The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-01-24
FAMILY QUARREL
 IN ROYAL CIRCLES Queen Mother Alexandra and Queen Mary Cannot Agree ON CORONATION PLAN Elder Queen Desires to Figure More Prominently Than the Other Is
 Willing to Concedc-Other
 English Notes
ON CORONATION PLAN

though no one in England, where royalty still stands on very overlapping ped estal. dares say so aloud. 1t is a sub 5ect of general gossip in Mayfair and the neighborhood of Grosvenor Square in all our aristocratic drawing rooms in fact, that the relations between the Queen mother, Alexandra, and her daughter law. Queen Mary, are not very friendly to say the least, and that there is con tinual friction over the coronation ar engagements, because Queen Alexandra, who is far younger than her years, de- mands to figure prominently on that oc- casion, and there is no precedent to be guided by.
 King George is said to be very much under the influence of his mother, and in spite of the objections of Queen Mary 1t has now been arranged that a third throne will be provided for Queen Alex andra, who will sit on the left of the king.
 Nothing could be less surprising than these continuous rumors that clashes between the two leading women of the court of St. James, for never were two greater contrasts than Queen Alexandra and Queen Mary brought into close touch at the same royal court.
 Both are exceedingly fond of power, both want to occupy the first position and both are stubborn by nature while King George lacks the necessary firmness of character to put an end to the quar- rels.
 Queen Alexandra, as the papers invaria- bly, call her now. because 1t has become known that she dislikes being called the queen mother is a very broad minded, liberal woman of the world, cosmopolitan in her tastes, as was her late husband hospitable and fond of pleasure. She heartily dislikes the stiff English court etiquette and likes to see herself sur rounded by men and women of culture and artistic temperament.
 Queen Mary, on the other side, is En- giish to the core, heavy like the atmos- phere of London disliSes gaiety and is inclined to be religious in the old fash toned way, which condemns every form of pleasure, even of the most innocent kind. In every way practical if rather prosaid, woman. she is exceedingly fond of home life. devoid of all splendor in great respect of her. while at the same time they adore their grandmother
 The kings position is of course. very difficult one, and the worried express sion he generally wears, since the death of his father, is probably less due to the cares of state than to the disagreements of the two women he loves the most.
 During the coronation celebration Lon don will rise to the full height of its imperial position as the center of empire. Within it's borders will be drawn to- gether the representatives of the king dominions beyond the seas, and it is a happy coincidence that the coronation year will witness the gathering of the imperial conference. feature of the corShation pageant will be the presence of Indian native troops and detachments from forces in all parts of the empire The Indian troops will be stationed at Hampton court, and the other troops at Alexandra palace, as was the case when King Edward was crowned.
 For the public at large the principal feature will be the procession from Buck ingham palace to Westminster abbey, and the control of the huge crowds whicf will throng the thoroughfares of the me tropolis will impose heavy task on the military and the police. For this purpose . there will be a great concentration oi troops in London, probably under the SUI preme command of the Duke of Con. naught. About 60,0OO regular soldiers wil line the streets, and they will be drawr from practically all the garrisons in the country.
 Cavalry will be present in especially strong force. and the whole of the mount. ed regiments now stationed in England and Scotland will be requisitioned. By command of the sailor king about 3Ot men of the royal navy will participate and they will form the guard of honol outside Westminster abbey, and have prominent place in the royal procession There will also be large force of roya marines. M
 The preparation of the abbey will neces sitate the closing of the building to thu public from the beginning of. February The office of works will then begin tn, work of transforming the interior. Al annex will be provided at the west ent for. use as fthe, royal rubing room, tn, same as at the last coronation. In 19o the annex was made to harmonze il appearance with the ancient architectur cs the abbey, and it was one of the pop ular sights of London for some time afte the ceremony.
 King George will wear the coronation robe of King Edward the VII. and Queel Mary has decided to have her coronation dress made exclusively of British ma terial The design is not yet decided, bu Princess Louise, Duchess of Argyll i making the drawings for the embroid cries which the Royal School of Ar Needlework students will carry out Queen Mary will wear the train whic was worn by Queen Alexandra at tn last coronation,
 In the spectacular sense London ma