STATE OPENING OF PARLIAMENT

Press, Volume LXXXVIII, Issue 26869, 23 October 1952, Page 9

STATE OPENING OF PARLIAMENT

ROLE OF DUKE OF EDINBURGH

(Rec. 1 p.m.) LONDON, October 22. A precedent of Victorian days has been followed in deciding the part of the Duke of Edinburgh in the State opening of Parliament on November 4. It will be the firs* such ceremony of the new reign. , An official of the Lord Chancellors office said the part the Duke of Edinburgh will play will be that of a husband supporting his wife, as was the case with Prince Albert. The Queen will sit alone on a raised dais in the House ot Lords for the opening with full State pageantry and ceremonial. The Duke of Edinburgh will lead her to the ornate throne which the Sovereign uses in Parliament, and then take his place on a less elaborate chair of State a few feet away to her left on a lower platform. At past State openings by kings, their queens always shared the centre dais sitting on a throne placed beside that of the sovereign.

Lecture Tour on Art—The director of the Auckland Art Gallery (Mr Eric Westbrook) is to make a lecture tour of almost all the major towns in the Dominion, probably during the latter half of November. The tour will be sponsored by the British Council, and Mr Westbrook will speak on various aspects of British art. It is believed that this is the first time the council has engaged a lecturer in New Zealand.—(P.A.)