QUEEN VICTORIA’S CORONATION

Press, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 27052, 29 May 1953, Page 10

QUEEN VICTORIA’S CORONATION

Long And Colourful

Procession

EARLY START WITH CELEBRATION

The Coronation of Queen Victoria, on June 28, 1838, began with a Royal salute of 21 guns—at 3.17 a.m., to mark the rise of the sun. Although the procession from the Queen’s Palace to Westminster Abbey did not begin until 10.15 a.m., the streets were thronged six hours earlier, and by 6 a.m„ according to the- London “Sun” —which brought out a Coronation issue, partly in gold—the struggle for places had begun.

The procession, a very long and most colourful array, was led by trumpeters, a squadron of Life Guards, and the carriages of the foreign resident ambassadors and ministers, in order of precedence. There were 16 of these carriages, led by the Mexico Charge d’Affaires, with the United States Minister ninth and the Prussian Minister last. Then came 14 carriages bearing the foreign ambassadors and Ministers Extraordinary, and these were of extraordinary elegance. The carriage which created, most interest was that of Marshal Soult, the Ambassador Extraordinary from France. The panels were emblazoned with the Marshal’s arms, a rased cornice of silver, and-it was more elaborately chased than any other carriage in the cavalcade. The interior lining was of nankeen satin relieved with scarlet Bargemaster and Watermen* These carriages were followed by a mounted band of a regiment of the Household Brigade, a detachment qf the Life Guards, and the carriages with branches of the Royal Family, with their escorts and attendants—the Duchess of Kent, the Duchess of Gloucester, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, and the Duke of Sussex. Next in the procession was another mounted band of a regiment of the Household Brigade, followed by the Queen’s Bargemaster, the Queen’s 48 watermen z and Her Majesty’s carriages. Pages of honour and gentlemen ushers rode in the first of two, and bedchamber women in the next two. Maids of honour occupied four carriages, and Lords in Waiting and Ladies of the Bedchamber had four carriages. These 12 carriages were followed by the Lord Chamberlain (Marquis Conyngham), the Lord Steward (the Duke of Argyle), a squadron of Life Guards, another mounted band, military staff and aides-de-camp on-horse, three by three.

Immediately before the Queen’s coach were the Royal Huntsmen, Yeomen Prickers, and Foresters; six of Her Majesty’s horses, in rich trappings. each led by two grooms; the Knight Marshal on horseback; marshalmen, in fours; the Junior Exon of the Yeomen of the Guard on horse, 100 yeomen of the Guard, in fours; and then the Senior Exon, Ensign, and Lieutenant of the Yeomen of the Guard.

The State coach, drawn by eight cream horses, was attended by a Yeoman of the Guard at each wheel with two footmen at each door. Riding beside it were the Gold Stick (Viscount Combermere) and the Captain of the Yeomen of the Guard (the Earl of Ilchester), and behind it came the Mistress of the Robes (the Duchess of Sunderland), the Master of the Horse Earl of Albermarle), and the Captain-General or the Royal Archers (the Duke of Buceleuch). The procession ended with a squadron of Life Guards.