PHANTOM AFFAIR

Dominion, Volume 30, Issue 174, 20 April 1937, Page 9

PHANTOM AFFAIR

Rehearsal of Coronation Procession PEOPLE CROWD ROUTE By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright. London, April 18. Large crowds witnessed the first rehearsal of the Coronation procession. Early trains and buses brought thousands of people to the route, and when the old gold coach rolled into Dean's Yard shortly before 6.30 a.m. people stood 10 and 12 deep on the pavements on both sides of the road. Trafalgar Square was a mass of people, and other parts of the route were packed. The rehearsal procession itself was a phantom-like affair, and had an-eerie air of unreality which was accentuated by the silence of the crowds, who could hardly have been expected to cheer luggage brakes. The first part of the procession moved off at 6.45 a.m. and consisted of 11 semi-State landaus representing the carriages of the Prime Ministers of Britain and the Dominions. Then c.ame an escort of the Household Cavalry, three brakes representing the procession of princes and princesses. The next was Queen Mary’s procession, represented by four brakes preceded by the mounted band of the Household Cavalry, followed by a Royal escort of the Life Guards. All the troops were in khaki. The gold coach was drawn by eight Windsor greys with four postillions and longcoated footmen walking on either side. Behind the coach was a Sovereign's escort of the Household Cavalry. The procession took 25 minutes to pass a given point, but the timing was of no significance, as the procession was only a skeleton of what it will be on Coronation Day. TO CARRY NEW ZEALAND STANDARD Post for High Commissioner London, April 18? The latest appointments for the Coronation ceremony include the Australian and New Zealand High Commissioners, Mr, S. M. Bruce and Mr. W. J. Jordan, who will carry the standards of Australia and Now Zealand respectively, and the other High Commissioners will carry the standards of their own Dominions .and that of India. The Marquess of Cholmondelcy will carry the Royal Standard. The 10 pages who will carry the King’s train include Earl Kitchener, grandnephew of the famous fieldmarshal, who recently succeeded to the title, Lord Haig, Earl Jellicoe. and Viscount Lascelles, son of the Princess Royal. The six ladies to bear the Queen's train include Lady Iris Mopntbatten, cousin of the King, and Lady Elizabeth Percy, daughter of the Duchess of Northumberland.

The Leader of the Opposition, Mr. C. R. Attlee, has solved the problem of many Labour members of the House of Commons and others who feared that the order to wear evening dress with knee breeches would prevent their attendance at the Coronation. Following a concession that morning dress or dark lounge suits could be worn, Mr. Attlee has advised that that dress be adopted. Women will wear morning dress with a scarf instead of a hat. REHEARSAL IN ABBEY (British official Wireless.) (Received April 19, 5 p.m.) Rugby, April IS. There will be a full rehearsal of the Coronation service in Westminster Abbey on May 10, in which all those taking part in the ceremony, with the exception of Their Majesties themselves, will participate.