PRINCE AS A KNIGHT OF GARTER.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1188, 25 July 1911, Page 10

PRINCE AS A KNIGHT OF GARTER.

. .s__— 500-YEAR-OLD CEREMONIAL. The King-invested the Prince of Wales at Windsor Castle on Saturday, Juno 10, with the Garter, . and bestowed thoaccolado with the 500-year-old ritual that marks admission to the Order of Knighthood. After tho brilliant ceremony in the castle the King and.Queen and tho Prince and all the Knights of the 1 Order marched in stately robed procession to St. George's Chapel for the religious sanction of the Investiture. There were many aspects in which the ceremony of making the young Prince of Wales a Knight of "this Most Ancient and Most. Noble Order" might bo viewed. It was, as a pageant, the most picturesque and- original that even Coronation Year will see. It revived memories, running back through many centuries, of tho age of chivalry, when knighthood was in flower. It was impressive, ' splendid, solemn, a link of stately tradition between the youth and the maturity of England. But this aspect of it which left,the deepest impression, and which more than any other .will make appeal to the instincts and feelings of the men and women of the Empire, was this: a mother and father reverently dedicating their son to high aims and great duties, marking with mingled pride and sadness his entry into manhood; lovingly embarking him on tho great flood tide of Life. There was a thrill in the moment when King Georgo knelt and "tyed about the leg" of his son the "Noble Garter." There was a thrill when the Bishop of Winchester exhorted the young Princo to wear it "as tho svmbol of the most Illustrious Order, that thereby thou mayest bo admonished to bo courageous." .The anpearance of the Princo in his magnificent robes, as the precession came down the hill to St. George's Chapel, was thrilling. But the moment at which for some Of those present emotion reached its highest pitch was when, in the second of tho special psalms appointed, there came thoso beautiful words so appropriate to tho day:

Tho Lord answer thco in the day of trouble; the name of the God of Jacob defend thee; So.ul theo help from tho Sanctuary and strengthen theo out of Zion. Every father and every mother can enter into the feelings of the King and Queen, as they looked across to the stall on the other side from them where their fair voting son stood. Their heart's sent up fervently-the prayer of King David, and in the Queen's eyes were tears. Their first-born was no longer a child. He had entered upon man's estate. He had been enrolled in the Order of Knighthood, promising, so far as in him lay, to "stand firm, valiantly fight, and successfully conquer." And here, in the historic Chapel of the Garter, where the sun made tho banners and helmets of his famous predecessors glow with hopeful augury, tliey were presenting hiiu before tho Father of Ali, humbly beseeching guidance and strength for him in the difficult paths of life. The Lord answer thee in the day of trouble; the name of the God of Jacob defend thee. Throughout' the ceremony the young Princo was composed, grave, unsmiling.

As he went to the chapel he held up his long blue velvet, cloak, revealing white silk stockings, whiterosetted shoes, knee breeches, and the Garter with which he had just been invested. On his shoulders he had large rosettes of white satin instead of simple ribbons. The crimson

"cape" was on his right upper-arm. Round his neck glittered tho gold chain, and on his left lireast sparkled the star of brilliants which belonged to King Edward, and which Queen Alexandra specially wished her grandson t'o possess. Coming out of the chapel the Prince let his cloak fall to his feet, liko those of the other Knights. This made him look toller, more of a man and less of a boy. It was only the Prince who wore tho very tall plumes in his Tudor bonnet. The other Knights had much smaller feathers. Many supposed that these high ones were the "Prince of Wales's feathers." They were, however, a correct detail of tho Garter costume. The other Knights prefer a less top-heavy headdress, and one better suited to old jje-n----tlemen's heads, most of them being well advanced in age.

When the procession came Hie effect was such as Huh ago has never seen. The Knights of Windsor led the way, headed by the Duke of Argyll, Constable and Governor of tho castle, and his deputy, Lord Esher. Then came the Heralds in their la birds. Followed, by two and two, the Knights of tho Garter. Walking last with the Duke of Conuaught was King Manocl.

Then came tho new' Knight, walking by liiinsolf^-.HDcI.-rOuly clividoil from him ..by tho officials of the Order, the Ivinjj and Qucnii. their trains carried bv pages in black velvot.-"Daily Mail".