ROBES OF ROYAL PURPLE

Waikato Times, Volume 122, Issue 20497, 13 May 1938, Page 5

ROBES OF ROYAL PURPLE

REGALIA OF THE CORONATION RICHNESS OF BEAUTY AND DESIGN DISPLAY IN HAMILTON Recalling the splendour and pageantry of the Coronation, the robes of Royal purple velvet, richly embellished with ermine and embroidery, worn by the King and Queen after their crowning in Westminster Abbey, pro\ide an exhibition of interest in the Bledisloe Hall at the Winter Show building. The display will be open to-day and to-morrow. The robes and other regalia used during the ceremony were brought to Hamilton by Mrs M. Murray Fuller, who will visit the towns of New Zealand with them. They were worn by King George VI and Queen Elizabeth after the anointing. The crimson robes of state were worn by them during the drive from Buckingham Palace to the Abbey. The velvet used is a hand-loom silk velvet. The King's robe is entirely lined with ermine, decorated with ermine tails, .with a deep ermine cape. The train of Royal purple velvet, lined again with ermine, is edged with a deep ermine border. It is very heavy, and during the ceremony was carried by eight pages and the Master of the Robes. Gold braid in which is woven the rose, the thistle and the shamrock also forms a deep border on the robe. The Queen’s Robe The Queens of England have always used the traditional robe of Royal purple velvet, but have chosen their own design for the decoration of the train. Queen Elizabeth chose the floral emblems of the Empire. The cape is composed of ermine and the robe is bordered in ermine with ermine tails, with a deep border of gold embroidery. in the centre of, the train is the crown, and immediately underneath a double E. The base of the design is the emblem for India, the lotus lily, above the protea for South Africa, and then, in a prominent position, the fern leaf I for New Zealand enclosing the rose for England. On the border of the I train Is shown the maple lor Canada, the rose, acorn, thistle and shamrock, the leek and the wattle. The weight of the robe is so great that the Queen | could not stand unsupported for any length of time. Six ladies-in-waiting carried the train, measuring four yards. Princesses’ Gold Circlets The robes of Their Royal Highnesses. Princess Elizabeth and Princess Margaret Rose, are also to be seen. Of Royal purple velvet, lined with satin, they are bordered with gold braid and ermine and have little ermine capes, but unlike the King and Queen's, theirs were not trimmed with ermine tails- The gold circlets which are on view are the actual circlets worn by the Princesses. These were made in the form of comfortable hats so as not to cause any anxiety. All the embroidery was done by hand, even the Coat-of-Arms on the Royal box. Forty iexperts of the Royal School of Needlework, London, were occupied for many months carrying out the work. The right-hand glove which was presented by the Earl ot Lincoln and 1 which the King wore when holding the sceptre is on view. The front of the Royal box in which sat Her Majesty, Queen Mary, Their Royal Highnesses the Princesses, and other members of the Royal Family, and the front of the regalia table which stood in the annexe of the Abbey, are also on exhibition. Of interest is the canopy which was held over the King after the crowning, and samples of the carpets used in the Abbey.