The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1911-04-04
ROYAL ROBES FOR
KING AND QUEEN


gems to be worn by Queen Mary of Eng
land, as compared to those worn by her
predecessor. Queen Alexandra. am
supplementing this to-day by an account
OF the royal robes to be worn by the
King and Queen and by the peers and
peeresses.
1t is the intention of the royal pair to
wear the same ceremonial robes at their
coronation as were made for and used
by King Edward and Queen Alexandra
The Kings mantle, or pallium. resem-
bles cope and just fits the shoulders,
being fastened in front by clasp. IL
Is made of cloth of gold. woven of plate
gold threads worked upon silk. Upon the
| cloth of gold Is embroidered design OF
laurel leaves. other parts of the robe
BEING embroidered with cmblems in va
rious colors. The emblems consist of the
imperial crown, the imperial eagle, the
rose, shamrock, and thistle. and the lotus
flower, the emblem of India.
The eagles are embroidered in silver,
the lotus flower in white, the rose. sham
rock, and thistle in their natural colors.
These emblems are repeated over the
whole surface of the robe. and, with
laurel leaf ornamentation, add greatly
to its richness and magnificence. All the
materials used are of British manufac-
ture
The Queens mantle, of wonderful
shade of ruby purple velvet, is eighteen
feet in length and three full breadths
of the velvet in width. Standing boldly
in the center is the crown, with the
genista, the badge of the Plantagenets,
from which springs a rose tree. Down.
ward the roots are entwined with the
Norman fieur-de-lis; upward, the thistle
and the shamrock lead to the Star Of
India. and eliminate in the crown OF
st. Edward. The finest gold thread is
used throughout, with very slight and
judicious touches of violet and green in
the Irish and Scottish emblems. At in
tervals upon it are some thirty repre-
sensations of the imperial crown.
Not a few of the robes which will be
worn by peers and peeresses in June next
at the coronation are of historic interest.
In some cases they have been in the
family for 200 years and moro. although
somewhat faded. when compared with
the new mantles. are worn with the
greatest pride by those to whom they
belong.
The Duke of Norfolk. as earl marshal.
has issued instructions regarding the
robes to be worn by the peers and
peeresses. They are to be of crimson
velvet. and the capes are to be pow
dered with bars, similar to the powder
ing on the capes of peers. By the
depth of the edging of fur on the mantle
the degree of the wearer is indicated. A
baroness, for instance, wears an edging
of two inches of fur. a viscountess also
has two inches, countess three inches,
a marchionesS four inches, and a duchess
five inches.
The length of a peeress' train upon the
ground. another sign of degree, is pre-
scribed by the earl marshal as follows:
baroness. one yard; viscountess, one and
one-fourth yards; countess, one and one
half yards; marchioness. one and three
fourths yards. and duchess, two yards.
The order concerning peers is as fol-
lows: That the robe or mantle be OF
crimson velvet, edged with miniver, the
cape furred with miniver pure. and
powdered with bars or rows of ermine
q. e. narrow pieces OF black fur, ac-
cording to their degrees. viz: Barons,
two rows; viscounts, two and one-half
rows: earls, three rows: marauesses,
three and one-half rows; dukes, four
rows.
In addition, it is possible that Knights
CT the Garter. the Thistle. st. Patrick.
the Bath, Star of India, St. Michael and
st. George, and the Indian empire will
be allowed to wear the nantes which
indicate their respective orders. II this
idea. is carried out additional splendor
will be added to the scene in the abbey
for the nantes are of = very gorgeous
description. The mantle Of the Garter,
for instance, is of dark blue velvet, lined
with taffeta. With this there is a sur
coat of crimson velvet. lined like the
mantle, and adorned, like it. on the left
breast, with an eight-pointed. silver
embroidered star. within which is the
red cross of ST. George. the whole en-
ci-cled by a miniature blue garter
The mantle of the thistle is of green
velvet and that of ST. Patrick is of sky
blue tabbinet, lined with white silk. The
mantle of the Bath is red. and on very
high state occasions the knights are en-
titled to wear crimson surcoats, vest and
breeches of white satin, white stockings
and shoes, golden spurs. and a high
crowned hat with a plume of white
feathers. The mantle of the Star of In
dia is of light blue satin lined with white,
and adorned with blue and silver tas-
sells, with a representation Of the star.
The mantle and chapeau of ST Michael
and st. George are of blue satin. lined
with scarlet silk, the hat surmounted
with black feathers.
Quite a contrast is afforded by the man.
tie of the Indian empire, which is of
purple satin. lined with white silk and
fastened with purple silk and gold tas-
sells and on its left a representation of
the star.
The question Should women ride
astride?'' likely is to become a burning
topic this season. Already an unusual
number of fair equestriennes have sport
ed the divided habit in Rotten Row, and
it appears that the fashion is making
rapid Roadway in the riding schools, es-
pecially among very young girls.
Several society sportswomen are doing
their best to make it catch on" For
several years Viscountess Castlereagh
has regularly ridden astride in the Row,
and other distinguished "astriders'' are
the Duchess of Westminster. Lady Con-
stance Stewart-Richardson, and the Hon.
Mrs. Fairburn- Snapshots may be taken
in the Row any day in the season of
small girls riding astride, a well-known
example being the Duchess of Suther-
lands little daughter. Lady Rosemary
Leveson-Gower. Lady Constance Stew
never has ridden a horse
IN any ntber UNIV he vunorc protfv