Foreward to the Coronation Issue

The coronation of Queen Elizabeth II offers the Editors of History Today both an opportunity and a problem. the scope of the opportunity need scarcely be underlined. What better moment could be found for some account of the effect of Europe’s oldest and most firmly established monarchy upon the growth and development of the British people? At the same time, how can such an account be compressed into the pages of a single issue? Since the ceremonial aspects of the Coronation will be described and illustrated elsewhere – several full-length books have already been published: others, no doubt, are underway – we have decided to concentrate our attention on one or two outstanding features of historical background.