THE CORONATION

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLIII, Issue 20674, 12 March 1937, Page 12

THE CORONATION

QUEEN’S OWN PAGEANT LONDON, February 13. The Coronation will be a gorgeous spectacle. The presence of Queen Elizabeth—whose beauty and charm have won all hearts—will enhance the pageantry at Westminster Abbey and on the processional route to a degree that few imagine. Her Majesty, in fact, will have a Coronation pageant all to herself.

Four duchesses, six daughters of earls, and eleven other ladies of aristocratic birth will provide the setting in which she will move as the centre figure as First Lady of the Land. No picture like it will have been seen in England for 26 years. First of her attendants will be the Mistress of the Robes, usually a Duchess. It is likely that the Queen will choose the Duchess of Buccleuch (sister-in-law of the Duchess of Gloucester), for this most responsible position. Then will come six earl’s daughters to carry the Queen’s train. Although none of them has yet been chosen, It is likely that they will be friends of the Queen, and therefore young. After them will come two Ladies of the Bed-chamber-In-Waiting, then six Maids of Honour, then two Women of the Bedchamber. All these ladies wUI drive in coaches to the Abbey, with a replendent escort of Life Guards. They will form part of the Queen procession, and will be in their places before the arrival of the King, who, of course, will be crowned first. When the bells have rung out, the salutes have been fired, and his Majesty, duly anointed and consecrated, is seated on his Throne, the great moment of Queen Elizabeth’s life will strike. Four Duchesses will hold a cloth-of-gold canopy over her as she kneels at the altar. The Archbishop of Canterbury will anoint her. Her crown, with the glittering Koh-i-noor and the lesser stars of Africa, will then be placed on her head. Peeresses taking the signal will put on their coronets. Afterwards, the Queen’s ring will be placed on the fourth finger of her right hand, and her sceptre of gold and precious stones, with a mound and cross at the top issuing from a fleur-de-lis, will be put into her right hand. Into the left wil be given the ivory rod with white enamelled dove at the head. Now comes the most graceful period of the ceremony. The Queen will pass from the altar to her throne, beside the King’s, but on a dais two steps lower. As she passes the King her train outspread, she will make a deep obeisance. Comes then the celebration of Holy Communion, after which the King and Queen will pass into St. Edward’s Chapel, where the King will change the heavy crown of St. Edward for a smaller one, and his cloth-of-gold robes for those of crimson and ermine. A half-hour’s rest, and then their Majesties will walk down the aisle. The Coronation will be over. Among the ladies whose names have been mentioned as those of the fortunate one who will attend the Queen are: Lady Doris Vyner, sister of the Duke of Richmond: Lady Annaly, daughter of the Earl of Spencer; Lady Katherine Seymour, a daughter of the Duke of Abercorn; and Lady Hambleden, only daughter of the Earl of Pembroke. The Duchess of Norfolk will probably be one of the chosen Duchesses.