Her Majesty the Queen is patron of the British Dental Association and the BDJ of 1953 contains a number of interesting pieces on the subject of the Coronation.
Dental profession represented
First mention comes in the BDJ of the 19th May:
The dental profession is to be represented at the Coronation Ceremony in Westminster Abbey by the Chairman of the Dental Board of the United Kingdom, Dr. E. Wilfred Fish, C.B.E. Twenty-four seats in official stands in Piccadilly and Hyde Park have been allotted to members of the Representative Board of the British Dental Association.
Coronation day message
On the day of the Coronation itself (2nd June) a BDJ was published with the following message:
Today, the thoughts of all English-speaking people throughout the world will be turned upon the solemn ceremony of the Coronation in Westminster Abbey. The traditional ceremonial, itself, has undergone little change during its long history, but its inner meaning has been modified as the years have passed. In Saxon times, when the Sovereign was elected, his Coronation was, at once, the symbol of his subjects' recognition of him as their King and a service of consecration in his office.
Queen Elizabeth II comes to the Throne by right of inheritance. She needs no formal recognition of that right, for, young though she is, she is already enthroned in the hearts of the peoples of the Commonwealth of Nations over whose destinies she has been called to preside. The age-old ritual remains with all its splendour. Its central theme, however, is no longer the recognition of the Sovereign's title to the loyalty and obedience of her subjects, but one of her dedication to the duties and responsibilities of her high office. Unlike her illustrious namesake, she enters upon her reign with the Monarchy firmly established in the goodwill of her people. That this is so is due, in no small measure, to the way in which her father and grandfather discharged the difficult and onerous duties of a Constitutional Sovereign and devoted themselves to promoting the well-being and happiness of every section of the community. Even before she succeeded to the Throne, the Queen had already shown, by the wide range of her sympathies, that this tradition of service would be maintained.
The liberal arts and sciences have reason to be grateful for her encouragement, and members of the dental profession will be mindful that she is an honorary Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons and the Patron of the British Dental Association. Her Consort, too, has shown how great is his interest in the advancement of science. The first Elizabethan age witnessed an enormous expansion of man's knowledge of the geography of the world. May it not well be that the new one, now opening, will see an even wider extension of our understanding of the secrets of nature and the application of the knowledge, so obtained, to the promotion of the health and happiness of mankind? For the first time in history many millions of people have been able not only to hear but also to see the actual Coronation ceremony. This striking advance in one field of applied science can be matched in many others and it is safe to predict that even these are but the precursors of still greater achievements.
That these may be devoted to the arts of peace rather than to those of war will be the heartfelt prayer of many as they wish Her Majesty a long and glorious reign.
Address to Her Majesty the Queen
Finally, in a supplement to the BDJ published on July 7th, the Council reported to the Representative Board that a loyal message had been sent to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II from the BDA:
May it please Your Majesty, the President and Members of the British Dental Association offer their loyal congratulations and greetings and their humble devotion on the joyous occasion of Your Majesty's Coronation, and pray that you may long be spared to reign in days of peace, happiness and prosperity.
A reply to this was received from one of Her Majesty's Secretaries:
I am commanded to convey to you and to all those on whose behalf you wrote an expression of the Queen's thanks for your kind and loyal message on the occasion of Her Majesty's Coronation.
Further Royal connections
On 13th March 1967, the new headquarters of the BDA at 64 Wimpole Street were opened by Her Majesty the Queen. A short piece written on the occasion can be viewed here.
Finally, in 1980, on the occasion of the Association's centenary, His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh was made its honorary President for the year.
