28th June 1838: Queen Victoria crowned at Westminster Abbey following the death of her uncle, William IV

**Scott Allsop** (0:00)
On the 28th of June, 1838, Queen Victoria was crowned Westminster Abbey following the death of her uncle, William IV. Welcome to HistoryPod.
None of William IV's legitimate children survived to adulthood, meaning the succession passed to the children of his brothers. Victoria was his nearest living legitimate heir, so she became queen at the age of 18, and much initial public attention focused on her youth, education and conduct. Victoria's coronation on 28 June 1838 followed long established traditions associated with British coronations. These included the oath, anointing, investiture and crowning. However, several organisational problems occurred during the event. Contemporary accounts described confusion over parts of the order of service, errors involving ceremonial procedures, and uncertainty among some participants regarding their roles.
Despite these difficulties, the coronation attracted significant public interest. Large numbers of people watched the procession through London, while newspapers and illustrated publications reported extensively on the occasion. For many observers, Victoria's appearance and behaviour during the ceremony contributed positively to perceptions of the monarchy as her youth and visibility contrasted with the image of earlier Hanoverian rulers. Victoria's coronation therefore reflected the increasing role of public spectacle and media coverage in shaping the monarchy's relationship with the population. In this sense, it represented both continuity with royal traditions and adaptation to the social and political conditions of 19th century Britain. Her reign lasted for more than 60 years and became closely associated with the expansion of the British Empire and rapid industrial development.