HOW MANY THRONES HAS KING GEORGE?

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 330, 17 June 1911, Page 9

HOW MANY THRONES HAS KING GEORGE?

AX INTERESTING ARTICLE. Most people talk about the throne of England as if it were a. special arm-chair on which the King sat daily, but, as a matter of fact, there is no ollicially recognised throne, and it has become a metaphorical symbol of monarchy, just as 'the Crown'' has become practically captured by the law courts. One would naturally, perhaps, look for the throne proper at Windsor. It surely should bo the King's ''Windsor chair," and, as a matter of fact, there is both a throne and a throne-room in the ancient fortress and palace, but it is proliably the very last chair our Sailor King would be likely to be found seated upon if one could pay an afternoon call. And, so far from this throne being unique, there is actually one at each of the Royal palaces, and it is probable that the one at Buckingham Palace is the more generally used, inasmuch as most ceremonial occasions take place there. The King may be said to have a suite of thronesi —or shall we say a set of "occasional thrones"?—on each of which he probably sits at least once. Ceritainly he only sits on a single occasion upon one of thorn —that is the Coronation Chair in Westminster Abbey—the worm-eaten, battered., lion-footed old oak settle which contains the Stone of Destiny, and upon which all the King's predecessors since Edward If. have been crowned. The chair might, perhaps, claim to be the throne of the Empire, as it is infinitely the most ancient, and inasmuch as the King must sit upon it to Ijo crowned. 'Ft is not at all likely that Ihe King would not sit upon it often, even if it were in his "ain ingle-nook," because it is an extremely uncomfortable chair. It stands, your in and year out. in the chapel of Edward the Confessor, where it was first placed by Edward 1., and it is only removed for the Coronation, when, covered with gold brocade, it is set under the lantern, between uie choir and the altar. Probably the throne most familiar to the public is the great creation which stands upon a dais in the House of Lord~. Tt is often mentioned in the newspapers quite apart from (he opening of Parliament—the only occasion upon which it is actually used as a seat. Often a phrase like tins occurs: "Mr. John Burns, who is greatly interested in this Bill, listened to'the debate from the steps of the throne." A beautiful rail separates this "Royal seat of Kings" from the faithful peers.

Put it is not everybody wlio realises that the Palace of Westniintser—Hie correct name for the Parliamentary Mouses —contains a second throne. This is placed in the King's Robing Room and is used by the King when he is putting on his regal garb before entering the House of Peers to read the Speech from the throne.

As a matter of fact, the oflicial throne of these realms is the one at lit. James' Palace, that very ordinary-looking briciv building at the foot of St.' Janies'-strcot. All Ambassadors are accredited to this court, and. in the eyes of the foreign (iovernments, it stands for the majesty of Britain. Its throne is a very handsome one, and stands upon a magnificent and most ornate canopy. Though the throne at Windsor is but little used, it is unique in one respect. It is really an Eastern throne, after the style of the one we read of in the records of King Solomon, for it is composed entirely of ivory, and was the gilt of one of the Princes of India.

It would seem to have lieen the custom in ancient times to crown kings on a stone, for not only is there the ancient Stone of Scone' in the Coronation Chair, hut visitors to Kingston-on-Thames can see in the market-place the ancient Coronation Stone of England. Why the Scottish Stone should he preferred to the stone upon which Alfred the (Jrent was crowned it is hard to say, and why the one should be housed \v the Abbey and the other exposed to wind ami weather near Kingston's busy market place is still more of a puzzle.' Surely that one stone is the true throne of England!— Memo paper.