AT TEMPLE BAR.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 106, 7 May 1935, Page 7

AT TEMPLE BAR.

ANCIENT CEREMONY.

Lord Mayor Surrenders Sword

To the King. SYMBOL OF LOYAL AFFECTION. (United P.A.—Elcctric Telegraph—Copyright) (Received 11 a.m.) LONDON, May 0. Their Majesties entered the precincts of the City at Temple Bar at 11 a.m. There the Lord Mayor, Sir Stephen Killik, was in attendance. He presented a pearl sword to the King on his arrival at the City's western boundary saying: "I have the honour to surrender to Your Majesty the sword of your ancient City, with a humble expression of the loyal and affectionate attachment to Your Majesty's person and the Throne of all the citizens." Tlio King touched the hilt of tlie sword and then returned it, indicating that he wished it to be left in the City Fathers' hands. The Lord Mayor and the scarletgowned aldermen and sheriffs then reentered their carriages and drove ahead with an escort of Household Cavalry bearing the pearl sword. Tims through Fleet Street, where the offices of the New Zealand and Australian news agencies were crowded with overseas visitors, whose "eoo-ees" gave a distinctive note to the genera" chorus of cheers which greeted the Koyal procession. Arrival at St. Paul's. Mounting Ludgatc Hill the Royal coach entered the square of St. Paul's, circling the familiar statue of Queen Anno and stopping at the base of the steps, where the Bishop of London, Dr. Wilmington Ingram, and the dean and canons residentiary were awaiting it. The King and Queen reached the west door of the Cathedral at 11.15 a.m., and clergy headed the procession into the nave. When the King was seated the Lord Mayor laid the pearl sword on a table before Their Majesties and passed to his stall in the choir. A space immediately beneath the dome was reserved for the Royal Family and suites, who filled eight" rows of seats. The King and Queen were slightly in advance with the Queen of Norway, the Prince of Wales, the Duke and Duchess of York, Princesses Elizabeth and Margaret, the Princess Royal, and the Duke of Connauglit, in the front row. The Duke of Gloucester, the Duke and Duchess of Kent, Princess Louise, Princess Victoria, the Grand Duchess Xenia, and the Earl of Harewood were in the second row. The imposing group of Royalties included the Maliarajahs of Bikanir, Patiala and Kashmir, and Sir Umarliavat Khan, as the King's honorary aides-de-camp. Cathedral a Shrine of Empire. The interior of the Cathedral was a slirinc of Empire. The cheering seemed like a murmur of the distant sea as the rich organ music filled the vast church, and rose and fell along the colonnades, then died in the vaulted roof. The Queen wore an exquisite gown of hydrangea pink silk net embroidered with lace mounted over cloth of silver, producing a delicate shimmering effect. Her Majesty wore a Blue Garter ribbon with diamond and pearl necklace, ear-rings and bracelets, while a turba:: of hydrangea pink matched her gown. During the drive the Queen had worn a cloak of silver-woven lame, collared with white fox, but this was discarded as she entered the Cathedral. PUBLIC SERVICE. AFTERNOON AT ST. PAUL'S. (British Official Wireless.) (Received 1 p.m.) RUGBY, May G. A congregation of 4500 persons attended the special service of jubilee thanksgiving held this afternoon for tlie people at St. Paul's Cathedral. The Dean read a message from the King, which stated that the King and Queen recalled with thankfulness in their hearts, the blessings vouchsafed to them during the last 25 momentous years in the history of this country, and it was in the spirit of profound thankfulness to Almighty God that Their Majesties were enabled to join with their people to-day in this lastingly impressive ceremony.