Happy & Glorious: Coronation Commissions from the Government Art Collection is a joint exhibition between The National Archives and the Government Art Collection, reflecting on the Coronation of Their Majesties King Charles III and Queen Camilla.
On display are two Coronation Rolls – the earliest surviving roll from 1308 and the most recent one from 2023 – alongside recently commissioned artworks from eight leading artists from across the UK, offering their own take on the Coronation’s significance to them and their communities.
- Open 2 May to 2 November 2025
- At The National Archives, Kew
- Free, no booking needed
- Everyone welcome
The Coronation Commissions
Working in paint, pencil, photography, appliqué and thread, each artist offered a fresh perspective of this momentous occasion. In London, Cornelia Parker, Hew Locke and Dale Lewis offered responses to events in Westminster, while Joy Gerrard surveyed the crowds that gathered in both London and Belfast. In Manchester, Leslie Thompson reflected on celebrations across the city and, in Birmingham, Vanley Burke recorded community gatherings and local reactions. In Wales, Mohamed Hassan photographed a range of festivities across the country, while in Scotland, Sophie Gerrard focused on celebrations within rural communities.
The Coronation Rolls
Alongside the art, there is a rare chance to see two Coronation Rolls, recording details of the ceremony, guests and regalia.
The practice of creating rolls for coronations dates to the 14th century and the exhibition will feature the earliest of 18 surviving rolls, for Edward II in 1308. For the first time, King Charles III’s Coronation Roll will be on public display too.
The National Archives are the custodians of eighteen coronation rolls. These documents are the official state record of coronations past and present and crucially, they mark the accession of the sovereign and record the monarch’s oath to govern according to the customs and laws of the realm.
To find out more about the artists and their works, visit The Coronation Commissions page on the Government Art Collection website.
