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Thecolobium sindonis (Latin for "shroudtunic") is a simple sleeveless whitelinen shift worn byBritish monarchs during part of thecoronation service. It symbolises divesting oneself of all worldly vanity and standing bare before God.[1] The monarch is continually robed and disrobed during the ceremony, according to ancient custom.[1]
Following theanointing in the coronation service, the colobium sindonis is placed over the monarch's clothes, and then thesupertunica, a long robe of goldbrocade, is placed over that. Wearing these garments, the monarch is invested with theregalia, crowned and enthroned.[2] Both garments are removed before the final procession out of the abbey. Both of these robes are of very ancient design; those used by the medieval kings of England were said to have been used by KingEdward the Confessor at his coronation in 1043, however these were destroyed by theParliamentarians after theEnglish Civil War.[3] Up until George V, a new colobium sindonis was usually made for each coronation;[4][5] however,Charles III wore his great grandfathersGeorge V colobium sindonis forhis coronation in 2023.[5]
