CORONATION OF THE QUEEN

Press, Volume LXXXVIII, Issue 26723, 6 May 1952, Page 7

CORONATION OF THE QUEEN

ABBEY SERVICE MAY BE CURTAILED LONDON, May 4. For the Coronation on June 2, 1953, at a minimum cost of £1.000.000, London plans to be the gayest city in the world. Coronation day—and night—will be an occasion for that traditional rejoicing and pageantry which London alone knows how to stage. And, to be present at the celebrations of a week of gaiety with the Coronation as the focal point, will be hundreds of thousands of visitors — foreign royalties and aristocracy, the heads of States, diplomats and Commonwealth leaders. In dozens of spheres preparations have already started to make sure that this great influx is fittingly entertained and accommodated. It is understood that the ceremonial details of the Coronation will follow tradition, but that the actual service in the Abbey may be shorter than the four hours taken for the crowning of King George VI in 1937. The high standards of music and ritual will be maintained and nothing essential to the solemn occasion will be omitted, but it is stated that Coronation officials think four hours is too long for even the most impressive form of service ever held in the Abbey. The strain would be great, not only for the young Queen, but for the older peers, statesmen, clerics and other dignatories taking part. Question of Procedure

The Queen herself will be under a great emotional stress, especially during her participation in two of the oldest parts of the ceremony—the inthronisation or the lifting of the monarch to the Throne, and the act of anointing. How these acts will be carried out will be one question the Coronation Commission will have to decide Queen Victoria was lifted into the Throne by the Archbishops, Bishops, and peers, just as the former Kings were lifted.

The anointing entails the pouring of holy oil on the Monarch’s head, heart, and hands. The Tudor Queens, Mary and Elizabeth, both protested at this procedure. Mary claimed that the oil might be polluted, and Elizabeth objected to its smell. Charles I had a slitted shirt specially made which saved him from disrobing. Queen Victoria was anointed only on the crown of the head and the palms of both hands, and it is suggested that this is the most likely practice to be adopted for the new Queen. The procedure of paying homage is likely to follow precedent. The Primate will be the first and then the Duke of Edinburgh. After him senior members of each rank will kneel before the Queen to pledge the loyalty and service of his fellow peers. It is expected that the Queen will use the Imperial State Crown instead of St. Edward’s Crown. The peerage will have to foot a large bill if members want to be suitably clad. There are only a few robes available for hire and firms dealing in this business say that all were reserved long before the Coronation date was announced. A baron can get new robes for as little as 73gns, and as high as 399gns. Dukes must pay between 77gns and 400gns. Coronets cost £25. A baroness can get a complete robe from 99gns to 149gns, but a duchess may pay from 112gns to 572gns. Views on Expenditure The “News Chronicle,” which has asked its readers to give opinions on whether the Coronation should, from, a financial point of view, be an opulent or austere occasion, says that all correspondents save one were in favour of austerity, and two wanted no Coronhtion at all. The “News Chronicle” comments: “In the first place it is certain that no one is going to propose an orgy of extravagance. Anything of this sort would be as remote from the Royal Family’s desires as it would be out of keeping with the. country’s economic situation. ± .. . “In the second place, to those who insist on counting the last penny, it ought to be pointed out that the Coronation will do us far more good than harm in the direction where we need help most—in our national balance of payments.”