Coronation of Charles X of France

As the Count of Artois Charles had spent many years in exile following the execution of his brother Louis XVI in 1793 during the French Revolution.

During the later years of the Napoleonic Wars he settled in Britain, returning to France when his brother was restored by Allied Forces in 1814 and again after the Waterloo campaign in 1815.

Plans to hold one kept falling through due to various circumstances, and ultimately were postponed indefinitely by the King's poor physical health.

In a speech from the throne on 22 December 1824, Charles made clear his intention to be crowned in the tradition of the Ancien régime.

[2] While the 1804 Coronation of Napoleon had taken place at Notre-Dame de Paris, the new king selected the ancient site of Reims Cathedral.

Extensive preparations had taken place in Reims, for which Charles had contributed a significant amount from the royal treasury, including the remodelling of the Palace of Tau where he stayed.

In a new innovation, four Napoleonic Marshals of France presented the King with the symbols of royal authority and in his oath he swore to uphold the Charter of 1814 which had established a constitutional monarchy rather than an absolute one.

[9] Notable French figures in attendance included the Royalist writers François-René de Chateaubriand, Victor Hugo and Charles Nodier.

[12] The Italian composer Gioachino Rossini created an opera The Journey to Reims focusing on several characters on their way to the coronation.