Hail Hail History: Celtic and the five Deaths of the Monarch

On Sunday a little piece of Celtic history will be created: it is almost certainly the first time players from the club have ever observed a commemoration for the death of a Monarch.

It is perhaps surprising but only five monarchs have died during Celtic’s 134-year history (Victoria, Edward VII, George V, George VI and now Elizabeth). These events affected Celtic in different ways, including winning famous trophies!

Silences were held in fixtures following the previous deaths (although St Mirren have this morning confirmed that it will be a minute’s applause this weekend). Celtic definitely did not participate in those for Edward VII, George V and George VI, and likely not for Victoria. These were not a deliberate acts but instead a result of the Bhoys not playing when these tributes were held, either due to game cancellations or having already been knocked out the relevant cup competitions.

The length of time that the most recent Queen was in post means that few will remember how football reacts to a Monarch’s death. In spite of a media narrative that suggests public unity, in fact each time before there have been arguments, just like now.

The first occasion a monarch died after Celtic began playing was in 1901, with the death of Queen Victoria (then the longest reigning monarch in British history). Victoria died on Tuesday 22 January 1901. Unlike the most recent Queen’s death this did not automatically lead to football being cancelled. Instead there was a more mixed response.

The first full set of fixtures planned after Victoria’s death was on Saturday 26 January. The decision – in Scotland at least – was that all senior games should be played, although many other matches were cancelled. In England there was a slightly different situation. Most games went ahead as planned although others – especially those in London – were postponed until after the Queen’s funeral.

Outwith football, events were not dissimilar to those seen in 2022. Schools were closed for the funeral, as were many workplaces. There was even orders that blinds should be shut in windows in all homes.

Reflecting some of the stranger responses to a monarch’s death, one Scottish newspaper even noted a suggestion that an extra month be added to the year (taking days from the other months) and named after Queen Victoria.

When the games in Scotland took place it mainly involved Scottish Cup ties. Some accounts of those matches describe players wearing black armbands or observing a pre-match silence although there is no clear evidence that this happened in all games.

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