Page "Ealdred (bishop)" Paragraph 23

John of Worcester, a medieval chronicler, stated that Ealdred crowned King Harold II in 1066, although the Norman chroniclers mention Stigand as the officiating prelate.

Given Ealdred's known support of Godwin's family, John of Worcester is probably correct.

Stigand's position as archbishop was canonically suspect, and as earl Harold had not allowed Stigand to consecrate one of the earl's churches, it is unlikely that Harold would have allowed Stigand to perform the much more important royal coronation.

Arguments for Stigand having performed the coronation, however, rely on the fact that no other English source names the ecclesiastic who performed the ceremony ; all Norman sources name Stigand as the presider.

In all events, Ealdred and Harold were close, and Ealdred supported Harold's bid to become king.

Ealdred perhaps accompanied Harold when the new king went to York and secured the support of the northern magnates shortly after Harold's consecration.