The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-02-15
PARLIAMENT HAVE
A MAGNIFICENT
OPENING
King and Queen Will Do the
Business in PersOn-MOst
Gorgeous State Ceremo-
nial, With a Revival Of
Court Glitter.

Copyright, 1908, by Central News and
Press Exchange.)
Special Cable to The Globe.
LONDON, Feb. 14.-It is now prac-
tically certain that the king, accom-
panied by the queen, will in person
open the third session of his first par
lament on Tuesday, Feb. II, with all
the pagenatry and ceremonial which
generally characterize the interesting
occasion. The picturesque function
will take place at 2 o'clock
in the afternoon, and in order to per-
form it their majesties will be convey
ed from Buckingham palace to the
house of legislature in the gorgeous
state coach, resplendant in gilt and
color, and the royal crown glittering
above it's rounded roof. The COACH
viii, of course, be drawn by the eight
cream -cOlored ponies which always
excite popular admiration Five other
carriages will make up the procession,
four of them drawn by six bays, and
the fifth, containing the master of the
horse, by six blacks.
The cortege will include several
members of the royal household and
be attended by an escort of life
guards. The Brigade of Guards and
other fine regiments will line the route
along the mall, through Horse Guards
parade, and straight down Parliament
street. 1t is expected that the Prince
and Princess of Wales will drive to
Westminster independently. Given fa-
vorable weather, the spectacle will un-
questionably be witnessed by large
and enthusiastic crowds
At Victoria Tower.
On alighting at the Victoria tower
their majesties will be received by the
great officers of state and conducted
to their respective robing rooms. Pur-
suivants, heralds, gentlemen ushers,
equarries and grooms-in- waiting lead
the way. Conspicuous positions are
assigned to the premier, the lord chan
cellor and the lord chamberlain, while
the sword of state is borne by prom
irent minister. The king and queen
follow, the rear being brought up by
the royal household, pages of honor
and officers of the gentlemen at arms
and the yeomen of the guard His
majesty having donned his parlia-
mentary robes of crimson silk velvet.
fringed with gold lace and powdered
ermine, the procession will be reform
ed.
The imperial crown will be carried
by the lord president of the council,
the Marquis of Winchester, by hered-
itary right, bearing the cap of mainte-
nance Immediately before his majesty
and alongside the sword Of state The
cortege passes through the royal gall
lery, where space is found for nearly
1000 privileged spectators to watch
the royal progress to the house of
peers.
A Distinguished Company.
There a brilliant throng will await
the coming Of the sovereign and his
consort. Every part of the house of
lords, save that about the throne, will
be filed by a distinguished company.
Peers, of course, wear their robes and
upon the floor of the house are the
judges of the high court, wearing their
state robes of scarlet and full-bottom
wigs. Behind the bishops sit the
diplomatic corps Peeresses occupy
the back benches, their dresses and
jewels adding to the beauty of the
scene. AS the procession enters the
mains standing while the king ascends
the throne, and the queen occupies the
chair of state. All the great officers
stand in their allotted places. Princes
who are peers sit on the dukes
benches, those who are not being ac-
commodated with chairs near the epis-
copal benches.
Amid these surroundings the king.
fhTOnph
viii command Black Rod ito let the
commons know it is his majesty's
pleasure that they attend him imme-
diately in the house of peers. Black
Rod goes at once to the door of the
lower chamber, striking it thrice with
his wand Of Office. On the portals be-
ing thrown open he advances to the
table, makes three obeisances to the
chair and says:
Mr. Speaker: The king commands
this honoroble house to attend his
majesty Immediately in the house of
peers"
Thereupon he withdraws, still MAX
ing obeisances, and not turning his
back upon the house until he reaches
the bar. Straightaway the speaker
and the faithful commons proceed to
the upper chamber, and the king reads
the speech from the throne, the doc
ument being placed in the royal hands
by the royal chancellor, kneeling. The
message to parliament delivered, their
majesties retire, and the ceremony
terminates. Both houses adjourn until
o'clock, when the work of the session
begins.
In view of the opening of parliament
by the king, a public rehearsal of the
state procession took place yesterday
morning, but, owing to the early hour
the spectacle was not witnessed by a
large crowd. The experiment was con.
Quoted by Capt. Nicholas, of the Royal
News, Buckingham.