Past exhibition

Happy & Glorious

Coronation Commissions from the Government Art Collection

Date: 2 May 2025 to 18 April 2026
Price: Free

Happy & Glorious displayed artwork commissioned for the Coronation of Their Majesties King Charles III and Queen Camilla in 2023.

This free exhibition displayed work by eight leading artists, commissioned to offer their own take on the Coronation’s significance to them and their communities.

Working in paint, pencil, photography, appliqué and thread, each artist offered a fresh perspective of this momentous occasion. You can find out more about the artists and their works, visit The Coronation Commissions page on the Government Art Collection website.

Alongside the art there was a rare chance to see two Coronation Rolls from The National Archives’ collection – the earliest surviving roll made for Edward II in 1308 and King Charles III’s Coronation Roll going on public display for the very first time.

Coronation Rolls mark the sovereign’s accession and their oath to govern according to the customs and laws of the realm, as well as recording details of the ceremony, guests and regalia.

Exhibition highlights

Image 1 of 10

A visitor to the exhibition takes an up-close shot of a section of a painting of people in a crowd. The people are a range of different ethnicities, gender, ages, wearing different clothing. Some are depicted in colour and some in black and white. — Dale Lewis’ work captures the faces of people who travelled to Central London to witness the Coronation procession.

Image 2 of 10

An unusual looking ship that is crafted from layered images on a red background. — Flag, by Hew Locke, a work that explores the powerful allure of royal symbols and the weight of complex national histories.

Image 3 of 10

Two women stand in front of two large portrait embroideries with hand-stitched words in thread. — King and Queen (recto and verso), by Cornelia Parker is a pair of embroideries hand-sewn with dictionary definitions of King and Queen.

Image 4 of 10

A black and white scene of the Mall on the day of the Coronation, showing Union Jack flags. — Joy Gerrard’s work blends media images with her own experience in the crowd outside Buckingham Palace.

Image 5 of 10

A girl seen from behind in a black dress stands in front of a wall with scattered photographs. — A snapshot of Coronation celebrations across Wales from Mohamed Hassan, mixing the informal and the formal.

Image 6 of 10

Four brightly colourful works are framed on a wall, with a woman looking at them from an angle. — Leslie Thompson’s imaginings of the Coronation’s possible audiences.

Image 7 of 10

A woman looks down into a document case featuring a long white scroll partially unrolled. — Charles III’s Coronation Roll was on display for the very first time.

Image 8 of 10

A couple stand looking at four framed preparatory sketches showing scenes from the Coronation. — Preparatory sketches of some of the artists’ work offered different perspectives in the artistic process.

Image 9 of 10

A sketch in coloured pencil on paper of the Gold State Coach passing by, with the King and Queen. — The exhibition showcased artworks that offered a modern take on this ancient ceremony.

Image 10 of 10

A woman wearing a headscarf and traditional Indian dress stands in front of a Union Flag.. — Photographs by Sophie Gerrard that capture neighbourhood events across Birmingham on Coronation Day.

Plan your visit

What is The National Archives?

The National Archives is the official archive of the UK government, and England and Wales. We are the guardians of over 1,000 years of iconic national documents.

Everyone is welcome to visit our headquarters in Kew. We put on exhibitions, events and displays and offer reading rooms giving access to our collections there.

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