KING GEORGE MAKES HISTORY

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 83, Issue 118, 22 May 1939, Page 7

KING GEORGE MAKES HISTORY

CANADIAN PARLIAMENT BRILLIANT OPENING SCENES OTTAWA, May 19. King George VI made history today when, with Queen Elizabeth, he entered the Senate of his Canadian Parliament, addressed both Houses from the Throne, and gave the Royal Assent to Bills passed during the session, says the special representative of the Australian Associated Press. It was the first time a British Sovereign had ever appeared in the Dominion Parliament, and it was a striking illustration of the significance of the Statute of Westminster under which His Majesty is equally King of Great Britain, Canada and other realms in the British Commonwealth of Nations. Moreover, it was a unique occasion in that it was the first time since Queen Victoria attended the House of [ Lords on August 12, 1854, that the | Crown itself personally assented to a t Bill. Since 1854 the Royal Assent had | been given by Commissions of the! [ House of Lords. The superb Gothic buildings of the) Canadian Parliament, so like West-1 minster, were a fitting setting for the ceremony, which was rich in symbolism for the Dominions. The Senate Chamber was ablaze with scarlet and gold. In place of the Speaker’s chair stood a regal canopy and under it two high-backed thrones carved from wood. Seven scarlet-gowned members of the Supreme Court (four Englishspeaking and three French) sat before it on the Woolsack. Flanking the Chamber were the Diplomatic Corps and senators. The galleries were splashed wtih the rich warmth of uniforms, gowns, flashing jewels and orders. Lady Tweedsmuir sat in the Government House gallery with the Gov-ernor-General’s staff. Lord Tweedsmuir. of course, was absent. Dignified Progress. Their Majesties made a slow and dignified progress up the Chamber and were preceded by two Lords-in-Waiting and Royal Equerries. The King wore a Field-Marshal’s fulldress uniform, and the Queen a small diamond tiara with a regal offshoulder crinolined gown of white taffeta. The lace pattern was carried out in gold, and the satin bodice was crossed with the blue sash of the Order of the Garter. Two small pages held the Court , train. Her Majesty was attended by two ladies-in-waiting and the procession was brought up by Their Majesties’ 23 Canadian military, naval and Air Force aides.