Proclaiming the King.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XLIV, Issue 25, 22 June 1910, Page 7

Proclaiming the King.

INCIDENTS OF THE LONDON PAGEANT. VOICE OF THE CROWD. LONDON. May 13. The proclamation of the new King on Monday was a picturesque and impressive ceremony. This is one of the things they do best in London. The pomp of heraldry, the brilliant escorts of Life Guards, the time-honoured forms and ceremonies—these features are not to be found elsewhere in the Empire. But it was not the blaze of pageantry which made the London proclamation remarkable. fine though that undoubtedly was. W hat was rememebered best in connection with the brilliant scenes of Monday is the voice of the people. Spontaneously', after the reading of the proclamation on the steps of the Royal Exchange, some hundreds of people at the foot of the steps began to sing the National Anthem. The strains were taken up by others, and spread until the whole huge crowd, including the spectators far away down Cheapside, Queen Victoria-street, Prin-ces-street, Cornhill, and Lombard-street were singing the verses with stirring patriotic feeling, all with heads un-

covered, heedless of the rain which had begun to fall. It was a most impressive sight and sound. There was another feature in yesterday’s function which specially pleased those who saw it, and which will touch the fancy of millions throughout King George’s broad Dominion. The first proclamation took place, according to custom, from the terrace of St. James’ Palace. At a' point on the wall just opposite Marlborough House four of the Sovereign’s children had come to hear their father proclaimed King. The Duke of Cornwall and Prince Albert, who wore their uniforms as naval cadets, stood at salute, while Garter King of Arms read the proclamation with all the pomp of macebearers and royal tnnnperters around him. Their presence, and that of their brother and sister, gave to the timehonoured function the touch of nature and of home that goes straight to the heart# of all English men and women. Old-time Ceremony. At Temple Bar the proclamation was marked by one of those old-time ceremonies which link the London of to-day with the Middle Ages. For hundreds of years the same ceremony has taken place on that historic spot at the proclamation of each new Sovereign. The Lord Mayor and his train waited on the city side" of the monument which marks the site of old Temple Bar, on the city boundary. Across the street was stretched a rope of crimson silk. Presently arrived the cavalcade from Westminster, headed by Bluemantle Pursuivant, with a trumpeter on either side. Wearing a tabard, with its gorgeous heraldic ornament in gold and colours, and a round cap of black velvet, he was a striking and picturesque figure. The trumpets sounded thrice. Then the City Marshal, wearing a gold-laeed scarlet eoat and a black cocked hat with white plumes, rode up from the city side of the barrier, and asked in a loud "voice, “Who comes there. The pursuivant made answer, “His Majesty's Officers of Arms, who demand entrance into the City of London in order to proclaim His Royal Majesty King George V.” Then trumpets sounded from inside the barrier, where the city trumpeters were stationed, and the Officer- of Arms was at length allowed to cross the boundary. Under the conduct of the City Marshal, he advanced to the Lord Mayor, and handed to him the Order in Council requiring the proclamation of King Qeorge V. The- Lord Mayor, still keeping his station close underneath the Temple Bar Memorial, read the order aloud, and then ordered the barrier to be opened. Thereupon the pursuivant rejoined the cavalcade from Westminster, which was allowed to continue its way past Temple Bar without further delay, the Lord Mayor and his retinue at the same time re-entering their carriages and making, part of the procession. The advance, liowever, was only continued for a few yards. When the corner of Chancery-lane was reached, the cavalcade halted, and Norry King-at-Arms, in tabard and black cap read the proclamation.