On This Day – Leicester City Ascend To The English Throne

After the one-year reign of Chelsea came to a close just under a week earlier, the Foxes ascended to the English throne for the first time in 132 years. Crowds gathered from around the globe in the city of Leicester to witness the moment as Claudio Ranieri and his unlikely entourage of title winners were presented with the crown jewels. 

Cast by Asprey London, the Crown Jewellers, the Premier League trophy, which has a sterling silver body and a crown made of 24-carat silver gilt, has long been beyond Leicester's reach. Engraved with the names of England's most illustrious footballing rulers, only five clubs had previously reigned over the country's footballing establishment in the preceding 24 years.

With the Club’s newfound power now uncontested by their rivals following the events of early May, Leicester City's name was forged onto the 2.5st Malacite base before the event of their coronation. Beforehand, Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli serenaded the congregation on Filbert Way with a rendition of Nessun dorma, from the final act of Giacomo Puccini's opera Turandot, a fitting precursor.

The guest list was unfortunately limited to the venue's capacity of 32,140, but in truth, millions of well wishers tuned in on televisions around the world, or congregated on the city's streets instead. King Power Stadium was decked in blue and white, with flags on every seat, while Khun Vichai laid on free beer or water to everyone lucky enough to witness the historic occasion in person.

The procession, on the other hand, occurred on the field of play as the Foxes defeated Everton in a 3-1 triumph, after their guests had graciously afforded them a Guard of Honour before the ceremony. While some wondered if King Richard III, the last of the Plantagenet dynasty, was watching over them, the spectators rejoiced as City's own Andy King had a prominent role on the Club's greatest day. Jamie Vardy, whose rise to prominence continues to amaze, naturally had a part to play in proceedings, with two moments of quality, as the heavens opened to unleash an early summer downpour.

Finally, when the moment of destiny arrived for Leicester City to be formally crowned as England's new footballing rulers, the tempest calmed, and the clouds parted, just in time for their ascent to the throne. Ranieri, a man of Roman heritage now adopted into Leicester folklore forever, accompanied Wes Morgan to hoist the trophy aloft, with ticker tape and fireworks filling the East Midlands skyline.

Across the county – and indeed the wider world – bunting was draped, parties were staged and toasts were raised to honour the new kings of England.

Leicester City. The champions of England.