QUEEN'S PART IN THE CORONATION.

Evening Post, Volume LXXXI, Issue 41, 18 February 1911, Page 10

QUEEN'S PART IN THE CORONATION.

The part that Queen Mary is to take in the Coronation next June is a vory impressive one^ but one that ifi not generally understood. Her crowning (says M.A.P.) follows directly after that of the King, and follows the same ceremonial ratbor closely, save that sho is not handed tho Orb — the emblem of sovereignty— nor ie tho Sword of Blate exposed before her. Tho ceremonial opens with the Queen tak* ing up a kneeling position on a footstbol between the Coronation Chair, in winch ! the King is by that tmie installed, and the altar. She is first of all anointed j with sacred oil from the Ampulla or Golden Eagle. This is done on the hands and head only, whereas tho King is anointed on the arms and breast as well. Then comes the placing of tho ring on her finger. The ring is of pure gold, with a large flat ruby in tho contra aurrounded by sixteen smaller rubies. This, by the way, is the oldest form oj conferring dignity upon a Sovereign or his Consort that is known lo historians. The crowning proper next takes place, and here there is an important difference between the coronation of the King and the Queen-Conaort. Tho former has placed upon his brow the crown of King Edwwrd, and subsequently assumes his Slate Crown. This latter is his personal property, and is not kept among the Regalia. The Queen-Consort has no crown, save her own coronet or stata crown, and this is now being manufactured for Queen Mary. At the moment that she assumes this, every peeress present places her coronet on her head. At tha same moment, her Sceptre and her Virgo are handed to the Queen, tho former beI ing placed in her right hand by the Archbishop ot _ York, who has tho privilege of crowning the Queen just as l"ho •Archbishop of Canterburj places the crown on tho King's head. The difference between tho Sceptre and the Virgo is that the former has a cross upon its head and th© latter the white dove of purity Thus attired, tho Queen now mounts her throne, which is v trifle lower than that assigned to the King. From her throne Her Majesty proceeds to the altar, and is there relieved of her crown, and hands to the assembled bishops a gift of gold to be applied for the succour of th© poor. She then returns to her throne for the iinal prayers, and subsequently takes her place by the King in tho procession from th© Abbey. Queen Mary ' is_ taking the greatest interest in the preparations for tho Coronation ceremony, and is already thoroughly conversant with the very important part ehe will be called upon to play. Her Majesty proposes to follow tho excellent example set by Queen Alexandra at her own coronation, and to have the whole of her rich robes and vestments made in this country, and of British material. These are of an extremely handsome nature, and will bo of Royal purple, lined with white satin and fringed with ermine. The ceremony is a most tiring one, but it is to be shortened as much a« po&sible, and the procedure adopted at the crowning of King Edward will be followed rather closely. The chief innovation here was that the ceremony of each peer and peeress present kissing the hands of the Sovereign and his Consort after their coronation was shortened ; only the senior peers of each degreo wore given this privilege. The whole of the Crown Regalia in the Jewel-house at the Tower of London is now being overhauled and burnished up for the occasion, whilo, as has been mentioned, a new Stato crown is being prepared for Queen Mary. This will dg verisimilar to that worn by Queen Alexandra at the previous ceromony. Queen Alexandra will, by the way, wear this crown again, and will sit on the left hand of the King during tho whole ceremony. It is many years 6ince the mother of a British Sovereign last assisted at a coronation. It is tho privilege of the Sovereign to select his own bishop to preach tho Coronation sarmon, and it is understood that— by desire of Queen Mary—t his duty will be undertaken by the Bishop 01 London, who likewise officiated at the coronation of the late King, his address on that occasion, having been most oloi quent. I