Bottles of beer brewed for the coronation of Edward VIII will go on sale next month. The 'Coronation Ale' was left unopened because the event was cancelled. Edward VIII ascended to the British throne in January 1936 following the death of his father, George V. He abdicated to marry divorcee Wallis Simpson. Edward VIII's brother George VI was crowned instead.
At the time royals weren't permitted to marry divorcees, a norm, which weighed on his decision to abdicate. Incidentally, in recent times, royals have married divorcees-- King Charles married his long-time paramour Camilla in 2011 and Prince Harry married an American actress and divorcee Meghan Markle in 2018.
The beer was discovered in the cellars of Greene King in Suffolk in 2011, nearly 75 years later during renovation work. The pub will auction the beer off on March 5, a day ahead of King Charles III's coronation. The proceeds from the sale will go to the charity founded by the future king-- The Prince's Trust. The charity helps underprivileged children to develop life skills.
Royal historian and author, Professor Kate Williams, who is working with Greene King as part of the auction process, told Sky News, "It is absolutely fascinating that these beers have been lying in the cellar for 86 years, having originally been brewed to celebrate the coronation of Edward VIII.
