The Stained Glass Museum is celebrating its ties to the British monarchy by opening to visitors for free all day on Coronation Day, Saturday 6 May.

To commemorate His Majesty King Charles III’s Coronation, visitors will be able to explore the museum’s permanent gallery of stained glass windows, many of which have a royal connection.

With stunning examples of stained glass windows from the medieval to the modern from across the UK and Europe, there is something for everyone to enjoy, whether your preference is for the traditional, modern or both!

The Stained Glass Museum will be open 10am until 5pm on Saturday 6 May. Ely Cathedral is also open all day for free and will be showing the Coronation ceremony in the nave on the big screen. Families can also enjoy a special free Coronation trail to explore the Cathedral and the museum.

The Stained Glass Museum and Royal Patronage

The Stained Glass Museum is located on an upper level of Ely Cathedral, and has a strong association with King Charles III. In his role as the former Prince of Wales, His Royal Highness had the role of Patron of The Stained Glass Museum. He has visited the museum twice, once in 2000 to reopen the new gallery, and most recently he made a special visit in November 2018 to mark the museum’s 40th birthday.

The Stained Glass Museum’s Royal portraits

The museum’s collection contains several stained glass windows with direct connections to the British monarchy for visitors to explore too.

Royal portraits in the museum’s collection include a large and glowing 18th century painted glass portrait of King George III (reign 1760-1820) in his Coronation robes, today on loan to The Stained Glass Museum from the Royal Collection. Once housed in the royal residence of Windsor Castle, this portrait was a major feature in the King’s Dining Room. King George III is depicted seated in the Coronation Chair at Westminster Abbey, wearing robes of State and holding the sceptre.

This is the same Coronation Chair that King Charles III will sit on in Westminster Abbey during the Coronation Ceremony on 6 May. The Chair has been used at the coronation ceremony since Edward II’s Coronation ceremony in 1308 and for Crowning of monarchs since at least 1399 when Henry IV was crowned whilst seated in the Chair.

Another portrait on display at the museum, by the artist Hugh Arnold, depicts Queen Victoria (reign 1837-1901) and her successor Edward VII (reign 1901-1910). Until the reign of the late Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, Victoria was the longest reigning British monarch. In this window she is shown in her Coronation robes carrying her sceptre and wearing the Order of the Garter. Edward VII is shown in his Knight of the Garter robes and holding the crown.

The Stained Glass Museum’s permanent gallery displays over 130 windows from its collection, from medieval to modern, so there is much to explore. We look forward to welcoming visitors to celebrate this occasion with us.

Press release from The Stained Glass Museum

All photos © The Stained Glass Museum

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