CROWN PLACED

Taranaki Central Press, Volume IV, Issue 432, 13 May 1937, Page 5

CROWN PLACED

• PEERS PRESENT HOMAGE Most Memorable Scene Press. Association —Copyright. Received 10.5 a.m. London, May 12. The acclamations that followed the placing of the crown on the King’s head, died to awed stillness, broken by the Archbishop of Canterbury’s measured recital: “God crown you with a crown of glory and righteousness, that by the ministry of this our benediction, having a right faith and manifold fruit of good works, you may obtain the crown of an everlasting kingdom by the gift of Him whose kingdom endureth for ever. Amen.” The voices of the choristers soared anew, consecrating that immortal hour, that moment of eternity which none privileged to hear it shall ever forget. The King received the Bible and the blessing of the Archbishop of York, bishops and peers following every part of the Benediction with a united “Amen.” The great pageant shaped itself anew towards the Inthronisation. The picture of His Majesty, and the fealty embodied by the King with his peers and his prelates clustered- about him, held enthralled those who looked on. Tremendous in its significance, it was the most memorable scene of the series of changing pageants, nobly observed in every part. The exhortation having ended, every prince and peer present did homage to the King. The archbishop and bishops first did homage, and they were followed by the Duke of Gloucester and other princes of the Royal blood, and other peers of the realm. The first peers Of each order, putting off his coronet, ascended the throne and touched the crown on His Majesty’s head as promising for himself and his order to be ever ready to support it with all their power. He also kissed the King’s cheek. Six “homage anthems” significant of five centuries of English musical history were sung. Then were beaten the drums. Tn their mellow thunder one heard the drums of England that beat round the world. Trumpets sounded together till the sheer glory of it all brought the people’s hearts to their lips, whence rose the united mighty shout, “God Save King George, Long Live King George, May the King Live for Ever.” Thus ended the solemnity of the King’s coronation. Crowning Of Queen. The Archbishop of Canterbury, leaving the King enthroned, offered at the altar a prayer for the Queen who, moving towards the altar steps, supported by two bishops, prepared for her own crowning. She rose and was anointed, kneeling at the stool before the altar, while four peeresses held up the cloth of gold pall. The Archbishop of Canterbury placed a ring on her right hand and crowned her in accordance with the appointed ceremonial with the Queen’s crown, on which scintillated the Koh-i-Noor diamond —“the of light.”

Lambent, jewelled lightnings played above the coiffured heads of the peeresses as they donned their coronets. Then were the sceptre and ivory rod with the dove handed to Queen Elizabeth who, anointed and crowned, and bearing her ornaments, left the altar for the theatre, every inch a queen, while every Scottish heart beat high with pride. She bowed reverently to the King as she passed his throne, which was slightly higher than hers. As she took her seat, the organ swelled into a diaphason and the choir sang an offertory. Their Majesties, relinquishing their sceptres, were attended to the altar, where they removed their crowns and knelt. The ceremony of offering bread and wine by the King for the communion and the making of oblations by the King and Queen followed, after which they returned to their chairs. After a short service the King and Queen again put on their crowns and, taking the sceptres in their hands, returned to their thrones. Post-Communial Service. During the post-communal service which followed the King, attended and accompanied as before, proceeded to the area eastward of the theatre and passed on through the door on the south side of the altar into Saint Edward’s chapel. As they passed th© altar the rest of the regalia lying upon it was given by the Dean of Westminster to the Lords, who carried it, in the procession, and so they proceeded in state into the chapel. The Queen at the same time entered the chapel by the doer on the north side of the altar. The sceptre and Dove were delivered to the archbishop and the golden spurs and Saint Edward’s staff to the Dean of Westminster. The King was disrobed of the Royal robe of state and dressed in his robe of purple velvet and wear-

ing the Imperial crown received the Orb from the archbishop. Their Majesties proceeded through the choir to the west door of the church, once again the gateway of history. The Imperial crown worn by the King contained the ruby of the Black Prince which Henry V wore in his helmet at Agincourt, the Star of Africa diamond and other historic gems, a thousand brilliants, a thousand rose diamonds and three hundred pearls. All the peers wore coronets. The first and last verses of the National Anthem were sung, accomp’ani-

ed by the full power of orchestra and I organ. The last verse w-as given “by all assembled.” Their vast assemblage i extended far beyond the walls ot the i Abbey and the Broadcasting CorporaI tion as their -voices rose, unfolded the ; last scroll of the long story of EngI land’s church music to a listening world. The Abbey service was over, enriching the memories of those attending it with the pageant ot an older England whose figures emerged from the past to encompass the Sovereign in a galaxy reproducing the feudal splendours of Norman aa< ' Plantagenet kings.