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Back in Time: A royal visit to Glastonbury

By Laura Linham 26th Jul 2021

Central Somerset has paid host to its fair share of royal visitors over the years, but check out the pomp and ceremony from 1909 when the Prince and Princess of Wales - who later became King George V and Queen Mary - popped by.

The royal duo were in Glastonbury to mark the restoration of the abbey to the Church of England.

The ceremony took place on June 22, 1909, and marked the official handover of the site to the Church.

Held at the abbey's western end, it involved an archbishop, 30 bishops and two deans attended by their chaplains: 300 clergy in all.

With them came the Mayor of Glastonbury, plus the mayors of six other towns with their respective councillors, accompanied by a platoon of West Somerset Yeomanry.

Behind came half a dozen dukes and earls with their retinues, and it was at just after 3.45pm that the royal couple made their appearance, escorted by a detachment of Somerset Light Infantry.

Eager to catch a glimpse of the future king and queen, enthusiastic crowds lined the street, and hung out of windows in the High Street.

The royal duties included opening the "new" abbey entrance, before the dignitaries moved into the abbey for the official Restoration Ceremony.

Some were lucky enough to have a seat in the choir costing 10/-, 5/-, or splashed out for a seat in the nave at a 1/-. Standing room was 6d.

The deeds of the abbey were formally presented by Dr Kennion to the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Davidson, before their Royal Highnesses, the bishops and a large congregation.

Small wonder that many thought this heralded the start of a new era for Glastonbury.

     

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