page_title: Coronation of Queen Victoria
section_title: Lord Rolle's accident
hierarchical_section_title: Coronation of Queen Victoria / Ceremony in Westminster Abbey / Lord Rolle's accident
context_page_description: The coronation of Queen Victoria took place on Thursday, 28 June 1838, just over a year after she succeeded to the throne of the United Kingdom at the age of 18. The ceremony was held in Westminster Abbey after a public procession through the streets from Buckingham Palace, to which the Queen returned later as part of a second procession.
  Planning for the coronation, led by the prime minister, Lord Melbourne, began at Cabinet level in March 1838. In the face of various objections from numerous parties, the Cabinet announced on Saturday, 7 April, that the coronation would be at the end of the parliamentary session in June. It was budgeted at £70,000, which was more than double the cost of the "cut-price" 1831 coronation, but considerably less than the £240,000 spent when George IV was crowned in July 1821. A key element of the plan was presentation of the event to a wider public.
  By 1838, the newly built railways were able to deliver huge numbers of people into London and it has been estimated that some 400,000 visitors arrived to swell the crowds who thronged the streets while the two processions took place and filled the parks where catering and entertainment were provided.
context_section_description: An accident occurred  that the Queen was able to turn to her advantage, and which she later described in her journal:
  "Poor old Ld Rolls [actually Lord Rolle], who is 82, & dreadfully infirm, fell, in attempting to ascend the steps, – rolled right down, but was not the least hurt. When he attempted again to ascend the steps, I advanced to the edge, in order to prevent another fall".
  The reaction of Charles Greville, who was present, was typical of the wider public. He noted in his account that the Queen went down a couple of steps to prevent Rolle from trying to climb them again. Greville described this as "an act of graciousness and kindness which made a great sensation".
  The moment was immortalised by John Martin in his large painting of the ceremony, and was also included in Richard Barham's poem "Mr. Barney Maguire's Account of the Coronation":
  Then the trumpets braying, and the organ playing,
  
  And the sweet trombones, with their silver tones;
  
  But Lord Rolle was rolling; – t'was mighty consoling
  
  To think his Lordship did not break his bones!
  At the end of the service, the Treasurer of the Household threw silver coronation medals to the crowd, which caused an undignified scramble.
caption: Coronation of Queen Victoria, by John Martin, depicting the Queen advancing to the edge of the platform to meet Lord Rolle (1839)
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