The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-05-22
When New King Ascends England's Throne

the legislative and executive depart.
ments OF the state"
The Place of the Queen.
While the king is thus invested with
numerous and important duties. It is
different with his consort. the queen.
Although she is the wife Of the reign
ing sovereign and as such the head Of
British society, she has no legal status
higher than that Of any other wife The
British constitution does not recognize
her. and she has no duties other than
those which the king may be pleased 70
assign 10 her, as he may 10 any other
subject The word subject is used ad-
Fisedly. She is only Subject" OF his
majesty. In that respect being only on q
par with his millions Of other subjects.
This is Of course theoretically. Actual
~ the queen yields great power
through her control Of the favor Of So
ciety- And at the coronation she IS a
splendid and conspicuous figure. fox
after the crown is placed upon the
Drows Of her husband by the archbish-
op Of Canterbury. 'primate OF all Eng
land" she is invested with her own
crown by the archbishop Of York. who
Is known officially as the primate OF
England" She stands then at the
head Of the peeresses Of the realm IN
virtue OF her husbands majesty. lust
as the setting OF the crown upon his
head IS the signal for the self crown
Inc ~rrfH1 . al
luises, earis, yiscounts and barons VI
the realm.
That rs the only time when these per
sons OF title wear their c0r0nets. and
there are nice distinctions among the
rariOus ranks IN the matter OF these
minor crowns A dukes corouet must
have a certain number Of strawberry
leaves, and q visCoUnts must contain
q certain number Of balls. many balls
and so on. II is all a matter Of the
survival OF ancient customs and laws
II there remains IN the world today
a ceremonial marked more than any
other by the survival OF ancient GUS
toms and observances il is the corona
ton Of a British sovereign Every mi
mute step IN the ordering Of the rites iz
bound and circUmscribed with q most
worshipful regard for precedent and
privilege, and the questions 10 be de-
Cided by the earl marshal OF England.
the chief Official IN charge Of the coro-
nation, are manifold IN their number
and irtricacy The hereditary earl mar
shaI OF the kingdom Of England IS the
Duke Of Norfolk. the premier peer OF
the realm, who IS the head OF the his
torlc house Of Howard. IN these de-
generate days. when business has TAX
en- the place Of war and pCmp. the car.
marshal Of England has little 20 90 save
at the coronation Of a new king. but ir
the 0lden days, when sOvereigns went
forth % war themselves he was one Of
the most important officials OF the king
dom. He stul has certain defined du-
ties that have % do with the granting
Of titles. coats Of arms. etc, but the du-
ties devolve mainly upon subordinates.
From the popular OF purely spectacu-
lar point OF view "the pageant ana Ger
euony OF a coronation in England" con-
sist Of the splendid scene IN West
minister abbey when the new monarch
IS anointeG. ROBBED and crowned and
the scenes in the streets OF London.
with parades, speeches and bOnfres;
the actual rite and ceremony-that IS
10 say. Of the coronation itself-ard the
state procession Of the sovereign 10 and
from Westminster and Buckingham
palace. Some OF these are intended for
the populace. but Of course the coro-
nation in the abbey and the great cOr0-
nation banquet are only for the elect.
some persons. such as the peers Of the
realm. the lords spiritual as well as
temporal. and the officials have heredi-
tary OF. prescribed rights 10 admission
10 the coronation and the banquet.
Others must rely on their influence
with the aforesaid officials or on their
social standing for the highly coveted
tickets OF admission. The rest Of the
London populace IS permitted and y
deed expected 10 line the route Of the
new sovereign's procession and cheer
Justify as he passes.
This part Of the program IS never
omitted. for the people Of the kings
most loyal city Of London" are eX-
traordlnariIy fond Of shows and pa
rades and professions Of all sorts-this
in spite OF the city's theoretical indie
pendenCe Of the sovereign. for London
is q free city" and even the king him
self or his messengers cannot formally
enter its precincts without the permits
sion Of the lord mayor. London IS teal-
Gus Of this preTogative, and the Off
Gals never fail 20 assert II on solemn
or formal occasions.
This was well illustrated three days
after King Edwards death. when the
Eeralds sent 10 the city 10 proclaim the
accession Of King George were halted
at Temple Bar, the substitute for the
old gates Of the city, which were lock-
ed against the kings messengers. A
red cord stretched across the street
preserved the way into the ancient city
Of London. II was not until the lord
mayor gave permission for the heralds
TO proceed that they could enter the
city without breaking the laws and
customs OF many centuries.