Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-02-19
A PAGEANTOF ROYALTY
BRILLIANT OPENING OF PARLIA-
MENT IN LONDON.

The first session of the second parliament
of the reign of King Edward VII and the
twenty-seventh of the United Kingdom
was opened this afternoon by the king. Since
his majesty assembled the throne he mas
personally opened each CT the six sessions
o. parliament. adding much to that most
ceremonious occasion Todays event had
added interest in that IT was the first new
parliament to be opened by the king but
more particularly because of the great
change that has come over the personnel
OF the house of commons as a result OF
the recent general election The pageant
was much like those that have gone before
somewhat detracted from by the absence
of the queen, at Copenhagen to attend
the funeral of her father King Christian.
and the Prince and Princess of Wales VINO
are in India, and who in the past have pre-
ceded the king and queen to Westminster
giving additional color to the show.
Spectacular Procession.
The quadrangle on which Buckingham
Palace faces and all the open spaces IN
the vicinity were crowded with people, while
the Mall, which skirts St. James Park, the
Horse Guards parade, Whitehall and Far
lament streets and old palace yard were
lined by thousands, who stood for hours
and for that reason possibly cheered more
heartily than ever as the gold-crusted state
coach, drawn by eight beautifully capari-
soned cream horses, passed at slow walk
The line of the procession was fianked 10y
the foot guards and police, not for pro-
lection but as a part of the ceremony
while a sovereigns escort Of the household
cavalry, in addition to detachment OF
the women Of the guard, acted as body
guard The state coach was preceded by
SIX state carriages, occupied by the ladies'
ana gentlemen of the household
Inc procession and the return tourney
from Westminster to Buckingham Palace
We're for the benefit of the general public
The great spectacle was for the favored
ones who found themselves in. the peers
chamber OF the house of lords. There gath
cred an imposing assembly Of peers, peer
esses, ecclesiastfcs, judges, amba ssadors
and ministers OF foreign countries wtth
their wives
Bench for the Dukes.
Except in the case Of the dukes, for whom
a bench Immediately below that Of the
duchesses is reserved, the order of nrece-
dence among the peers was not observed
the early arrivals taking their choice of the
seats and the late ones wherever they coutd
ind room, liberals, conservatives free
traders and tariff reformers freely mingled
All wore their heavy crimson robes. The
bishops, in scarlet robes, with long ermiue
capes; the judges. in black and gold or
crimson and white, increased the impress
siveness of the scene Amid all this the
ambassadors and ministers of foreign ma
tons, wearing their varying uniforms
broad green or crimson sashes, stars and
decorations, constituted the most brilliant
group in the assembly
King Read His Speech.
The approach of the king, who was met
at the entrance to the house of lords by the
great officers of state and escorte.. to the
robing room, where he donned his nantes
OF purple and ermine, was announced by
heralds In medieval tabards Preceded by
officers of state bearing the imperial crown
cap of maintenance and sword of state the
latter in It's scabbard held aloft ali having
distinctive significance, the king proceeded
to the house of lords and soon afterward
dispatched the gentlemen ushers of the
black rod to summon the members OF the
house of commons, many of whom, antici-
pating the command, were already crowded
into the galleries. The kings message was
as follows:
Mr.. Speaker-The king commands this
honorable house to attend his majesty In
the house of lords to hear the kings speech
read"
Those who waited patiently for the sum-
mons chiefly the Older members TO whom
the ceremony Is not new, accompanied the
speaker to the bar of the house of lords
when the king, reading from printed copy,
delivered his message to he legislators.
Almost immediately afterward the two
houses of parliament commenced TO clear
away the routine, the first item OF which
was the rereading of the kings speech,
thereby bringing about the first general de-
bate of the session, that on the ADDRESS in
reply 10 the speech from the throne.