Evening star., 1936-01-29
CORONATION RITES
LAST FOUR HOURS
Elaborate Ceremony and
Brilliant Robes Far Cry
From Plus F0urS.


have to wear robes and jewels OF
Oriental splendor and go through an
elaborate ritual lasting four hours.
The ceremony really begins when
the first of three professions leaves
the Kings residence. This Is COM
posed of his royal guests. The second
procession comprises the British royal
family, the third the King and his
attendants.
Etiquette exacts that no other reign
ing monarch shall be present. Other
reigning families may send repre-
sentatives, but no Kings.
The coronation is. first and fore
most, religious cereminy It is
dominated by the spirit of Edward
the Confessor-third of the Saxon
Edwards, who died in the year of the
Norman conquest. He founded West
minister Abbey, where the coronation
will take place His ruby ring will be
worn by the King during the cere-
mony. His staff-4l2 feet of gold top
ped with ball said to contain a
portion of the true croSs-will be
carried before the King, as
will his sword. Even the official
crown Of England in corona
tions, but on no other State occasion
because of its weights copy Of Ed
ward the Confessors crown.
The original crown-worn also By
Alfred the Great-was destroyed by
republicans in 1649. An exact copy
was made for Charles II in 1862 by
Sir Robert Viner.
The Jewels have been changed from
time to time, but the design remains
the samoa band of ermine surround
ed by an alternate row of crosses and
f7eur- de -lis-the crosses symbolizing
the Kings leadership of the English
church: the fleur- -de-lis. relic of the
days when he ruled part of France.
From the crosses rise four bulging
arches meeting at the top under a
larger cross. Inside the crown is a
cap of purple velvet lined with white
satin.
Studded With Gems.
The gold of the crown is scarcely
visible under its blazing crust of jew
els. A part of the great Cullinan
diamond-the Star of Africa"-pre-
sented to the crown by the TranSvaal
Colony in 1907, and subsequently cut
in two--is set just above the ermine
band in a detachable form. Equally
brilliant is the famous ruby given to
yet another Edward-the Black Prince
by Don Pedro, King of CASTLE. and
worn by Henry v in his helmet at
Agincourt-a helmet that hangs today
in the abbey over his tomb.
The crown also includes II sap
phires. II emeralds. rubies. 1888
brilliant diamonds, 1878 rose dia-
monds, lat table diamonds, 4 huge
pear-shaped pearls and 1913 lesser
pearls.
Carried before the King on a
cushion during the greater part of the
ceremony, this crown is worn only
for short while. In addition to 1t.
two scepters. four swords, an orb and
golden spurs are used in the symbolic
coronation ceremony.
The King enters the abbey wearing
red velvet. He changes to gold tissue
for his actual crowning. He leaves
In purple velvet-purple in order to
'attract reverence" according to me-
dieval writers-just as his crown is to
''blazon glory
The gold robes are the most gor-
eeous, modelled on the imperial cloak
OF the forgotten Byzantine emperors.
Holds Two Scepters.
At the moment he is crowned, the
King holds iG his right hand the royal
scepter symbolizing power and JUS
tice 1t is feet 9 inches of gold or
namented with jewels and enamel
tipped with a cross and the other
part of "The Star of Africa" so large
it looks like piece of glass. In his
left hand. he holds the second scepter,
the Virgo" 1t is feet, inches
of gold, jeweled and topped with
white enameled dove, symbolizing
equity and mercy.
The Orb, which he carries in his
left hand as he leaves the abbey, is g.
ball of gold, inches in diameter, sur
mounted with diamond and pearl
cross 81 inches high. The ball is the
world, the cross, Christianity. and the
whole symbolizes the dominion of
Christ over the world. The Orb
often appears on old English coins in
the left hand of the king of the day.
The Great Gold Spurs" as they
are called, represent st. George and
chivalry. They are not actually put
on, but simply touched to the Kings
heels before he is crowned. With
spears, instead of rowels, they are the
ancient type of spurs worn by Norman
and Anglo-Saxon knights.
Symbolic Swords.
The Sword of State-St. Edwards
swords one of those huge, heavy,
two-handled swords only welded by
extra-strong soldiers who got extra
pay for the job. Thirty-tWo inches
long and two inches wide, the gilt
metal of the Sword of State is wrought
to represent lion on one side and
B. unicorn on the other.
The second sword, like King Arthur's
"Excalibur," has a proper name. 1t is
called "Curtana"-a broad, bright.
blade 80 inches long and 2 inches
wide with handle Of fine gold wire.
Because it symbolizes mercy, 1t has
no point.
The third sword is the Sword of
Spiritual Justice, with an obtuse point.
AS the fourth sword symbolizes Tenn
poral Justice, its point is very sharp
Edward the Confessor's ring, called
the Wedding Ring of England" is
symbol of fidelity. Jointed like a
bracelet, it can be adjusted to fit any
finger. Its pure gold is set with big,
violet-red ruby enchased with the
cross of st. George and surrounded
with rs diamonds.
One stone playing an active part in
the ceremony is not jewel. While
the King is being anointed and
crowned he is seated in Gothic oaken
chair that was Edward I's-the first
of the Norman Edwards, that is-and
beneath the seat of this chair rests the
Stone of Destiny, upon which all
Ccotfich kinCS have heen crowned from