New batch of King’s Coronation oil features some extra special ingredients
TheOldRoman
Oil made with olives harvested from the burial place of the monarch’s grandmother in Jerusalem, Buckingham Palace reveals
The Patriarch of Jerusalem, His Beatitude Patriarch Theophilos III, and the Anglican Archbishop in Jerusalem, the Most Rev Dr Hosam Elias Naoum, with the Chrism oil CREDIT: Patriarchate of Jerusalem and Buckingham Palace
A new batch of Coronation oil has been made using olives harvested from groves on the Mount of Olives, the burial place of the King’s paternal grandmother, Princess Alice of Greece, Buckingham Palace has announced.
The olives were pressed just outside Bethlehem and the oil, which will be used to anoint both the King and the Queen Consort at Westminster Abbey on May 6, was consecrated in Jerusalem.
The Archbishop of Canterbury, the Most Rev Justin Welby, will conduct the Coronation. He revealed that it was his idea to use oil from Jerusalem to reflect the King’s “personal family connection with the Holy Land and his great care for its peoples”.
The formula was based on the same ancient recipe used to create the oil used at the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II in 1953 and her many predecessors dating back to Charles I in 1626.
However, in a break with tradition, it does not include any of the controversial animal products traditionally used, such as civet oil and ambergris, popularly known as whale’s vomit.
It was perfumed with essential oils – sesame, rose, jasmine, cinnamon, neroli, benzoin and amber – as well as orange blossom.
