Elizabeth II, and a man who never expected to reign.
The King George VI and his wife, Queen Elizabeth the Queen Consort, were crowned as the King and Queen of the United Kingdom and the Dominions of the Commonwealth, as well as the Emperor and Empress of India (the last to hold the title), on 12 May 1937 – the very day that Edward VIII was to have had his coronation.
Read and Watch: George VI and Elizabeth were portrayed by Colin Firth and Helena Bonham Carter in The King’s Speech.
Coronation Year by Jennifer Robson
Who: Queen Elizabeth II
When: 2 June 1953
It is 1953, and a new queen is about to be crowned. The people of London are in a mood to celebrate, especially the residents of the Blue Lion hotel.
Edie is the owner and operator of the floundering Blue Lion. She discovers that on Coronation Day, Queen Elizabeth in her gold coach will pass by the hotel’s front door, allowing Edie to charge a fortune for rooms and save her beloved home from financial ruin.
Stella, a young Italian photographer and Holocaust survivor, has come to live at the Blue Lion while she takes up a coveted position at Picture Weekly magazine.
James, a war hero, has struggled in a world that disdains his Indian ancestry. At the Blue Lion, though, he is made to feel welcome and worthy. Yet even as his friendship with Edie deepens, he begins to suspect that something is badly amiss at his new home.
Did you know? Prince Philip was not crowned during the 1953 coronation because he wasn’t a king, but a Prince Consort.
Love reading about all things royal? I have three YA book lists for you:
Read about fantasy royal kingdoms, fae royalty and more with this list of YA Books Featuring Fantasy Royals.
Can’t get enough non-fiction about royals? Check out this list of YA books about Anne Boleyn, Catherine of Aragon and more!
Do you love books about real people falling in love with royals? Check out my book list about surprise princesses, girls who fall in love with princes, and LGBT royal romance!
I’m not watching the coronation. That kind of stuff just doesn’t appeal to me.
I hear you! I didn’t watch it either (two hours!) but I did check out some short videos and articles.
I haven’t watched it from start to finish but I’ve watched enough clips of it that I feel like I’ve seen most of it. The history and symbolism is fascinating. This is a great list of books and I haven’t read any of them! It’d be fascinating to compare the coronation of Henry VIII with Charles III!
Katherine, I am so sorry I didn’t see this comment sooner.
I didn’t watch the whole coronation either, but I love European history and wish I’d learned more growing up.
Hope you try one of the books!