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| Kingston: The Royal City Where Modern Britain Began |
Kingston looks like an ordinary and small town on the banks of the River Thames. There is a stone in a corner of this city, but it is not an ordinary stone. Between the blue iron bars mounted in the form of a crown, there are seven pillars representing the seven kings. The names of these seven kings are also recorded on this stone.
According to tradition, this historic site is the crowning stone of Great Britain.
Kingston is the administrative center of the London Borough, which attracts many tourists due to its proximity to Hampton Court Palace and the filming of famous dramas, but most are unaware of the extraordinary historical events that took place at this location.
This is because Kingston is no ordinary city. This ancient town has the distinction of being the first royal city of Great Britain and the Coronation Stone here is also very important in the present day.
Before the coronation of King Charles III, there was a debate in Scotland about whether or not the traditional Scottish stone of destiny should be moved to Britain for the ritual that has been used in all British coronation ceremonies until now.
The reason for this was the protest over Scotland being deprived of the independence referendum, but now the stone has reached London, but few people know that England's own coronation stone is located in Kingston.
The city's significance began in the 10th century when the famous Saxon king King Athelstan defeated an allied army of Vikings and Scots at York, uniting Britain and giving Kingston the status of the starting point of modern Britain.
The coronation of King Athelstan of Great Britain is believed to have taken place where All Saints Church now stands. This site was probably chosen because it was close to the ancient kingdoms of the Viscus and Mercia.
Although there is no written record of this stone until 1790, it is believed that Athelstan was crowned on this stone during the coronation ceremony.
A copy of this crown is now in the church, produced with the help of a painting from the ritual of 925.
Julian McCarthy, a tourist information volunteer in Kingston, says: 'Not only do we have the coronation stone, but it is probably the site of the first formal coronation ceremony in Britain.'
Kensington continued to be used for coronations, with the coronations of King Edridd in 946 and King Ethel the Red Elder in 979. According to traditional stories, all these kings were sitting on the same stone.
However, there is no information about when and why the use of this stone was discontinued, but a tradition has survived. The Order of Coronation, created for King Athelstan by the then Archbishop of Canterbury, is still used in British coronation ceremonies.
A tour of Kingston highlights the city's historical and royal culture. Statues of past kings and queens are installed on the ancient buildings in the market square.
More than a century has passed since the coronation of Saxon kings in Kingston, but the Coronation Stone remains an important symbol of the city's past.
Crossing the Kingston Bridge reveals more stories from the past. This bridge was once the second place to cross the River Thames after the famous London Bridge and was used by many people.
These included rebels who would cross the river to reach London in an attempt to overthrow the British crown. A similar attempt was made by Sir Thomas Wyatt the Younger in 1554.
It is said that the residents of Kingston tried to break down this wooden bridge to prevent the rebels from reaching the Tower of London. In return for his loyalty, Queen Mary Tudor granted Kingston additional days of market opening by royal charter as a reward.
In 1927, King George V of Great Britain formally granted Kingston the status of an Imperial City. In 1965, Queen Elizabeth II made Kingston the Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames by another Royal Decree.
Councilor and Deputy Mayor Nicola Nardelli said in a recent event that we are very proud to be the oldest royal city in the country. It is the place where the first Saxon kings were crowned, the place where the first seven Anglo-Saxon kings were crowned, and it is the place where England began.
"We have a deep connection with British royal history and we are preparing to celebrate the King's coronation," Nicola said.
A parade is being held in the city on May 7 to celebrate the coronation of King Charles III.