Throne room

A throne room is the room, often rather a hall, in the official residence of the crown, either a palace or a fortified castle, where the throne of a senior figure (usually a monarch) is set up with elaborate pomp—usually raised, often with steps, and under a canopy, both of which are part of the original notion of the Greek word thronos.

Function

A throne room is an impressive setting for a monarch to preside 'in majesty' over official ceremonies, to hold council, to grant audiences, to receive homage, to award high honors and offices, and to perform other official functions. Any of these could just as well be transferred, even on a permanent basis, to one or more other rooms, even outside the palace or ambulant. A common misconception is that kings and other ruling princes governed their lands seated on a throne for most of the working day. In earlier times this may have been true for some rulers who actually presided over their council; yet often another room was used, but only in peacetime.

Many others were almost constantly on the move with an ambulant court. It could even have been that the crown did not have an effective capital, as in England during most of the time before the Norman conquest. Or it could have been that the crown had, rather, a series of alternative residences, as did the Holy Roman Emperors. In their case, these developed into palatinates under the Habsburg Dynasty when they also acquired extensive crown lands outside Germany and Austria, and their court often travelled on an almost continental scale.

Other monarchies frequently changed their capital, but then they would have used a mobile throne, possibly in addition to the permanent one used for enthronement and/or coronation. There are cases in Africa and Asia where the very name of the 'capital' is not a fixed place, but was the place wherever a king settled for a few years. In some climates court migrated annually between a summer and a winter capital. It has also common to spend quite some time, without need for practical reason, in secondary residences, not in the least hunting lodges.

Even when their capitals were well fixed English and French Renaissance kings used to travel extensively, and maintained many royal castles in addition to visits to grandees of the realm. Henry VIII's most frequently used residence was, in fact, at Hampton Court, outside London.

Even when in the main or only palace, the monarch often spent much time in other parts of the residence, such as the dining hall, the chapel, private quarters (for rest and family life), possibly separate presence room, council chamber, ballroom, gardens, court theatre and other recreational facilities.

Nowadays throne rooms are only used for occasional grand ceremonies. Paper work is done in an office, and most guests are received in a salon.

Notable examples

The following are notable throne rooms. Others are listed in the article on thrones.

Austria

Hofburg

Once the seat of the Holy Roman Empire and the Austrian Empire for over 600 years, the Hofburg Imperial Palace's throne room now serves as a conference centre, used by the Austrian Congress and for other international events.

Denmark

Rosenborg

The throne in the throne room at Rosenborg Castle (now a museum) in Copenhagen was commissioned by King Frederick III in about 1663 and used by the Absolutist kings of Denmark from 1671 to 1840 for the anointing ceremony. Probably created by Bendix Grodtschilling. It was inspired by King Solomon's throne which according to the Bible was made of ivory and had six steps with lion figures on each. Tooth of Narwhal was chosen as the material, both because it was found in Danish waters and due to its mythical associations with the unicorn, and 12 lions were also commissioned, three of which, in silver, have been preserved in the room.^[1]

Christiansborg

The throne room actually used for receiving ambasadors is at Christiansborg.

France

Versailles

The throne was commissioned by Louis XIV and was in use up until 1789. In 1837 the Château de Versailles became a national museum. As part of the greater Versailles museum, the room is open to the public. Compare: Lit de justice.

Fontainebleau Palace

Preferring Fontainebleau over Versailles, Napoleon had Louis XV's bedroom converted into a throne room and it was here that Napoleon abdicated. The palace was last used by Napoleon III when it was later declared a national monument in 1871, after the collapse of the empire.

Monaco: Prince's Palace,

For over 700 years, the Grimaldi family have ruled Monaco, and it is in this throne room that many historic festivals and ceremonies have taken place since the 16th century. It also where most civil marriages of the royal family occur, before then having a religious ceremony elsewhere.

Germany

Residence of Munich

The residence of the Wittelsbach monarchs of Bavaria has many throne-rooms. They were all built in the 19th century, after the monarchs of Bavaria became kings. Therefore, the throne-rooms are all in the classicism style.

Neuschwanstein

Note that the throne room of this beautiful, dream-like castle does not have a throne in it - the reason being that Ludwig II of Bavaria, its commissioner, did not live to see Neuschwanstein's completion, therefore one was never installed.

Hawaii

Iolani Palace

These thrones were used by King David Kalakaua, his wife Queen Kapiolani, and his successor Queen Liliʻuokalani. Kalakaua and his wife actually disliked sitting on the thrones, instead preferring to stand in front of them while receiving guests. King Kalakaua held formal audiences, diplomatic receptions, and state balls, receiving and entertaining guests from all walks of life, from royalty and diplomats to writers, entertainers, and sportsmen. The trial of Queen Lili'uokalani also occurred in this room where she was found guilty and imprisoned within the palace by the Republic of Hawaii.^[2] The throne room, like the rest of the palace, is open to the public.

Portugal

Ajuda Palace, Lisbon

The Portuguese Throne room (pt. Sala do Trono) is in the Piano nobile of the Ajuda National Palace (Palácio Nacional da Ajuda) in Lisbon. The present decoration is from the 19th century, with walls covered with crimson velvet, gold gilded French mirrors and a major Tabriz carpet from the 18th century in the precious wood floor. The ceiling is covered with Máximo dos Reis allegorical fresco and a huge crystal chandelier.^[3] The thrones are from Portuguese fabric, second half of the 18th century with the Portuguese coat of arms on the top handled by two angels. This fauteuils ware made to substitute the Juste-Aurèle Meissonnier’s throne made to John V of Portugal ^[4] and destroyed in the 1755 Lisbon earthquake. This throne was in Silver-gilt, with winged dragons, the heraldic symbolf of the House of Braganza, and the arms of Portugal supported by two allegorical statues, Europe and America. The Throne room is still used for state events of the Portuguese Republic.

Poland

Royal Castle, Warsaw

The Senators' Chamber is one of the most sumptuous rooms in the Castle. It was here that the Constitution was enacted on 3 May 1791. The interiors were destroyed after the fall of the November Uprising and it has now been reconstructed based on earlier drawings. The royal throne and fragments of the backdrop and canopy are original. The throne was reconstructed according to a design by Andrzej Grzybowski, and the painted decorations are the work of Andrzej Bertrandt. The armchairs and chairs for the senators and ministers have been arranged strictly according to the rules of etiquette governing the proceedings of the Polish Sejm (parliament).^[5]

Wawel Castle, Kraków

The Senator's Hall, the largest room in the castle was originally designated for sessions of the Senate, important state and court ceremonies, royal weddings, theatre performances and balls. The first royal wedding, that of Sigismund I the Old to Bona Sworza, took place here in 1518. The walls are decorated with large figural tapestries with biblical themes from Sigismund Augustus’ collection. A Classicist armchair has replaced the throne.^[6]

Russia

Peterhof

Used by the Tsars of Russia, the dais and throne of the Peterhof Palace dominate the eastern wall with a large picture presenting Catherine II on her horse. The room also holds numerous oil paintings and eleven chandeliers.

Winter Palace

Regarded as the throne of Russia, the throne of St. George's Hall (or large throne room) is set atop the seven-stepped dais with a proscenium arch above and the symbol of the Imperial Family behind (the two-headed eagle).

Peter I's Room (the smaller throne room) is modest in comparison to the former. The throne was made for Empress Anna Ivanovna in London and the picture behind displays Peter the Great with Minerva.

Spain

Royal Palace of Madrid

The Palacio Real de Madrid (Royal Palace of Madrid) was the official residence of the Spanish monarch. The throne room is unique, as it retains the original decor from the days of Carlos III. The sumptuous room has gold garnishing with crimson-velvet wall coverings complemented by a Tiepolo ceiling, lit by a rock crystal chandelier. Adorning the room are huge mirrors made in the royal glass factory of La Granja.

The Royal Family does not reside in the palace, instead choosing a smaller, more modest palace, the Palacio de la Zarzuela, on the outskirts of Madrid. However, the Palacio Real de Madrid remains the official residence of the Spanish monarchy and is used for state occasions.

Sweden

Stockholm Palace

The official throne of the King of Sweden is located in the Hall of state at the Stockholm Palace. It is called the Silver Throne and was commissioned for the coronation of Queen Kristina in 1650. It was last used by the present king, Carl XVI Gustaf, on his ascension to the throne in 1973.

For the coronation of king Adolf Frederick and Queen Louisa Ulrica in 1750 two coronation thrones where made. Both are placed at the Stockholm palace, and one is on display in the Lovisa Ulrica audience chamber.

United Kingdom

Buckingham Palace

The throne room of Buckingham Palace, residence of the British Monarch in the capital city of London, is used for court gatherings and as a second dancing room. It is dominated by a proscenium arch supported by a pair of winged figures of 'victory' holding garlands above the two thrones, which are originals from the Queen's coronation in 1953.

It is in the throne room that the Queen, on special occasions, receives loyal addresses. Another use of the throne room has been for formal wedding photographs.

Apart from the Thrones in the room actually named Throne Room, there is also a pair of Thrones in the Buckingham Palace Ballroom, that is a larger multi-purpose hall within the Palace. The ballroom is also used for investiture ceremonies in the UK's honours system.

St James's Palace

Although British monarchs have resided in Buckingham Palace since the days of Queen Victoria, St. James's Palace remains the senior palace of the British monarchy.^[7] St James's remains a busy working palace, and also retains an important ceremonial function: it still is the place where the Accession Council customarily meets to proclaim the new Sovereign and to receive from them the required oath.

St. James's Throne Room is used for official occasions. For instance it is in this room that the Lord Mayor and Councillors of the City of Westminster usually present an address of welcome to visiting heads of state on state visits.

While the Throne Room of Buckingham Palace has two Throne Chairs, one for the reigning king or queen and another for the monarch's consort, the Throne Room at St. James's Palace contains only one Throne Chair, pertaining to the sovereign. As in the case of Buckingham Palace, the Thone is placed under a canopy.

The velvet cloth behind the Throne is dominated by the Coat of Arms of the United Kingdom.

Palace of Westminster

Although the primary purpose and reputation of the Palace of Westminster is as the seat of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, it is also officially a royal residence. While the Palace has no throne room per se, the Lords Chamber contains at its head a throne, used by the Monarch for addressing Parliament in the Speech from the Throne, arguably making the Chamber something of a throne room.

Clerks and officers of the House of Lords bow to the Throne when crossing the chamber.

The Palace of Westminster also has a second throne under a canopy in the Queen's Robing Room, a room of the Palace that remains under the authority of the Crown (and not of either House of Parliament), under the direction of the Lord Great Chamberlain, and that is used by the Queen to robe and to unrobe before and after the State Opening of Parliament.

Windsor Castle

Windsor Castle has a Throne Room known as the Garter Throne Room, where the investiture of new knights of the Garter takes place once a year. The room accommodates two rows of chairs for all kights of the Garter, with the sovereign's Throne at the head.

Colloquial usage

In British English, "throne room" is also used as a euphemism for "lavatory".

Ireland

Dublin Castle

Located in the State Apartments, the Throne Room in Dublin Castle is preserved intact from the period when Ireland was part of the United Kingdom, when both Lords Lieutenant and visiting monarchs from Britain would use the room during important ceremonies held in the Castle. These included the investing of a new Lord Lieutenant every five years, the presentation of débutantes to the Lord Lieutenant during the Castle Season held leading up to St. Patrick's Day, and the presentation of subjects to visiting monarchs on official State visits to Ireland. The throne canopy dates to the late 18th century, while the throne was made for the visit of George IV to Ireland in 1821, and was last used by George V in 1911. The Throne Room no longer has any role in modern-day State ceremonial. However Dublin Castle still plays an important role in this respect, serving as the location for the inauguration of the President of Ireland every seven years. This takes place in the much larger and grander St. Patrick's Hall, the 18th century ballroom of the Viceregal Court, positioned almost adjacent to the Throne Room.

Malaysia

Malaysia's head of state, the Yang di-Pertuan Agong (commonly glossed as "King"), is a position rotated every five years among the nine royal houses of its nine hereditary states. Each has separate palaces and throne rooms for each of the individual states, while the King resides in the Istana Negara (National Palace) in Kuala Lumpur. This and the old palace both had throne rooms called the Balai Rong Seri (Royal Audience Hall), where several state ceremonies including the King's Installation occur.

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Throne rooms.