ANNIVERSARY OF CORONATION

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXIII, 11 May 1939, Page 6

ANNIVERSARY OF CORONATION

TO-MORROW is the second anniversary of the King’s Coronation, and will be celebrated by his Majesty and the Queen away from the heart of the Empire. The Royal Visit to the senior Dominion is an occasion of great importance, not only because it is a high compliment to the people of Canada, but because it demonstrates to all the Dominions and the world at large the essential unity of the component parts of the British Commonwealth of Nations. As a contemporary New Zealand journal has said, “In visiting Canada, the oldest of the British Dominions, the King is, in effect, visiting the Empire as a whole. . . . Ottawa’s welcome . . . will awaken a responsive echo throughout the Empire.” At his Coronation the King was crowned King of Canada as well of Great Britain and of each Dominion, so that in visiting the Old Dominion he will be making the acquaintance of a people belonging to him, and of a country which forms part of the vast domains which rest secure under the British flag. So that by favouring Canada with his presence the King is paying a compliment to each of the other Dominions, and by accompanying his Majesty the Queen is associating herself with his action. It was a happy day, two years ago, when the King and Queen were crowned, but the present time apart from international uncerfainty, is no less happy, which sees them on their way to the Canadian capital, there to receive the expressions of loyalty which the Dominion’s inhabitants are pre-’ oaring to offer. Happy indeed are the relations between their Majesties and their people, and it ’s safe to say that conspicuous as undoubtedly Canada’s loyalty is, it is no greater than the loyalty of any other Dominion.