An exhibition fit for a queen is coming to York Minster – that will celebrate its centuries-old relationship with the monarchy.
It will showcase royal treasures from the Minster’s historic collection and will trace the influence of the monarchy throughout York Minster’s history – and will feature some items never seen before on public display.
The exhibition will be as part of the celebrations of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.
Majesty: Monarchy and York Minster will be open from Saturday 14 May and will run until the end of 2022.
The Queen visited York Minster in 2012 to attend the Royal Maundy Service.
On display will be items such as Great Seals used to authenticate important documents by previous monarchs, footage from the royal wedding of Prince Edward in York Minster in 1961, Maundy money distributed in York by the Queen, and much more.
Younger visitors will also have the chance to try on regal robes, bear a crown and sceptre, and pose for a majestic photograph showing off their best royal wave.
Helen Rawson, head of heritage at York Minster, explains: “Since King Edwin of Northumbria converted to Christianity in 627 AD and ordered the construction of a small wooden church for his baptism, the first York Minster, the cathedral has had strong royal connections.”
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“It was the site of the wedding of Edward III and Philippa of Hainault in 1328, while Richard III’s son Edward was invested as Prince of Wales in 1483 in a glorious ceremony in the adjacent old Archbishop’s Palace,” added Helen.
“These associations have continued over the centuries with Queen Elizabeth II’s mother, then Duchess of York, attending the re-dedication of the famous medieval Five Sisters window in memory of the women who died in service of the British Empire during the First World War, while her husband the Duke of York, later George VI, unveiled the York City War Memorial.”
The exhibition is part of a series of activities at York Minster to celebrate the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee. Find out more at the York Minster website.
Entry is included with a standard admission ticket and entry to the Minster is free for York residents with valid proof of address.