HOW IT FEELS TO BE CROWNED.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXIX, Issue 135, 31 July 1911, Page 7

HOW IT FEELS TO BE CROWNED.

There is a very timely article in the “Strand Magazine” on “Row it feels to be Crowned,” in which the sensations of monarchs on their Coronation Day are recalled. One of the most piquant is that by Queen Anne Bolcyn, one of Henry VIII.’s wives: Qutsn Asms Bclsyn. “ ‘I said to myself,’ she wrote, ‘on that Whitsunday when his Grace did do unto me so mightic honour, that I was all in a dreame and that it could not last, but that I should awake out of my slope unto my own pettinossc. And from the moment when the Mayor and Aldermen did greet me and her Grace of Norfolk did bcaro my traino from 'Westminster Hall to the Abbey did I say to mynself a thousand times it is-uo true. The King’s Grace could-no bend to so unworthie as 1. And Godde knows and his Grace of Canterbury can tell, and Friar Robert, whether or no 1 shed tears not of joy but of astoniment, when the golden bonde of St. Edward was put-upon ray forehead.’ King William lIS. “ ‘lt was a great moment,’ wrote King William 111., ‘when I actually felt the crown descending upon me and touching my temples,; and 1 could not restrain a thrill, but not of joy, my dear Kovon, but of awe, at the responsibilities Almighty God has been pleased to put upon me. Bentinck and Schomberg caught my glance, and when they imitated the lost and Hung their caps up'.yard know how it fared with me. Nor did I at that supreme moment forget my own first country', my beloved Holland.’ Queen Victoria. “‘I reached the Abbey,’ wrote Queen Victoria to her uncle, King Leopold, ‘amid deafening cheers at a little after , half-past eleven,. 1 first wont into a robing-room quite close to the entrance, where I found my eight train-bearers, i,, “ ‘After putting ,on my mantle, and the young ladies having previously got hold of it and Lord Conynham holding the end of it, I left the robing-room and the Procession began as is described in the annexed account, and all that followed and took place. The sight was splendid; the bank of Peeresses quite beautiful all in their robes, and the Peers on the other side. My young train-boarers were always near me, and helped, me whenever I wanted anything.

“ ‘The Bishop of Durham stood on (lie side near me, hut he was, as Lord Melbourne told mo, remarkably maladroit, and never could tell me what was to take place. At the beginning of the anthem, where I have made a mark, I retired to St. Edward’s Chapel, a dark small place immediately behind the altar, with my ladies and train-bearers, took off my crimson robe and kirtle and put on ttic super-tunica of cloth of gold, also in the shape of a kirtle, which was pat over a singular sort of little gown of linen trimmed with lace. I also took off my circlet of diamonds and then proceeded bare-headed into the Abbey; I was then seated upon St. Edward’s chair, where the Dalmatic robe was clasped around me by the Lord Great Chamberlain. Then followed all the various things; and last (of those things) the Crown being placed upon my head—which was, I must own, a most beautiful, impressive moment: all the Peers and Peeresses put on their coronets •at the same instant. Lord Melbourne Touched. “ ‘When Lord Melbourne’s turn to do homage came there was loud cheering; they also cheered Lord Grey and the Duke of Wellington. It’s a pretty ceremony; they’ first all touch

the Crown and then kiss my hand. When my good Lord Melbourne knelt clown and kissed my hand he pressed my hand, and I grasped his with all my heart, at which be looked up with his eyes filled with tears and seemed much touched, as ho was, I observed, throughout the whole ceremony. “ ‘After the homage was concluded I left the Throne, took off my Crown, and received the Sacrament; f then put on my Crown again and reascended the Throne, leaning on Lord Melbourne's arm. At the commencement of the Anthem 1 descended from the Throne and went into St. Edward's Chanel with my ladies, trainbearers, and Lord Willoughby, where [ took off the Dalmatic robe, supertunica, etc., and put on the purple velvet kirtle and mantle, and proceeded again to tin* Throne, which ! ascended leaning on Lord Melbourne’s hand.’ ”