, 1901-01-25
KING CROWNED
THE ANCIENT CEREMONY WIT
MESSED BY GREAT THRoNGS
OF PEOPLE.
London Given Up to the Occasion
Streets Were Lined With Troops
and Heralds-over All the SpIen.
did Scene There Was Still a Color
Of Mourning for the Dead Queen.

London, Jan. 24.-London today IA
given a glimpse of medieval times.
The quaint ceremonies with which
King Edward VII was proclaimed at
various points of the metropolis exact
ly followed ancient p~recedents. The
officials purposely arranged the func-
ton an hour ahead of the published
announcement, and the inhabitants,
when they awoke, were surprised to
find the entire way between st. James
palace and the city lined with troops.
About 10000 soldiers, Life guards,
Horse guards and other cavalry and
infantry regiments, had been brought
from Aldershot and London barracks
after midnight. All the officers had
crepe on their arms, and the drums and
brass instruments were shrouded with
crepe. The troops in themselves made
an imposing spectacle. but they were
entirely eclipsed by the strange spec
tacle presented by the officials of the
College of Arms.
The ceremony began at st. James
palace where, at 9 O'Clock. Edward VII
was proclaimed king of the United
Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland
and emperor of India. The proclama-
ton, which was read by William Hen
ry Weldon, king-at-arms since 1894 and
formerly Windsor herald, was as fol-
lows:
The Proclamation.
Whereas, 1t has pleased Almighty
God to call to his mercy our late SOW
ereign lady, Queen Victoria, of bless
ed and glorious memory, by whose de-
cease the imperial crown of the United
Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland
is solely and rightfully come to the
high and mighty Prince Albert Edward,
we, therefore, the lords spiritual and
temporal of his realm, being here as.
sisted with those of her late majesty's
privy council, with members and other
principal gentlemen Of quality, the lord
mayor, aldermen and citizens of Lon
don, do now hereby with one voice, con
tent Of tongue and heart to publish and
proclaim that the high and mighty
Prince Albert Edward is now. by the
death Of our late sovereign of happy
memory, become our only lawful and
rightful liege lord, Edward VII, by the
grace Of God, king Of the United King
don of Great Britain and Ireland, de-
fender of the faith, Emperor of India,
to whom We acknowledge all faith and
and constant obedience with all hearty
and humble affection, beseeching God,
by whom all kings and queens do reign,
to bless the royal Prince Edward VII,
with long and happy years to reign ov-
er u.s."
The king was not present. There
was a large assembly Of officials and
college heralds. Among those in at
tendance were General Roberts and
members of his headquarters staff
and other army officers. There vas a
great of people from the
commencement to the close. The proc
lamation a. greeted by a fanfare of
trumpets. At the conclusion of the GER
emony the band belonging to the foot
guards in the Friary court played God
Save the King" The members of the
kings household witnessed the cere-
mony from Marlborough house. On
the balcony overlooking the Friary
court. whence the proclamation vas
read, were the Duke of Norfolk and
other officers of state. The balcony
was draped in crimson cloths.
Besides the officials in Respondent
uniforms were stationed the state
trumpeters. Here were seen many
prominent persons, among them Sir
Henry Arthur White, private solicitor
to the queen; the Prince of Wales and
other members of the royal family.
In the yard Of Marlborough house
and the Friary court were stationed a
large body of police, soldiers and loot
guards. The footguards acted as a
guard of honor and they were posted
Immediately beneath the balcony.