ORDER OF GARTER

Greymouth Evening Star, 2 August 1929, Page 9

ORDER OF GARTER

INVESTITURE OF EMPEROR.

In a letter tohis parents, who reside in Sydney, Captain F. S. W. Steed, who is attached to the British. Embassy at Tokio, describes graphically the recent investiture of the Emperor of Japan with the Order of the Garter by the Duke of Gloucester. Captain Steed writes: —

“The Emperor was at Tokio station to meet the Duke on the arrival of the Royal train. The next day the investiture took place. That was about the most impressive ceremony I have ever seen. We arrived at the Imperial Palace at 9.45 a.m. in full dress, and were shown into an ante-room. Here, presently, all the' Embassy staff collected, and the Japanese Cabinet Ministers took up a position down one Side of the room from the door to the throne, and we drew up opposite them. On the right of the throne were the princes of the blood. Shortly after we were assembled the Emperor came in the Imperial Household mounted the throne, and remained standing. Then, a side door, followed by members of almost immediately, through the glass walls of the Tllone Room w© saw the procession of the Garter Mission coming down the corridors at a solemn slow pace, and at about ten paces interval. There were six of them all told and all except, the Duke carried a velvet cusion on which were various pieces of the regalia. ‘‘At the entrance to the Throne Room the procession halted, and its members entered the room one by one, their names being announced by Sir John Tilley, the British Ambassador, who was on the left of the throne. Each of them bowed as he came in, walked slowly up the room towards the throne, through the lane formed by the Embassy staff and the Japanese Cabinet, bowed a second time, and then . took up positions on either side, bowing a third time. They were Mr Hugh Lloyd Thomas, secretary of the Order of the Garter, carrying the address: — Captain Howard Kerr, Equerry to his Royal Highness, carrying the hat and mantle; Rear-Admiral the Hon. Herbert Meade, carrying the collar; Major General Sir Hugh Elies, carrying the Garter; and the Earl of Airlie, carrying the riband and star. Last came the Duke, dressed in the robes of the Order of the Garter. He walked right up to' the room and took up his position just in front of the throne. “It was a realy gorgeous scene. The Throne Room was- not very large, but in fine proportions and richly panelled. All present were either in Court dress or full uniform, and the beautiful colour of the robes of the Garter completed the effect. When his Royal Highness came up to the throne he handed the Emperor an autographed letter from the King, and then read very well and in a dignified voice the address. The Emperor replied to the address in Japanese, and then the investiture followed.

“First of all General Elies stepped forward with the Garter on its velvet cushion, which he handed to Mr Hugh Thomas, th© secretary, who in turn handed it to His Royal Highness, who took it from th© cushion and buckled it on the Emperor’s leg. Then all the others came forward in turn and the Duke took each piece of the regalia and put it on the person of the Emperor, the last being the mantle and the hat. Then when all was complete, tho Duket bowed, backed down the room from the throne, bowed again, and then walked off down the corridor. Each of. the members of the mission did this in turn, and when the last had gone th© Emperor descended from the throne, still wearing th© robes, and went off, followed by th© princes and members of the Imperial Household. That was the end of th© ceremony.

“Th© - Japanese themselves were very impressed. It was a very fine show, and on© was very privileged to have seen it.”

“Th© Japanese certainly gave the Duke a wonderful time,” Captain Steed adds, “and everything was beautifully done without being too lavish. They are pastmasters of the art of detail. To give two instances only—all the vegetables that the Duke will eat throughout his entire stay, have been specially grown in the Imperial gardens to prevent fear of typhoid—then the man who drives the special train is carefully trained to start and stop with a cup of. water on his controls, which he is not allowed to. spill.”