CORONATION PLANS.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVI, Issue 202, 17 July 1936, Page 2

CORONATION PLANS.

COMPLEX PREPARATIONS. The pomp and pageantry of proclaiming the Coronation is over, blit the real work of preparing and organising the actual event has now to be faced. Twelve months will be a short period to sort out the tangles of tradition, the perplexities of precedence, and the ceremonial details of a ceremony that dates back to 'William the Conqueror, and even to David, King of Israel (writes a London commentator). The Office of Works is already devising the alteration of the interior of Westminster Abbey. The plans include the building of a lath-and-plas-ter robing chamber painted to resemble the stonework of the Abbey, where the King and the Royal party will assemble after the procession. Seating accommodation must also be found for more than 8800 people in the abbey, including special chairs which certain peers can purchase as a hereditary privilege. The Home Office and Scotland Yard have to prepare plans for celebrations which will exceed even those of the silver jubilee. The Foreign Office has to provide accommodation and protection for Royal and State missions from almost every country. As in the case of King George s coronation, an international Spithead review, to which foreign sea Powers will send squadrons, will be held. There will probably also be military and air demonstrations. The Royal Mint has to make only the special medallions. r lhe Crown has to be altered to fit the new King. His robes, which by tradition are handed over to the Dean of Westminster to be kept in the Abbey vestry, have to be prepared.