The Coronation of Their Majesties The King and The Queen Consort will take place this Saturday 6 May 2023. Jesus College Oxford has enjoyed a close association with His Majesty, who has visited the historic College site in central Oxford on two occasions.
His Majesty King Charles III, then HRH The Prince of Wales, visited Jesus for the first time in 1971 to open the Old Members Building, in celebration of the College’s 400th anniversary. He was accompanied on the visit by the then Principal Sir John Habakkuk, after whom one of the meeting rooms in the building was later named.
His Majesty, then HRH The Prince of Wales, with Principal Sir John Habakkuk, on a visit to Jesus College in 1971.
Principal Sir John Habakkuk escorted the then HRH The Prince of Wales on a tour of the College.
The then HRH Prince of Wales enjoyed lunch in Hall with members of the College.
His Majesty returned to the College in 2020 to mark the appointment of the recently-restored Jesus Chair of Celtic, and to learn about Jesus’ student access initiatives in Wales. He was welcomed back by current Principal, Professor Sir Nigel Shadbolt, and Lord Patten, Chancellor of the University of Oxford. On arrival, His Majesty was greeted by sixty primary school children from three Welsh schools which form part of the College’s Welsh Access Programme. He also met students and staff of the College.
Children from three Welsh primary schools welcomed the royal visitor as he arrived in First Quad of Jesus College for a visit in March 2020. Image credit: John Cairns
His Majesty the King, then HRH The Prince of Wales, meets Jesus College students, accompanied by Principal Professor Sir Nigel Shadbolt FRS FREng.
His Majesty then attended a private reception in the Principal’s Lodgings before attending Hall, where he met a specially-invited group of College alumni and members, including the newly-appointed Jesus Chair of Celtic Dr David Willis. The Jesus Chair of Celtic has been entrusted to support the scholarship and preservation of Celtic languages, literature and history at the University of Oxford since 1877 and is the only Professorship in Celtic at an English University. Dr Willis’ appointment came following an eight-year hiatus and a £3.25m fundraising campaign to permanently safeguard the role.
His Majesty meets Jesus College Fellows Professor Katrin Kohl (left) and Professor Caroline Warman (centre).
While in Hall, His Majesty also enjoyed a recital of the Gweddi Coleg Iesu, a Welsh Prayer sung by members of the student consort choir directed by Peter Parshall, Chapel Music Coordinator. He viewed the Red Book of Hergest, which is owned by College and kept at the Bodleian Library. The book, one of the most important written in Welsh, is a compilation of chronicles, mythology, romances and court poetry. College Librarian Owen McKnight, who had the honour of showing His Majesty the book alongside Thomas Charles Edwards, Emeritus Professor of Celtic, said, “The Red Book of Hergest was written shortly after 1382 and is one of the most important medieval manuscripts written in the Welsh language. The Prince was shown a page that details the herbal remedies of the legendary Physicians of Myddfai.”
His Majesty viewed the Red Book of Hergest, which is owned by College and kept at the Bodleian Library. The book, one of the most important written in Welsh, is a compilation of chronicles, mythology, romances and court poetry. Image credit: John Cairns
Following his visit to Jesus, His Majesty attended Kellogg College where he formally received the Bynum Tudor Fellowship and met with members of the new Global Centre on Healthcare and Urbanisation. Kellogg College had welcomed His Majesty into the Bynum Tudor Fellowship in 2019.
There are a number of services and events taking place across Oxford to mark the Coronation, and further details can be found below:
Coronation services and events in Oxford
- Service of Thanksgiving for the Coronation of His Majesty King Charles III, University Church of St Mary The Virgin: 5 May 2023, 4.30pm. Find out about the service.
- Christ Church Cathedral will host a special Service of Celebration to mark the Coronation of King Charles III. The Lord-Lieutenant of Oxfordshire and the Chapter of Christ Church invite members of the public, along with civic and religious leaders from across the city and county, to the special service. The Bishop of Oxford, the Rt Revd Dr Steven Croft, will preach and the Cathedral Choir and Frideswide Voices will perform music written for Royal occasions by Handel, Parry and Britten. Following the service there will be a drinks reception in the Cathedral Gardens. This Service of Celebration will take place on 5 May 2023, 6pm. Members of the public are able to register for a free ticket through Eventbrite here.
- The Coronation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla will take place in Westminster Abbey on Saturday 6 May 2023, and members of the public are also invited to Christ Church Cathedral to watch the Coronation livestreamed.
- Festive Choral Evensong to Commemorate the Coronation of King Charles III at St Peter’s College: 7 May 2023, 6pm-7pm. Find out about this evensong.