The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1902-03-02
QUEEN Al ExANDRA'S
CORONATION ROBES.
Her Costume Will pc Modern, q. She
Does Not Admire the Fur'e'""'

of Her Predecessor
s,,.,.r cor-.snops.nce Of TSe Sunday Republic.
London. Feb. @.-The on@5hing which the
| ouesn has insisted on from the beginning
is that the grace and beauty pr her corona
| ton robes shall aot be sacrificed to historic
prece,,en, or to the College-SEHeralds.
She has no mind to walk to her th1one
| in Westminster Abbey looking like a picture
out OF the Middle Ages. Her rooes VIII
have Il modern style so far as possible.
| The Queen has had her share OF the anxi-
| cites belonging TO the preparation OF cere-
| monial dress during the long period OF hef
reign as Princess OF Wales. but all tnat
| sinks into insignficance in comparison with
| The choosing of her costume Tor the ap-
preaching great event
Her Majesty thinks II a good thing that
a coronation can only occur once in a life
| time. The selection OF robes for such an
historic involves countless con-
siderations of detail, which do not enter
| into the choosing of dress for state cere-
moniais in general. as, indeed. the peeresseS
have discovered. who until yesterday were
I'm a narrowing state Of uncertainty as to
the form of their kirtles and the length OF
their trains which the Lord Chamherlain's
regulations will permit them to wear.
In the Queens
The Queen has her trials also. and her
4 bOutOir at MARLBOROUGH I1ousc Va
occasions the appearance OF a school OF de-
sign and II modiste's estaohshHient GULL
bined.
Shall, /, be silk or shall II be velvet Is
IL 10 be embroidered with gold or studded
| with gems: Shall the heraldic devices be
put here or shall they be put there? are
questions which the Queen and her ladies'
are even yet discussing.
Her Majesty for long years has been an
example in elegance and suitability OF dress
to the women OF this country. Never from
the day she wore that lovely gown
wreathed from hem to waist with orange
blossoms has she failed 10 take the palm
for dress at all great ceremonials. and she
Is no, going TO lose her reputation at the
coronation.
Many designs for robes taken from those
worn by previous Queens Consort have
been placed before her Majesty. and those
of the Queen OF James II have found most
favor.
Indeed. as the crown made for Mary
Beatrice is the basis OF that TO be worn
by the Queen, 1t seems in keeping that the
robes of that same beautiful consort should
be suggestive at the present time
Her MaJeaty's Robes.
Size wore a train OF purple velvet, bor-
dared with ermine. and a kirtle of white
and silver brocade. Her stomached biazed
with Jewels. and her robes were looped WITH
ropes and tassels OF pearls Purple ana
silver have usually been dedicated to the
use Of Queens Consort, and red and gold
to the monarchs.
The stately Caroline OF Anspach wore
magnificent purple velvet robes. and walked
TO her throne under a canopy carried by
the Barons Of the Cirque Ports, while her
train was borne by the Princess Royal and
the Princesses Amelia and Caroline, at
tired in purple robes.
The Queen will not walk under a canopy.
that ancient custom being omitted from the
coming ceremony, but the precedent OF
having her train carried by her three
daughters may be followed. and would
certainly give distinction TO the procession
and prevent rivalry among the peeresseS
The Queen will wear everything new on
her coronation day. down to the most insig-
niicant item in her apparel. saving only
her jewels. and the garments worn VIII be
preserved as mementoes of the occasion.
Clothing Clubs Organized.
Indeed. the new clothes custom will BE
observed throughout society, and In some
OF the poor quarters of London clothing
clubs have been started, by which people
can invest against coronation day.
The crown was one Of the earliest mat
tiers under the Queens consideration. and
when II was brought from the Tower for
their Najesties' inspection. the Queen
view ed the ancient headpiece of royal con-
sorts with a SILVER
Well might she have asked in consterna-
ton. How can I wear 1t with my COLI
furey'
In days gore by Queens were content to
hide their lovely locks under a top-heavy
cap-like crown suggestive of pantomime
performances. and their liege subjects
would as soon have thought Of criticising
the shape of this symbol Of regnant royalty
as OF taking exception to a peeress's tiara. |
We live In more democratic days and the
loyalty which Is exhibited by all classes
with regard to the approaching coronation
doao nor prevepf pp0nIn having their nWn /
ideas on the dress of royalty. All will be
pleased that the Queen has practically dis |
carded the old crown Of previous Queens
Consort. and that the gems which II con- |
dainty proportions and lighter design. Il
will rest quite prettily and naturally around |
the Queens hair without Disgusting H..
Ermine for Cap.
The purple velvet cap upon which IL will /
be mounted will be less obtrusive than IN
the old crown. and the border OF ermine less |
pronounced. So far as il can be said to be |
modelled after any crown. 1t will resemble |
the one first made for Mary Beatrice, the
Queen of James ii. and the ~iovelies, royal
consort until the present time.
IL has. 1 believe. been finally decided that |
the Koh-i-noor will not occupy the central
position of the crown. but will be worn
as an ornament in front of the Queens
bodice. In the same way that her late
Majesty wore 1t of late years. Australia |
has a hope that the wonderful great pearl
on the way TO this country may be accord |
ed a place of honor in the Queens crown;
but this is a matter of conjecture. like the |
Queensland opal. which Its possessor has |
tentatively placed with the jewelers. who |
are preparing the Kings crown.
The scepter and cross and the rod and
the dove which will be placed In the Queens
hands after the crown has been put on her
viii follow the traditional design. bur
BE- OF light weight. Tho Archbishop OF
Yrvk vho has 10 perform thu delicata =