The royal ensemble, composed of Winchester Cathedral staff, including the facilities manager, commercial director, and assistant curate at The Church of England, were dressed in regal attire sourced from local professional costume hire business, Hampshire Wardrobe*. The spectacle was part of a photoshoot promoting the upcoming Crown and Coronation light and sound show heading to the cathedral in March.
News
News
Royal visit at Winchester Cathedral surprises visitors
One amazed onlooker described the scene: “I thought I saw a ghost - I was visiting the King & Scribes exhibition when I looked around and there beside me was Henry VIII himself! “The kids loved it and are looking forward to telling their friends they met real life kings and queens at the cathedral”.
Crown and Coronation light show highlights the cathedral’s royal heritage and its significant associations with past Kings and Queens. As Winchester stands as a renowned royal city, hosting the burials of early kings, royal baptisms, and marriages, the lightshow pays homage to this rich history.
Crown and Coronation is created by Historic Royal Palaces – the charity that cares for the Tower of London – in partnership with Luxmuralis, as part of an artistic collaboration between artist Peter Walker and composer David Harper. The show features stunning imagery spanning more than 1,000 years of history, in the magnificent setting of Winchester Cathedral.
Crown and Coronation runs from the 4th to 8th March, promising an immersive historical royal journey suitable for all ages. Tickets must be booked in advance.
*All costumes were sourced from Hampshire Wardrobe except Mary Tudor’s costumer which was model’s own.