CORONATIONS AND STATE DRESS OF ROYALTY.

Otago Witness, Issue 2467, 26 June 1901, Page 71

CORONATIONS AND STATE DRESS OF ROYALTY.

The crimson velvet and ermine robe worn l>y his Majesty at the opening of Parliament will most probably be seen again on his Coronation day, as it is the proper thing for English Sovereigns to make their first appearance in Westminster Abbey in their usual Robe of State, which is after,wards changed for a rich vestment more Ecclesiastical in character — this last being Worn at the actual moment of coronation, End when subsequently taking the Sacrament. Next in order to the Parliament robe, already seen on his Majesty, comes the ecclesiastical dress, only worn on one occasion, and consisting of several items, to wit, a white lawn alb, or surplice, trimmed with lace ; a supertunic or daljnatic of cloth- of -gold, brocaded, and lined /with crimson taffety ; a stole of the same, (■with St. George's Cross embroidered thereon ; and a mantle "Of cloth-of-gold like a cope, with train. Wearing this, the Sovereign is consecrated, ci owned, and also takes the Sacrament.

For leaving the Abbey a Robe of Estate of purple velvet, lined and trimmed with ermine, should be worn, and in this attire /the King or Queen used to proceed to the Coronation banquet in Westminster Hall — a truly amazing function, and one which gave some of the leading nobles of England such distinctions as Chief Butler, Chief Cupbearer, Head Bottlewasher, and the like.

" It was formerly Ac proper thing for them to wail like servants on the newlycrowned Sovereign, and to receive choice perquisites for so doing. The last banmiet of this description was given by George IV. It was "discontinued by Wifjiani IV for economical reasons, and the firl Queen Victoria was not sorry to follow er immediate predecessor's example, and escape a most fatiguing ordeal. Hayter's picture of Queen Victoria receiving the Sacrament after her Coronation gives a good ide? of the effect of her splendid cope, which was six feet and a half in length and composed of the Richest cloth-of-gold, embroidered in colours .with the rose, shamrock, and thistle, the ficur-de-lys, the eagle, and the Koyal Coronet. The tunicle she wore underneath this gorgeous garment was— something like a loose jacket with large open sleeves, made of cloth-of-gold enriched with a design of green palm branches, and bordered with gold lace. The material was worked on Spitalfields looms more than 63 years ago ; and, as these -pecial robings have since Been most carefully preserved, they look fresh and beautiful still, and would doubtlesd excite intense admiration if allowed to i)e exhibited.

At the Coronation of King William IV It caused a good deal of comment that the Duchess of Kent and her daughter were hot present — the Duchess confidently exJpected an invitation, and had made arrangements, accordingly. The King disliked this >ister-in-law, and felt the more aggrieved that her child should be his heiress-pre-feumptive. He therefore decided they should Stay away. When the young Queen's own turn came |t was o, discreditable thing that any bungling should have occurred in the course of th.2 ceremony, for the 1Y preA'ious years had Bee two Coronations, which might well have enlightened the "authorities" as to the proper proceedings. During one awknvard pause the Queen turned, and asked •nxiouslj, "Is there no one here, my Lord

Archbishop, who can tell me Avhat I ought to do?" Since that day much necessary reform has been carried out in ceremonial matters, and persons holding office have to attend to business themselves instead of trusting everything to others till the last moment. At the Coronation of Anne Boleyn, the nobles had to please their redoubtable .King by Avaiting on his second Queen as though she had been to the regal manner born ; therefore, Avhen she banquetted in Westminster Hall, "the Earle of Arundele was \ chief e butler, on Avhom 12 citizens of London did give their attendance at the cupboard." The old chronicle also states that "the Earle of Oxford Avas High Chamberlairte; the Earle of Essex, carver ; the Earle of Derby, cupbearer : the Lord Burgeiny, chief larder ; the Lord Bray, almoner ; and the Maior of Oxford kept the buttery bar." Coronations used at one time to cost such enormous sums because a host of people insisted on their hereditary right to render some slight service to the Sovereign and to be heavily rewarded in .return. Manners having changed, even if a Coronation banquet should come off, which is doubtful, there would be no marching off with valuable cups and dishes and canopies as perquisities, as in the queer old times. Our great lords are too proud for such doings ; and, as for the worthy citizens of London likely to figure on the scene, they are usually rich enough now to buy themselves everything in the goldsmith's * way that a reasonable heart can desire. It is interesting to note that when Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz Avas leaving her German home to become Queen of England- her mother desired her not to wear jeAvels when she Avas receiving the Sacrament at the Coronation. When requested, ycung King George 111 agreed to this. Then his mother, the domineering Princess Dowager of Wales, for the sake of worrying her new daughter-in-law, insisted that the jewels should be worn on that occasion. When the moment arrived, King George asked the Archbishop whether he should rot lay aside his Crown before receiving Holy Communion. The Archbishop asked the Dean of Westminster, but neither knew, nor could say, what was the usual form. Left to his oAva decision the King then took off his Crown, and also wished the Queen to da the same ; but she could not folloAV his example through having obeyed her mother-in-laAv's behest. The CrcAvn had already been fastened too securely to her hair by her ladies for it to be removed in a hurry. In olden days the Abbot of Westminster used to prepare each new King for his Coronation as if for Confirmation ; visiting him, informing him of the required observances, and warning him to shrive and cleanse his conscience before the holy anointing. The sacred oil almost seemed of greater value th-^n the CroAvn at the ceremony, as it was supposed to convey to the Sovereign a special grace and sanctity which nothing could take away. A white coif was even left on his head for days to alloAv the oil to settle well ; and the taking it off was a solemn additional performance. By virtue of the oil every consecrated King Aras admitted a canon of some cathedral church — hence he had to be garbed for the moment, as an old chronicler states, "lvke as a Bisshop shuld say Masse, with a dalmatyk and a stole about his necke."

Henry IV, aware that many people considered he had wrongfully deposed Richard 11, took cate that a vase of special oil should be forthcoming at his Coronation, one which the Virgin Mary, had given to St. Thomas of Canterbuiy, Avith the promise than any King of England anointed with it would be a merciful ruler and champion of the Church. Unaccountably mislaid during several reigns, this vase was "discovered" just at the right time for Henry Bolingbroke. As for Richard 111, he sought to strengthen his claim to his murdered nepheAv's throne by haA-ing a very grand Coronation, and by receiving

such a deluge of holy oil about his person that he had to &it stripped from the waist upwards to be anointed — liis unfortunate Queen being also obliged to do the same. No other Coronation ike in Eiuope ltr.ches buck to so early a period as that of the Kings of Britain. Even the ancient foim of cro'»vning Ihe K>ngs of France was copied from the Anglo-Saxon order of the Coronation of Egbert. For many years the full consecration aams only received by five Sovereigns — the Emperor, successor to Charlemagne, and the Kings of England. France, Jerusalem, and Sicily. And long after other Prim.cs had secured similar privileges, the oldtr-e>tnblished Sovereigns retained a peculiar pre-imiuenee. At the piesent Unit: the rite only retains its original importance in England, Hungary, and Ku'ssia.

The object connected with British Monarchy which is beyond all price is not the Crown, the Sceptre, or the Koohinoor, but the venerable piece of rock for which King Edward I had a comparatively modem stand nude, in the form of a chair. This is the second Coronation stone, believed for many centuries to have been the pillow on which Jacob slept at Bethel. It first travelled to Egypt, then with a daughter and son-in-law of Pharaoh to Spain ; il was next taken to Ireland, where it became * seat for Irish Kings ; then to iScoviand, where for the lirst time it was encased in a chair of wood which became the Throne of Scottish Kings. Out Edward I fixed his heart upon this precious treasure ; and securing it, he hud himself clowned King of the Scots, seated thereon. Having had it conveyed to Westminster Abbey, he gave orders for a fresh chaii to be made, to hold it ; and that chair may be seen to this day. In this chaii 1 , and on this stone> every English Sovereign from Edward I to Queen Victoria has been crowned.

Of course, the Scots were in sore dismay at the loss of such a priceless object, and they strove hard to recover it by treaty ; but the English people regarded it with equal veneration, and would not hear of its being restored. When James I of England was crowned upon it, as King of Scots, he had come to his own — in fulfilment of a prophecy once alleged to have been inscribed upon the stone, that where it went, Scottish supremacy should follow. Only once has the Coronation chair with the stone been removed from the Abbey. It was taken to Westminster Hall for Oliver Cromwell's benefit, when he was installed as Lord Protector. At the Coronation of William and Mary, as they were joint Sovereigns, a, second* chair of State had tp be provided ; and this has since been used by the Queen Consort. Nowadays, these historical pieces of furniture are valued as they should be, and protected after a fashion ; but they have been shamefully treated in times gone by, owing tc the apathy and neglect of men who should have* better guarded the Abbey and its contents from mischievous and irreverent visitors.