Henry, who had long wished to associate his son, Prince Henry, with
him in the government, had him crowned at Westminster by the
Archbishop of York, the bishops of London and Salisbury taking part.
By custom, if not indeed by law, Becket alone, as Archbishop of
Canterbury, had the right to perform this ceremony.
When Becket heard of the coronation, he declared it an outrage both
against Christianity and the Church. So great an outcry now arose
that Henry believed it expedient to recall the absent Archbishop,
especially as the King of France was urging the Pope to take up the
matter. Henry accordingly went over to the Continent, met Becket, and
persuaded him to return.