MADE BY THE KING IN OTTAWA

Wairarapa Times-Age, 20 May 1939, Page 7

MADE BY THE KING IN OTTAWA

Presence in Canadian Senate with Queen

ROYAL ASSENT GIVEN TO BILLS

CEREMONY RICH IN SYMBOLISM By Telegraph —Press Association. —Copyright. (Received This Dav, 10.50 a.m.) OTTAWA, May 19. The King made history today when, with the Queen, lie entered the Senate of his Canadian Parliament, addressed both Houses from the Throne and gave the Royal assent to Bills passed during the session, says the special representative of the Australian Associated .Press. It is the first time that a British sovereign has ever appeared in a Dominion Parliament and was a striking illustration of the significance of the Statute of Westminster, under which his Majesty is equally King of Great Britain, Canada and other realms in the British Commonwealth of Nations. Moreover it was a unique occasion, in that it was the first time since Queen Victoria attended the House of Lords, on August 12, 1854, that the Crown itself had personally assented to Bills. Since 1854, the Royal assent has been given by commissions of the House of Lords. The superb Gothic buildings of the Canadian Parliament, so like Westminster, were a fitting setting for a ceremony rich in symbolism for the Dominions. The Senate chamber was ablaze with' scarlet and gold. In place of the Speaker’s chair stood a regal canopy, and under it two high-backed thrones of carved wood. Seven scarlet-gowned members of the Supreme Court, four English-speaking and three French judges sat before it on a woolsack. Flanking the Chamber were members of diplomatic corps and senators. The galleries were splashed with the rich warm of uniforms, gowns, flashing jewels and orders. Lady Tweedsmuir sat in the Government House gallery, with the Governor-General’s staff. Lord Tweedsmuir, of course, was absent. Their Majesties made a slow and dignified progress up the Chamber, preceded by two lords-in-waiting and the Royal equerries. The King wore a field-marshal’s full dress uniform, and the Queen a small diamond tiara with a regal, off the shoulder, crinolined gown of white taffeta, with a .lace pattern carried out in gold satin. The bodice was crossed with the blue sash of the Order of the Garter. Two small pages held the court train. Her Majesty was attended by two ladies in waiting and the procession was brought up by their Majesties twentythree Canadian military, naval and Air Force aides.