THE CORONATION

Press, Volume LXXII, Issue 21827, 6 July 1936, Page 9

THE CORONATION

PARTICIPATION OF THE DOMINIONS

LONDON, July 8.

The London Gazette announced the appointment of a Privy Council committee, consisting of 42 mem* bers, including the Duke of York, the Archbishops of Canterbury and York, the Duke of Norfolk, Cabinet members, the leaders of the Opposition, also Mr Lloyd George and Mr Winston Churchill, any five of whom form a quorum, to consider preparations for the Coronation. The parliamentary writer of “The Times” says that the committee will consider the preparations concerning Britain, but the change in the status of the self-governing Dominions gives .them an independent interest. The question of arranging the Dominions* participation Is in preparation. Aspects of the ceremony which are the common concern of the Dominions and Britain are still being discussed between the respective Governments.

For the first time in history the Dominions take a specially significant part in the Coronation. Canada, Australia, South Africa, and New Zealand will be given a position in the ceremonies, emphasising their new importance as self-govern-ing nations under the Statute of Westminster, under which the King is not only the ruler of the Empire as a whole, but is separately and distinctly King of Canada, Australia, South Africa, and New Zealand. A new Coronation ceremony will underline this conception of a King whose crowning in this new form may prelude a contemplated Royal tour of the Dominions.