THE CORONATION

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 53, Issue 3829, 4 November 1936, Page 6

THE CORONATION

WHAT MILLIONS OF PEOPLE WILL SEE. The city of London is rightly regarded as the most jealous custodian and upholder of ancient rights and privileges in the world—even to-day, for instance, no British or foreign sovereign can officially enter the city without the permission of the Lord Mayor. At Temple Bar, kings and queens have to halt and receive London’s “keys” before they can cross the boundary—and although the ceremony is not only symbolical, it still continues —evidence of the city’s sovereignty. It is strange, theiefore, to remember that London, since the days of James 11, has made no serious attempt to have restored to it the most glamorous and brilliant open-air spectacle ever staged in Great Britain—the old-time Coronation Procession. Charles II was the last sovereign to carry out the old custom, and even the blase Pepys who witnessed the scene from a window, records in his diary that the sight was so overwhelming in its brilliancy and splendour that he had, at last, to avert his eyes which could not stand the glitter and dazzle any longer! The modern Coronation Procession really dates from 1838 —Queen Victoria’s Coronation year—but splendid and imposing as it has been for the last two Coronations, it is only a pale reflex of the historic procession which for centuries started from the Tower of London to Westminster Abbey. Feasted for Twelve Hours. Up to the days of Charles II it was the immemorial custom for sovereigns to spend the eve of the Coronationday in the Tower of London, and also to stay at night there. In preReformation days kings feasted for at least 12 hours before the Coronation ceremony—and it was while at the Tower that the creation and installation of the Knight of the Bath took place. The new knight, attired in hermit’s clothing, spent the night in prayer, after having being ceremoniously bathed. In the morning he put on his best armour or clothes, appeared before the King and was then invested with the insignia of the Order. Twenty to fifty knights were usually invested in this manner —and in their full robes and regalia they took part in the procession. All existing accounts of these processions proved that as spectacles they were unsurpassed in splendour and magnificence in Europe—and even if they were seen in these modern days of sated film and stage' “fans” they would certainly excite spellbound wonder. The Coronation Procession of Queen Elizabeth, for instance, cost over £400,000 for decoration and pageants alone, a sum which to-day would be represented by £2,000,000! Our forefathers of that January, 1558—it was held on Saturday, the 13th—had nothing evidently to learn' about the staging of spectacles. The Queen, sumptuously adorned "with sparkling gems worth £500,000, was attended by a gorgeously attired, mounted cavalcade of nearly 6000 men-—peers, prelates, knights, judges and esquires—each accompanied by pages and attendants attired in dazzling uniforms. Triumphal Arches. Triumphal arches and trees were erected right along the route from the Tower to Westminster-—while at various points at Cheapside, Ludgate and Fleet Street, open-air stages were built, on which gaily-dressed mummers and children sang and played music until the Queen arrived. Then the children gave the Queen addresses in Latin and English -threw flowers and confetti down on her as she drove away, while bells pealed and musical instruments were played. The streets were lined with carpets, the windows and walls of the houses and shops were hung with tapestry, while banners and flags were everywhere. All the public fountains in the city flowed wine, and it was free to all.

We read that Queen Elizabeth, during her various halts to see the pageants and hear the loyal addresses, made little speeches and even kissed many of the women and children who pressed against her “litter.” Four huge towers were erected in the city, and on each of them four beautiful damsels, dressed in gold, dropped gold leaves and miniature crowns on the Queen as she passed under. At every corner bands were stationed and also choirs, and when the Queen came in sight the music was given full - vent, while doves — symbolising peace and happiness — were released from countless windows. The procession of Queen Elizabeth was only a replica of those that had taken place before for centuries. Henry VIII’s procession w'as also a brilliant affair. He sported a crimson velvet robe, studded with diamonds, rubies, pearls and emeralds, and was mounted on a horse covered with cloth of gold, while his consort, Catherine of Aragon, clad in white satin, with a richly-jewelled coronet, was seated in a litter drawn by two

palfreys, she wore her hair down her back. Loved by Londoners. Londoners loved these processions fervently, and they spent months in preparing for them, while thousands of people trooped into the city from all parts of Britain and even Europe to witness the spectacle and to take part in the general revelry. Foreign visitors—even princes and diplomats • —had to admit that an English Coronation Procession was unique in the world. All kinds of novelties and “stunts” were carried out at these spectacles. At Queen Mary’s procession a man thrilled the mammoth crowds by striding on the weather cock of St. Paul’s and waving a banner, while the boy King Edward VI clapped his hands with delight when he saw a sailor make a perilous descent from St. Paul’s steeple to the ground by means of an ordinary rope! When Charles II held his historic “restoration” procession amidst scenes of unexampled enthusiasm and brilliance, the vast crowd of spectators did not imagine that it would be the last. His successor, James 11, however, discovering that the procession would cost him £200,000 decided not to have it, and instead he spent the money on adorning his consort, Mary of Modena, with a new gown and costly robes. No Procession. Rather strangely, James 11, who eventually lost his crown, and Charles I, who was executed, W'ere two of the very few English monarchs who had no procession. Charles put it off on account of the Plague—and this had riot a little to do with the hostility of the city’s populac.e to him. The procession from the Tower to the Abbey, however, has not been revived since, and it is, perhaps, unlikely that it ever will be, which to lovers of spectacle and tradition seems a pity. Its disappearance marked the end of “merry England.”