Inviolably. It means, to make a promise you can never break. A very sacred promise indeed.
In 1937, young Princess Elizabeth helps her father rehearse for his coronation. In the present, she's preparing for her own. Edward returns to London to spend time with an ailing Queen Mary, and clashes with Tommy Lascelles after learning that he and Wallis are not invited to attend the coronation. Elizabeth regrets her decision to place Philip in charge of preparations after he upsets her with a request that he should forgo kneeling to pay homage when she is crowned, and he further irritates the committee by insisting that they televise the event. On 2 June 1953, Elizabeth is crowned in full splendour at Westminster Abbey while Edward and Wallis watch the TV coverage from their Paris villa.
This episode contains examples of:
- Association Fallacy: When Edward points out it's been seventeen years since he abdicated so maybe it's time to put that aside, Tommy Lascelles replies that "some things can't be forgotten, like the Somme." Edward incredulously asks if he's really comparing an abdication to slaughter in the First World War.
- Artistic Licence – History:
- Perhaps inevitably, the Queen's coronation is somewhat condensed for the show. For example, the coronation oath is shown as being administered immediately before the anointing with holy oil, when the two events were actually about forty minutes apart in the service.
- Philip is shown being resentful of having to kneel before Elizabeth at her coronation — in fact, it becomes a major source of tension in the episode. While it is true that he resented not having any official role in the early years of his wife's reign, he was always fully respectful of the crown and what it represents. By all accounts, he willingly took part in the ceremony with no fuss.
- At the Opera Tonight: Elizabeth and Philip go to see Swan Lake.
- Awesome Moment of Crowning: Played with; the coronation is the central event of the episode, but more importance is given to the anointing with holy oil rather than the actual placing of the crown on the Queen's head.
- Call-Back: During the anointing part of the coronation, the Archbishop struggles with the word "inviolably". Elizabeth, who recalls struggling with that very same word when reading through the order of service with her father back in 1937 (as we saw during the Cold Opening), helps him out.
- Cool Crown: One of the most famous Real Life examples, no less — St. Edward's Crown
, the centrepiece of the British Crown Jewels and only worn by the British monarch at his or her coronation. Elizabeth tries it on beforehand, just like her father did.Queen Elizabeth II: Do you suppose I might borrow it? For a couple of days, just to practice.Valet: Borrow it, Ma'am? From whom? If it's not yours, whose is it? - Desperately Looking for a Purpose in Life: Again, Philip — he gets put in charge of the coronation committee purely because Elizabeth has to give him something to do.
- Dramatic Sit-Down: Despite his previous refusal to sit in the Queen's presence, Churchill is shown doing so when discussing the radical changes her husband has proposed to the coronation ceremony.
- Everything's Louder with Bagpipes: The Duke of Windsor unwinds by playing them.
- Foreshadowing: In the flashback, young Princess Elizabeth and her father the King read through the anointing part of the coronation ceremony. Later, we see her being anointed as Queen.
- Happily Married: Edward and Wallis; he loved her enough to abandon the throne for her, even if he does get wistful about it sometimes. They share in intimate moment before he goes to England, and he later says that being married to her is better than being a god.
- High Priest: Being the most senior priest in the Church of England, the Archbishop of Canterbury presides over the coronation. Although not named, this one is the Most Reverend and Right Honourable Geoffrey Fisher, the 99th holder of the position.
- It Will Never Catch On: Everyone else on the committee thinks this about Philip's idea to televise the coronation.
- Jerkass Has a Point: Philip's handling of the coronation is treated as if he's indulging his own grand designs out of arrogance and boredom. When Elizabeth confronts him, however, he makes a very good point that bringing the people in touch with the British monarchy (via, say, televising the coronation) will help avoid the fate of his own family, who were deposed in an uprising which was partly caused by the (Greek) monarchy gradually becoming too remote from the people they ruled over.
- Leaning on the Fourth Wall: Edward and Wallis, while being interviewed by an American journalist.
- Mr. Exposition: Edward is on hand to explain the significance of various aspects of the coronation ceremony — ostensibly for his guests, but actually for the viewer.Edward: Oils and oaths. Orbs and sceptres. Symbol upon symbol. An unfathomable web of arcane mystery and liturgy, blurring so many lines no clergyman or historian or lawyer could ever untangle any of it.Party Guest: It's crazy.Edward: On the contrary. It's perfectly sane. Who wants transparency when you can have magic? Who wants prose when you can have poetry? Pull away the veil and what are you left with? An ordinary young woman of modest ability and little imagination. But wrap her up like this, anoint her with oil, and hey, presto, what do you have? A goddess.
- Not So Above It All: Despite repeatedly standing by his decision to abdicate for love, the end of the episode shows the Duke of Windsor shedding a Single Tear while playing the bagpipes as he realises what he gave up.
- Open Mouth, Insert Foot: At the meeting where he learns his wife will not be invited to the coronation, the Duke of Windsor angrily denounces the cruelty of the establishment towards them in a way that is almost hard for the people he's talking with to argue against... until he makes the mistake of calling his deceased brother 'weak', which Tommy Lascelles doesn't hesitate in smacking down. Even the Archbishop of Canterbury, who's tried be a mediating and neutral presence, bluntly makes it clear that this was a step too far and he's lost a potential ally on this one.Tommy: Nothing weak about the late King, sir. I'm sure I speak for everyone present when I call him a hero.
Archbishop: [Firmly] Here, here. - Parenting the Husband: Elizabeth has to take time out from preparing for her coronation in order to convince Philip that, yes, he really does have to kneel before her during the ceremony.Philip: Are you my wife, or my Queen?Queen Elizabeth II: I am both, and a strong man would be able to kneel to both.
- Sharp-Dressed Man: The Duke of Windsor note gives tips on sartorial elegance.Edward: No matter what the fashion, a well-cut suit in a beautiful fabric will take you anywhere.
- Smoking Hot Sex: Edward and Wallis share a pre-coital one.
- Snark-to-Snark Combat: Edward and Tommy Lascelles trade insults, with Jock Colville and the Archbishop in attendance.Edward: You know, Tommy, you're an embarrassment to the institution you serve, and to the country that institution serves in turn.Tommy Lascelles: And I will take a lecture on national embarrassment from many people, sir, but not from you.
- "The Reason You Suck" Speech: The Duke of Windsor gives one, in Sublime Rhyme no less, to the Archbishop of Canterbury for going along with the plan to remove him from the coronation ceremony."My Lord Archbishop, what a scold you are.
And when your man is down, how very bold you are.
Of Christian charity how very scant you are, you Auld Lang Swine, how full of Cantuar.''note A rhyme composed for your perfidious predecessor at the time of my abdication. I find the sentiment oddly applicable to you, too. - This Is Unforgivable!: While the Duke argues that his wife should be allowed to attend the ceremony as a sign of reconciliation from the new monarch, it's made clear to him that won't happen regardless of how many years have passed since his abdication. Even the Duke, who can't be refused attendance as he's a member of the Royal Family, is put in a position where he's forced to refuse on principle.
- What Could Have Been: In-universe, Edward gets this when he watches his niece go through the coronation ceremony (a ceremony he never underwent).
