The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-03-09
QUEEN ALExANDRA'S
 @S CORONATION ROBES
Her Costume Will Be Modern as She Does Not Admire the Furbelows
 of Her Predecessors.


 of Her Predecessors.
 London Cor. St. Louis Republic. The one thing which the Queen has in- sisted on from the beginning Is that the grace and beauty of her coronation robes shall not be sacrificed to historic prece- dent or to the College of Heralds.
 She has no mind to walk to her throne in Westminster Abbey looking like pic ture out of the Middle Ages. Her robes will have modern style so far as pos sible.
 The Queen has had her share of the anxieties belonging to the preparation of ceremonial dress during the long period of her reign as Princess of Wales: but all that sinks into insigniflcance in com- parison with the choosing of her costume for the approaching great event.
 Her Majesty thinks 1t a good thing that coronation can only occur once in a l:te- time. The selection of robes for such an historic ceremony involves countless considerations of detail. which do not ens ter into the choosing of dress for state cerenontals in general, as. indeed. the peeresses havo discovered, who until yes terday were in narrowing state of un- certainty as to the form of their kirtles and the length of their trains which the Lord Chamberlain's regulations will per- init them to wear.
 The Queen has her trials also and her boudoir at Marlborough House has had on occasions the appearance of a school
 
 combined.
 Shall 1t be silk or shall 1t be velvet? Is 1t to be embroidered with gold or stud ded with gems? Shall the heraldic de- 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 to take the palm for dress at all great ceremo- nials. and she is not 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.
 She were train of purple velvet, bor- dered with ermine. and a kirtle of white and silver brocade. Her stomached blazed with jewels and her robes were looped with ropes and tassels of pearls. Purple and 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 walk ed to her throne under a canopy carried by the Barons of the Cinque Ports while her train was borne by the Princess Roy al and the Princesses Amelia and Caro- line, attired in purple robes.
 The Queen will not walk under a can- opy, that ancient custom being omitted from the coming ceremony; but the pre- cedent 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 insignificant item in her apparel saving only her jewels, and the garments worn will be preserved as mementoes of the occasion. '
 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 corona ton day.
 The crowd was one of the earliest mat ters under the Queens consideration, and when 1t was brought from the Tower for their Majesties' inspection. the Queen viewed the ancient headpiece of royal consorts with shiver.
 Well might she have asked in conster- nation. How can l wear it with my coif- fure?"
 In days gone by Queens were content to hide their lovely locks under a top- heavy cap-like crown suggestive of pan tomime performances. and their liege sub jects would as soon have thought of criticising the shape of this symbol of regnant royalty as of taking exception to peeress's tiara.
 We live in more democratic days. and the loyalty which is exhibited by all classes with regard to the approaching coronation does not prevent people hav- ing their own ideas on the dress of roy atty. All will be pleased that the Queen has practically discarded the old crown of previous Queens Consort, and that the gems which 1t contained will be reset In a new crown of more dainty propor- tions and lighter design. It will rest qu te prettily and naturally around the Queen S