George III became King on the death of his grandfather, George II, on 25 October 1760. He married Princess Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz on 8 September 1761, just in time for her to be crowned with him on 22 September. Contemporary accounts relate considerable confusion at some stages of the coronation ceremonies, but the dignity of the royal couple and 'the reverent attention which both paid' to the service were favourably commented on. Feeling it would be wrong to receive Holy Communion wearing his crown, the King himself decided to lay it aside, since neither the order of service nor the Archbishop of Canterbury gave him guidance on this point.

This copy of the Form and Order, with a decorative paper cover, was amended by Charles Manners-Sutton, Archbishop of Canterbury when preparing the service for George IV’s coronation in 1821. It contains annotations in the archbishop’s hand at pp. 31-2 and in another unidentified hand elsewhere in the volume. Notably, the entire section of the Queen’s coronation has been scored out, indicating the King’s determination not to allow his estranged wife, Caroline of Brunswick to attend the service.