The Last King of America: The Misunderstood Reign of George III by Andrew Roberts
The coronation of George III on September 22, 1761, was a shambles from start to finish. It began with the officials losing the Sword of State, and rapidly descended into abject chaos, with the King forced to shout instructions to the befuddled clergy. Since the ceremony at Westminster Abbey lasted for six hours, many of the spectators had picnics sent in, and “at solemn moments a clattering of knives, forks and plates and a pinging of glasses could be clearly heard”.
At the dinner afterwards there weren’t enough chairs for all the guests, while the hereditary champion arrived on a horse hired from a circus that disgraced itself by backing into the King. “A wretched banquet, and a foolish puppet-show,” the writer Horace Walpole declared.
