The city of kings and queens, where England's history began

In a corner of the town of Kingston upon Thames, a simple but very important stone for the history of the United Kingdom is preserved. Transformed into a monument, the stone is surrounded by seven pillars and according to the legend it could be the "Coronation Stone". 

Proximity to the famous Hampton Court Palace, once the residence of King Henry VIII and a favorite filming location for many films, makes the town in south-west London a very popular place for tourists. However, many do not understand the extraordinary events that took place there.

The Crowning Stone

Kingston upon Thames u emërua si bashkia e parë zyrtare mbretërore e Anglisë. Historiku i qytezës shtrihet deri në shekullin e 10-të, kur Athelstan, mbreti më i shquar sakson, u kurorëzua aty në vitin 925 të e.s. Athelstan konsiderohet si mbreti i parë i Anglisë, pasi mundi aleancën e vikingëve dhe Skocisë në betejën e Brunanburh, duke unifikuar një hartë të Ishujve Britanikë. Kështu Kingston u konsiderua vendi ku filloi Anglia e bashkuar.

It is thought that as part of the ceremony, Athelstan sat on the "Coronation Stone" while receiving his crown. A replica of this first crown is on display in a church, and is modeled after the ceremony that took place on September 4, 925. It is also possibly the first act of coronation ever documented in England. Kingston remained the preferred location for royal coronations. King Edredit was crowned there in 946 and Ethelred in 979, as well as many other kings. However, no further records exist on the "Coronation Stone" and it is unclear when and why the stone ceased to be used. But one tradition has remained: the "ordo" coronation, which means "order" in Latin.

With these deep-rooted royal connections, King George V officially named Kingston a royal borough in 1927. In 1965, Queen Elizabeth would grant another Royal Charter confirming Kingston's title as the “Royal Borough of Kingston on Thames".

“We are incredibly proud to be the oldest royal borough in the country, where not only were the first Saxon kings crowned, but it is also home to the Coronation Stone. We are the place where England began. With our strong connection to Britain's royal history, we look forward to celebrating the coronation of King Charles. Kingston's community spirit will undoubtedly be at the heart of the celebrations," said Nicola Nardelli, deputy mayor of the Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames.

screenshot 5

screenshot 4

screenshot 3