THE KING'S STATE APARTMENTS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 7423, 9 June 1902, Page 2

THE KING'S STATE APARTMENTS.

. ♦ SOME OF THE NEW TREASURES. (Daily Mail.) Windsor Castle is on© of the greatest treasure houses in the world, and by the King's command the public are to be given i the privilege of inspecting the gorgeous State rooms of the palace, which contain some of the most beautiful and the most costly of the treasures. On Easter Monday all roads will lead to Windsor, and from eleven to four a constant stream of visitors will be seen ascending Castle Hill to take their turn in obtaining tickets at the Lord Chamberlain's office to view the interior of the most magnificent rooms in Europe. Never before in the history of the Castle have the British public enjoyed the privilege of seeing their Sovereign's apartments as they actually are when the King or Queen is in residence and receives guests on State occasions. The very magnificent carpets, furniture, chandeliers, curtains, and treasures have been covered up on public days, and there has always been a feeding akin to disappointment when visitors have come away from the Castle. His aMajesty has kindly altered all this, *id when the thousands arrive inside the walls of the historic Castle on Monday they will imagine that they have been transported on some magic carpet into a palace they have readof in the "Arabian Nights." TREASURES UNSEEN. The entire Castle has been overhauled since the late Queen's death, and during the many months that have elapsed,, skilled workmen have been busy preparing a new home for the King and Queen. New pictures, of almost priceless value, have been hung~- in the State apartments, armour and art treasures worth (millions of pounds, furniture of the most superb description, carpets that cannot bs purchased\ ar.ywhere, and curios of untold value have been collected and arranged by the most eminent authorities in England, and 'today the finishing touches are being put on for the public view. Having received the -free ticket of admission from the Lord Chamberlain's office, the visitor will bear to tho left acid proceed | along the North Terrace (from which a ] magnificent view is always obtainable) to j the grand entrance, a lofty doorway, J through which the public will now be conducted to the State apartments, instead of by the old, inadequate doorway in King I John's Tower, near the Grand Quadrangle. From the vestibule the public will come to the grandi staircase, about which has been arranged by Mr Guy Laking the finest collection of arms and armour in the world. This alone will take away" the breath of many, and cause the greatest admiration. On the lower landing is a full-length statue of George IV., by Ohantrey. Close by, •tob, will be seen a representation of the King's Champion, exactly as . he appeared at the Coronation of George tV. Mr Laking had a good deal of trouble with this ; but he has succeeded admirably in reproducing the Dymqke of days gone by. xThe first effigy of the horse brought to Windsor was found to be too small, and a larger one had to be procured. Viscount JEsher has presented this to the King. At the top of the grand staircase is a tiger's head from the throne of Tippoo Sultan. This throne was of considerable magnificence. It was octagonal in shape, having at the corners eight tiger's heads of gold. The legs of the throne were fashioned in the shape of the legs of the tiger, which appeared to support the whole on his back. Tippoo had adopted': the tiger as the emblem of his State, and upon most ol his arms is a cipher signifying "The Lion of God is the Conqueror." After the storming of Seringapatam, in 1799, this head was brought to England by the East India Company, and was presented to William IV. It will be seen for the first time by the public on Easter Monday. THE GOLDEN BIRD OP HAPPY OMEN. There is also here the golden bird frenj! the throne of Tippoo Sultan. Over the ; throne was a golden canopy, and! on the top cf tbds canopy was this splendid bird. J It is about the size of a small pigeon, and is intended to represent the fabulous bir</i of antiquity which is well known, to Persian scholars. It is called "the huma bird" — a bird peculiar to the East, supposed to fly constantly in the air, and never touch the ground. It is looked ( upon as a bird of happy omen, and 1 that every head 1 iff overshadows will in time wear a crown. A description, of the arms and armour would take up nearly a page of the " Daily Mail." Many of them were gifts from Lord Roberts and Lord Kitchener to the late Queen. ' Here are a few picked out haphazard : — The Khalifa's coat of mail with padded coat and cap found in' Omdurman. A shield mounted 1 with silver, belonging to Ras Alula, taken by the dervishes at the Battle of Gallabat in> 1899 and captured mi Omdurmao. . Ancient helmets belonging toHhe former kings of Daxfur, and captured! in Omdurman. . King John's saddle and trappings, taken' by the dervishes after his death at the Battle of Gallabab, and found in Omdurman. A crown which belonged) to the Queen; of Shoa, a kingdom of South Abyssinia. It was brought to the late Queen, N and presented at Buckingham Palace in 1843. The royal cap of King Theodore of" Abyssinia, which was given him by the Patriaroht of Cairo. It is of red velvet with a gold tassel, and was presented by Lord Napier of Magdala in 1868 ; also Kinjr Theodore's imperial seal of gold, elaborately chased. Six pieces of platW which formed part of seven pieces sent to\he Queen by the 32nd! Regiment. They were injured by a shot which struck the plate chest during t!h& siege of the Residency of Lxieknow in 1857. Passing through Charles ll. 's banquetangroom (known more familiarly as the State ante-room), the visitor will come to what has long been known, as the Zuccarelli Room, on account of the principal pictures in ifc being painted by Francesco Zuccarelli. These have, however, been removed, a"nd replaced by some of tbe fines* pictures in I the world. This room is now an art gallery I in itself, and will be much talked about. The' apartment, by the wav, used to be known as " the Queen's State Drawimrrooir." The pictures in it have been admirably arranged by Mr LioJi'el Cust. Here is row to be seen Quintin Matsys' (famous work, "The Misers," which picture-lovers I from all parts will come to Windsor to see. ! Then there are magnificent works by Guido. i TiHan, Canaletto. Corregio, Holbein and ; many others. This is without doubt the most magnificent collection in the Castle, and represents millions of pounds. "TO FETCH BACK OLIVER CROMWELL." The visitor next enters the old ballroom, now usually styled " the Vandyck Room," I on account of the paintings (contained there- ) in being the production of that master. i Here one sees a picture of Tjicmas Kiflij grew, who, by his exhaustleps store 1 of wit ! and humour, rendered himself peculiarly ac- ! ceptable to Charles 11.. in whose (household ! he held the post of Groom of the Bcd- ! chamber. At the Restoration he received! the additional appointment of Master of the Revels. During the Kinjr's exile he was employed as liis Majesty's Resident at Venice. By his long intimacy with tlhei monarch, and being so much about 'his person, during his troubles, he had acquired a familiarity which all the subsequent notnp of his Majesty could not at all time? check. Once seeing the Kin? so f-ntirelv nYo r l~<.} by his pleasures as 'utterly to neglect the

great and pressing interests of tihe country, j he hit upon the fallowing expedient to admonish him of his extreme negligence, i Having equipped himself in* a pilgrim's j habit, he made his way to the monarch's apartment. The King, surprised at the oddity of his appearance, immediately asked! the meaning of it and whither he was going. "To the infernal regions," replied the actor. "Prythee," said the King, "what cam your errand be to that place?" "To fetch back Oliver Cromwell," rejoined Killigrew, "that he may take some care of the affairs of England/^for has sue- j cessor takes none at all." Close to the Vandyck Room are the splendid Rubens, Audience, and Presence' Rooms, the Guard Chamber, the Council Chamber, the Throne Room, and the AnteThrone Room, i In the* Throne Room there is a handsome ivory throne, o» gift to the late Queen by the Maharajah of Travancore, which is now uncovered ; the beautiful carpet in the room is of Garter blue. Then, the visitor can peep in at 'the Waterloo! Chamber, which is covered with a magnificent carpet, made by the convicts of Agra, and presented to the late Queen ; also St George's Hall (looking splendid with, its panels of unstained oak, and which will be the scene of much splendour and gaiety this year). The Gobelin, tapestry im the Giand Reception Room will be much admired by the visitor t and when 'he emerges into the open air, near the Grand" Quadrangle, he will have had a surfeit of wonderful sights'. :