THE CRADLE OF A KING.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 10963, 4 May 1907, Page 2 (Supplement)

THE CRADLE OF A KING.

NATAL CEREMONIES OF THE

SPANISH COURT.

The family life of the Spanish Court is conducted with much simplicity; «nd since the advent of Queen Victoria' Eagenie several English customs have been introduced, such as .. afternoon tea— a thing ; formerly unknown— and certain English dishes at the luncheon and dinner tables. These things, however, do not encroach upon the formal etiquette of 'official observances and royal ceremonies for which" the Court of Spain is famous.. Breaches m this direction 'would give grave offerice to the grandees of the country, whose traditions have been handed down with unswerving regime from the Austrian epoch. T-, ;' A Spanish Prince or Princess is ushered into the world with quaint observance and stately ceremony. The abolition of the Salic Law m 1830 ensures the future succession of a Princess to tbe throne should the reigning Sovereigns have no tori born to them. But it goes without saying that the Spaniards would fai rather owe their allegiance to a King than a Queen, and so, when the birth of m infant m Succession is imminent a boy is ardently desired by all classes. When the cOmirig of the future. King or Queen is expected, clothes and nurses — as m Other households— are subjects of paramount importance. In the present instance, the young Queen of Spain has had presents from all directions, the ladies of her adopted country especially having forwarded numerous robes richly trimmed costly lace. Her Majesty., own nurse is an Englishwoman; but the nurse for the royal baby has been chosen, m accordance with Spanish custom, from the peasantry of the Asturias. HANDSOME WOMEN,

This province is noted for its handsome women, a number of whom are always summoned to the palace at Madrid prior to the expected birth. From these women one is finally 'selected, and the rejected ones 1 , to compensate them for their disappointment, are sent home literally loaded with presents as well. as with a sum of money, and their entire expenses to and fro are also defrayed. Quite naturally, this office is thought most highly of , and whoever is selected is a person to be envied, for she occupies an ■■ extremely prominent . pos ition throughout the first year or so of the baby's life, and when her duties are ended she receives a monthly pension and is m fact a rich woman for one bf her class. Her official dress consists . black velvet andi lace, and silver chaius of office? •'■*'■■"" -■,--■'.

When the birth of the little Prince or Princess is imminent, certain high dignitaries are, m accordance with precedent, summoned to the palace, these consisting of representatives of the Church, the Army and Navy, the Royal Household, the Prime Minister, and deputations from the Cortes. The distress of the Robes must also be present, as sh. , has a special duty to perform. These officials all assemble m an apartment adjoining that of the Qvieen, while the tidings of the expected event naturally gets known throughout the city, and the inhabitants with' one accord Are wont io assemble m the Plaza: dd/Oriente and vicinity. From here they can watch fo. the appearance of the additional Royai Standard— with its broad and yellowfolds showing, the Lions of Aragon and the Castles of Castile— which it is customary to run up when the birth of the infant is announced. MISTRESS OF THE ROBES. In the room before mentioned the, distinguished personages await m anxious expectation the appearance m their midst of the Mistress of the Robes, whose coming will announce the royal birth. As m England the lady who holds this position is always a Duchess, and her presence on this occasion is one of the* duties of her office, while the momentous message with which she is charged by the royal physician is delivered to the Prime Minister, Who m his turn makes the announcement to all assembled, Before many minutes have elapsed, the grandees arid officials. have ocular demonstration. Of the birth of the royal infant, for the child is brought into their presence carefully laid upon a richly carved silver salver, which salver has been first of : allartistically covered with a costly cushion trimmed with deep flounces of exquisite lace- Then m accordance with Erecedent, the salver, with its precious urden, is entrusted to the aims of the Prime Minister, to be by him formally presented to all present, who greet the s n -. farit with profound bows and subdued vivats. . The Premier it is who also makes the necessary announcement to Parliament on the same or following day, m accordance With the hour of birth. The strains of the Marcha Real — which hails' from the time of Carlos V.— - is heard m different parts of ihe city. Guns are fired from .the fortresses and depots, and Te Deums are sung m the churches. THE CHRISTENING. The christening of an infant son or daughter of the Majesties of Spain takes place, m accordance with the dogma of the Roman Catholic Church, within one week of the. birth. The .ei'emdny is always held m the private chapel of thi?, palace, and though this is of : soiri ewhat! limited dimensions, it is custotrihry foi* a : certain portion to be set apart foi 1 the accommodation of the poor of the city, who are adriiitted without ticket Also many of these people are 'allowed to take up a position m the long galleries of the palace through which the State procession passes on its way to ihe sacred edifice. The font used is always brought hither specially for the occasion from the Monastery of San Domingo de Guzman, and has been used for the christening of royal children since the Middle Ages. It is customary for the Mistress of the Robes to carry the infant, while the nearest relatives, the sponsors, and the representatives of the Pope walk m front and on either side. The ceremony is rather a protracted one — more especially m the case of a Prince, who, at the close of the Church function, has to be invested with certain Orders of Chivalry, this being carried .out with much prescribed dignity. On the same evening it is customary to have a dinner party at the palace, and a gala performance at the Royal Opera or Stat Theatre. Foi* this all the men appear m full uniform or State dress; all wear any orders to whicK they may be entitled, and there is a wonderful display of the Spanish historical jewels, for which ihe ladies of the country are noted. Many of these, as well as much of the lace of mantillas and robes, date from the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries.