It’s always amusing to look at compilation articles, such as in this case (https://www.lovefood.com/galleries/amp/581128/the-most-lavish-british-royal-feasts-of-all-time-ranked), when a list of particularly lavish past coronation feasts is considered.
Well, Richard III was bound to feature, because his coronation feast is still renowned for its extravagance. The usual inference to be drawn is that he was trying to justify his usurpation. At least, it is if one takes the Tudor point of view. Not this time, however. Richard comes in at number 14 [of 18, listed in reverse order]. His banquet was on 6 July 1483, and there were 3,000 people crammed into Westminster Hall. Richard isn’t accused of any wrongdoing, which makes a change.
To read more detail about this coronation banquet, please try https://sparkypus.com/2020/05/16/the-coronation-feast-of-king-richard-lll-and-his-queen/ and https://www.westminster-abbey.org/abbey-commemorations/royals/richard-iii. To read about these feasts in general, go to https://www.parliament.uk/about/living-heritage/building/palace/westminsterhall/other-uses/coronation-banquets/.
Unfortunately there is a boo-boo with the illustration used for Richard’s feast. Far from being 1483, the image is of the 1727 coronation of George II:-
Oh well, I suppose it was in Westminster Hall, so that bit at least is accurate!
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