THE KING'S PLANS.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1102, 15 April 1911, Page 12

THE KING'S PLANS.

STRENUOUS PROGRAMME FOR CORONATION YEAR, PROBLEMS OF MINUTES. Court officials, those concerned with the College of Heralds, and special committees in London, Scotland, Ireland, and Wales are now planning, down to the most minute details, the programme to be followed by the King and Queen during (he greater part of 'the year. So closely has the time to be considered that in tlie end it will be calculated to minutes. Only in this way can undue strain on even his Majesty's vigorous constitution be avoided.

Throughout April their Majesties will be occupied in considering and approving the arrangements being made tor the Coronation ceremonies, for the investiture of the Prince of Wales at Carnarvon, and for the visits to Ireland, Scotland, Wales, and India. During May Courts will be held, and by the end of the month his Majesty will almost every day., bo receiving distinguished visitors. The I)o----minion. premiers will have, t-lie granting of audiences will' involve exact planning of his Majesty's engagements clays ahead. Juno will see the Imperial Conference, which opens on May 22, in full swing, with the Coronation in immediate prospect. There is to be a reception of the delegates by their Majesties, and a number of ceremonies are already being discussed by those at Court on whom the duty falls of arranging those matters.

His Majesty's engagements lor June are such that he will bo occupied every minute of the long royal working day. Ho is to attend the Horse Show, receive representatives of foreign- States attending the Coronation, unveil the Queen Victoria memorial in the Mall, be crowned, make a royal progress through London, receive the gifts of the- Georges of the realm, attend gala performances at the Opera and His Majesty's Theatre, visit the Koyal Agricultural Show at Norwich, hold a royal review at Aldershot and a naval review at Spithcad. . July will see an equally exacting programme. It may easily bo more fatiguing, for it involves long journevs to Ireland and Scotland. His Majesty is likely to use the royal yacht extensively, as each day at sea means a day's rest or change. No real rest will be possible till Cowes week, when their Majesties will spend an interesting period in the Solent. Arrangements for attending any of the great race meetings are not noted here, but their Majesties will certainly find time to see Iho Derby and to attend Ascot races.

The Lord Lieutenant of Ireland has received an intimation that the King will hold a review in Phoenix Park, Dublin, during the royal visit in July.

A special race meeting is being arranged at Leopardstown. near Dublin, in connection with the King's visit. The King, on the occasion of his visit to India in December and January next, t) hold tho Coronation Durbar at Delhi, hopes to be able to have some shooting in Nepal (extreme north of India). It is ivnderstood that the Coronation Durbar will be. held on the same sito as tho Durbars of 1897 and 1903, and not. at tho Fort. This will presumably involve the erection of a largo amphitheatre. The troops, to be mobilised number RO.OOO to 00,000 men, comprising live divisions of infantry, two divisions of cavalry, and a quota of Imperial Service troops. It is understood that Lord Crewe, Secretary of State for India, will accompany tho King and Queen to Delhi. It is now certain that the eastern end of the Mall will be opened out by June in such a way as will permit of tho archway being used for the Coronation procession. That will not be the final stage of the improvement, but it will snffiri to shivv the hitl-ertn neglected possibilities of Trafalgar Square, and to hasten such further transformation of "the finest site in Europe" as to make, it worthy of the description. Tho King, it is stated, has decided to wear at his Cnfnr.al.i',n tU .Imperial mantle worn by King George IV, which has been offered by a private owner as an act of homage to his Majesty, who has graciously accepted the gift. The subject of the sealing of the great rrngregation at Westminster Abbey for the Coronation is now enraging Hie attention of the Coronation Committee and tl<" Dean and Chapter. Temporary stands lmvo been erected in the pave and in plots' corner in order to tost the niTstion whether an enn be mad" noon '.lie winch obtnir""' at fi\p Coronation "f ICinf Edward' VT.T. end the accommodation thereby increased.