Most of the world knows that King Charles was coronated earlier this month. Slightly fewer people are aware that the throne on which he was crowned features not once, but twice, in Jaspa’s Journey 2: The Pride of London.
Actually, while researching The Pride of London, I was surprised to learn that the royal seat in question isn’t actually called the ‘Coronation Throne’ at all, but goes by the more simple-sounding name of the ‘Coronation Chair’. Now, I don’t know about you, but calling a 700-year-old throne that’s been used in the coronation of goodness knows how many British kings and queens a ‘chair’ seems like a bit of an understatement to me!
When not being used for royal events, the Coronation Chair has a place of honour in London’s Westminster Abbey. It is here that this ‘Seat of Power’ first has Jaspa and his friends scratching their heads.
The second time Jaspa comes across the Coronation Chair is in the Tower of London, during the exciting final chapters of The Pride of London. For clarity, I should say ‘a’ Coronation Chair, not ‘the’ Coronation Chair, for the chair that graces the Tower of London’s Wakefield Tower is a replica of a throne, which was itself based on the Coronation Chair.
The original Coronation Chair has been through the wars. Literally. It was even the target of a terrorist bombing in 1914. And in any case, at 700 years old, you’d expect a little wear and tear, right?
The Wakefield Tower replica throne is another matter. Still covered in gold leaf, it’s as bright and shiny as the day it was crafted. And forms the perfect backdrop for the culmination of Jaspa’s London adventures.
The above post is taken from this month’s Fiction Meets Fact Newsletter. To receive future newsletters in their entirety (together with a Free Jaspa’s Journey Booklet including the short story Freefall over London and Jaspa’s Journey images to colour), click on the image below.
Upper middle grade readers can now travel the World with Jaspa’s Journey adventure novels! The first four – The Great Migration, The Pride of London, Jaspa’s Waterloo, and The Hermit of Kennecott – are now available in both paperback and ebook formats. Click here for more information.
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