How Yorkshire's country houses are celebrating links to the Crown today

One of the breaks in tradition is the guest list. In keeping with a more modest coronation, King Charles has reportedly slashed his guestlist to around 2,000 guests. The late Queen's coronation was attended by 8,250 guests. King Charles is encouraging a more relaxed dress code featuring lounge suits in lieu of full ceremonial robes made from crimson velvet and ermine. And whereas his mother had more than 800 peers and politicians at her coronation Charles has instead favoured NHS, charity workers and the odd celebrity to receive a coveted invitation.

As a result many of the ermine robes worn to previous coronations will either stay mothballed – or as is the case in many Yorkshire country houses – be put on display for the public to see.

At both Castle Howard and Harewood House exhibitions of coronation robes that would have been worn by the Howards and the Laselles families at previous coronations are on display

“Peers and titled members of the state would have attended coronations and worn coronation robes depending on their status and their role in court,” explains Castle Howard curator Eleanor Brooke-Peat.

“The exhibition includes a robe and coronet worn by the Duchess of Grafton (the grandmother of the current owner of Castle Howard Rt Hon Nick Howard) to the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II and probably a couple before that in the 20th century. The length of the train denotes their rank – a duchess could have it two yards long.”

Attached to the robe is a cape and collar, the rank of the peer is indicated by rows of "ermine tails (or the like)" on the cape: four for a duke, 3½ for a marquess, thee for an earl, 2½ for a viscount and two for a baron.

It was Charles II that made Sir Charles Howard the Earl of Carlisle and from that point on the Howard family had a close relationship with the court. Despite that only one monarch has ever visited Castle Howard and that was Queen Victoria in 1850.

"The third Earl of Carlisle built Castle Howard hoping that one day he would welcome the King and Queen, butt was 150 years later that a monarch eventually stayed at Castle Howard.”The Howard family would have had roles in previous coronations, indeed the current Mr Howard’s father George Howard held the golden staff at the Queen’s coronation for his service during the war.

“The current Mr and Mrs Howard aren’t members of the peerage – the title of the Earl of Carlise left Castle Howard early in the 20th century,” explains Eleanor. “But the robes on display come from Mr Howard’s grandmother. In the past there used to be a coronation every 20 years or so but the fact the late Queen succeeded to the throne at such a young age and lived such a long life mean that many people have never lived through a coronation which has led to a lot of interest in the exhibition.”

There is also a set of replica Crown Jewels, intricately modelled on the originals housed in the Tower of London. Made to mark the 1977 Silver Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II, the set includes the coronation regalia used for the crowning of a new monarch.

"It is actually quite rare to have a complete set of replica Crown Jewels and we are lucky to have them. It’s not so easy to get down to London to see the real ones from a distance this exhibition allows you to get up close and appreciate the size of things like the crown that will be placed on King Charles’s head.”

The family home of the Compton family, Newby Hall near Ripon has a close association with the crown jewels, an ancestor having commissioned the official coronation regalia for Charles II after the originals were destroyed during the Civil War.

“Sir Robert Vyner was appointed goldsmith and banker to King Charles ll in 1661 when he commissioned the coronation regalia,” explains Alex Mcdonnell, Newby Hall’s marketing manager.

He said the Vyner name can be traced back through the family ancestery of Newby Hall. Sir Robert’s invoice for the regalia was £12,184.7s.6d, equivalent to £1,754,496.00 in today’s money. The invoice is on display on a wall outside Newby’s Billiard Room.

The official regalia is still used today to crown the monarch and will feature today at the coronation of King Charles. Made last century, Newby’s replica set includes an Imperial State Crown; St Edward’s Crown and Staff; St George’s Bracelets; Queen Consort’s Ivory Rod; Royal Sceptre with the Cross; Sovereign’s Sceptre with the Dove; Anointing Spoon; Ring; Ampulla; St George’s Spurs; King’s Orb; Sword of Mercy, and Sword of Temperal Justice.

All are on prominent display at Newby Hall, one of Britain’s finest Adam houses.

“We are also holding a special afternoon tea to celebrate the coronation of King Charles III on the bank holiday Monday 8 May from 3pm – 5pm in Newby’s gardens for the firs time,” says Alex. “Food has never been allowed in the borders of the gardens but for those who have booked the afternoon tea we will be serving it in the gardens as a one off. Even if you haven’t booked the afternoon tea the house and gardens will be open as normal to visitors.”

There is an oversized ‘throne’ and visitors can try the replica Saint Edwards Crown for size and there will be live music from ‘The Frankly Jazz Quartet’.

At Harewood House visitors are being given the chance to see the King’s Coronation on big screens at two different locations – in the garden and in the courtyard where they are also selling royal memorabilia and afternoon teas.

There is also a display of coronation robes and replica crown jewels in the servants hall that show the relationship the Lascelles family has had with the royal family,

Harewood curator and archivist Rebecca Burton said the Lascelles family would have been among guests at coronations back to George IV in 1821 as members of the peerage.

"Harewood has had links to the Royal Family throughout its history, however its connection was cemented in the 20th century with the marriage of HRH Princess Mary, later The Princess Royal, to Henry, Viscount Lascelles in 1922. Upon inheriting his father’s title in 1929, Henry became the 6th Earl of Harewood and he and Princess Mary moved in to Harewood House, making it a Royal Household.”

Castle Howard’s Coronation Exhibition runs until July 23 www.castlehoward.co.uk. For details of the Coronation Afternoon Tea event at Newby Hall visit www.newbyhall.com. Crowning Glory: Harewood and the Coronation run until August 28 for details and for information on the screenings of the Coronation visit https://harewood.org/