QUEEN’S CROWN.

Taranaki Central Press, Volume IV, Issue 402, 8 April 1937, Page 3

QUEEN’S CROWN.

PRICELESS JEWELS. The Coronation’s Approach. London, March 19. The Coronation theme is like a I bright golden thread running through oar work-a-day lives. The world goes on its way, and we turn aside a moment, oui minds distracted by this and that event, but the steady, methodical, urgent organisation tor the Coronation oh May 12 holds predominant sway. Birth and death, marriage and divorce, tragedy and disaster touch lives in a perst nal way, but tor the mass of the people the crowning of King George VI. at the Abbey is the highlight in these spring days. For the first time in history the Queen will ha"e her Crown jewels set in platinum. Only diamonds will be used in Queen Elizabeth’s Crown, among them the Kohi-i-nor. This jewel was set for Queen Mary in 1911: Now it passes to the new Queen. Crown aid Royal Arms. The new C'own will have four crosses patee which spring from the regal circlet; This circlet was first made 'for Que rn Victoria, and worn on many occasions also by Queen Alexandra and Queen Mary. It has now been entirely reset, the new design forming cluster-? With large diamond centres. The Queen’!) eoat of-arms has just been approved and registered by the College of fie raids. On one side of the shield is the crowned lion of England, whi ih all royal arms include, and oh the other the uncrowned lion of the house of BowesLyon. The upper half of this lion is gold and the lower halt red. Around the shield is the Garter, to which order Her Majesty has been recently appointed. r In that busy, crowded thoreugh-

fare, Marylebnne High Street, is a | small art dealer’s shop, with “Francis • and Co.” above tlie door. In the rooms above, on the first floor, the Queen and her brother, the Hon. David Bowes-Lyon, attended a kindergarten school run by Miss Goff. The building Ceased to be a school when Miss Goff took up nursing at the beginning of the war. But the proprietor of the little art shop remembers the bright little girl and her brother racing off alter school hours to play in Regent’s at the end of the street. She little dreamt in those childish lays that one day London would bd preparing to crown her Queen of England. Her Majesty's Coronation robe goes to Mme. Hanc ley-Seymour, who has long been her dresjmaker. Mme. Handley-Seymour made the Queen’s coming-out frock of palest pink cbiffor| when she first grew up, and later she made the beautiful Court gown of white and silver, with its silver train, when nhe was presented at the Court where now she receives the homage oi other debutantes and ladies. Still later, from the same workroom, came the wedding gown | of the then Lady Elizabeth Bowes- ; Lyon when she was married to the Duke of York. This was white matt surfaced material with a glint that suggested moi *e, and the train and the dress were embroidered in silver and pearls. The Coronation dress is now being made, and it will take girls about six weeks to complete the beautiful embroidery. The ivory satin will be embroidered in gold, and there will by eight scfoTls combining the floral efnblems of the British Tales and the Dominions: Rose for England. Thistle for Scotland. Leek for Wa’es. Shamrock for Ireland. Maiple-leaf for Canada. Wattle for Australia. Protea-leaf for South Africa. Fern for New Zealand. Realistic effects have been obtained by the use of different gold threads, lames and cords. The robe will have a square dee fob

1 letage and small sleeves sVashed on i top, with a flounce of fine gold lace. All the materials to be Used in the j dress are English, and even the cocoons from which the silk has been spun were bred In England. At the front, alsng the foot of the dress, large gold lotus flowers will float in a lake of silver. These emblems of the Indian Empire are given a prominent place, as the dress will be worn again at the Delhi Durbar. English Oak leaves and acorns are [ als* iisefl in til* ttsign.