Below are some excerpts from The Great Solemnity of the Coronation of a King and Queen by Douglas Macleane. The entire book can be downloaded here.


Richard III. and Anne of Warwick, as described in Harleian MS.
2115, "put off their robes and stood all naked, from their waists
upwards, till the Bishop had anointed them."
. . . . .

Until the Revolution six places were anointed—the
hands, the breast, between the shoulders, the
points of the shoulders, the bowings of the arms,
and the crown of the head. For William and
Mary these were reduced to three—the head, the
breast, and the palms (in that order).
. . . . .

William IV. and Queen Victoria were anointed
only on the head and hands, with one formula
for both places. For our late Sovereign the
threefold unction was happily restored, and a
separate formula used at each anointing.
. . . . .

The old rubricks have careful directions about
the under-vestures to be worn by the King—
viz. a shirt of fine lawn, a kirtle of crimson tarteron,
and a surcoat of crimson satin, with openings
at all the necessary places, laced with loops
of silver and gold, with hose of crimson sarcenet
tied to the coat with silk ribbons. William IV.,
when disrobed for his anointing, appeared in an
Admiral's uniform with trousers !