Evening star., 1937-05-12

baned Oriental splendor paraded the
grandeur Of empire.
Up to the time the King left
Buckingham the police had not found
1t necessary to close the crush area"
In and about oxford Circus.
The King and Queen smiled their
acknowledgment of the tumultous
cheers of the crowd. Repeatedly
Elizabeth bowed and raised her hand
In the half salute for which the
Smiling duchess" has become IA
nous.
The King looked calm and conf
dent.
Within the abbey, American Envoy
Gerard sat In the last OF long row
OF choir stalls. BY leaning far for
ward, he could see the whole corona
ton ceremonial.
Next to him sat Maxim Litvinof1,
Soviet commissar Of foreign affairs
and Russian representative for the
event.
The two, in black and white eve
ming clothes with knee breeches,
talked frequently, but Litvinon
turned his attention more repeat
edly to Count Dino Grandi, the Ital-
ian envoy, who sat on his other side
Ten seats away from Grandi sat
Alto Ephrem Medhen, representing
his majesty, Emperor Halle Selassie, -
whose invitation sorely irritated Italian
Premier Mussolini.
Between Gerard and the thrones sat
Indian princes blazing with diamonds
in robes and headdresses of every con-
ceivable color.
Bingham and the embassy aides,
Ray Atherton, counsellor of embassy;
Lieut.. Col. R. E. Lee, the military
attache, and Capt. r. Wilson, naval
attache, sat with their wives on the
other side of the choir screen.
United States Ambassador to Moscow
Joseph E. Davies and his wife did
not nave seats In the Abbey, but saw
the procession from stands along the
route.
Queen Elizabeth wore a gown of
lVory-tlnted satin embroidered with
gold lace sequins and diamonds under
her cloak of white ermine.
Before her the little princesses drew
every eye as they entered the abbey
and walked gracefully to their minia-
ture chairs on either side OF their
aunt, the princess royal.
Elizabeth Is Grave
And Dignified.
When they were seated, neither
the feet OF Elizabeth nor Margaret
Rose touched the floor. Elizabeth
was grave and dignified, but Mar
garet dangled her feet, completely
at ease. Unconcerned with the great
event, she stuck up her foreflnger
and smiled impishly when she saw
some one she knew.
AS their grandmother, Queen Mary,
entered, her regal figure blazing with
diamonds. the little princesses stood
erect beside their chairs and then,
at a nod from the princess royal,
tipped their little trains over their
arms and scooted up the steps to
the box where the Queen Mother
took her seat.
Elizabeth, as was due her rank as
helress presumptive to the throne.
sat next to her grandmother, while
Margaret Rose was on the other side
Of Elizabeth.
The venerable Archbishop of Can
terbury, Most Rev. Cosmo Gordon
Lang. advanced slowly, met the King
and Queen beneath the arch of the
huge west door.
Within the vaulted abbey walls
$500 distinguished personages, rest
less for three hours, became quiet and
reverent. Since dawn they had been
gathering.
Dignitaries Of state and church
formed and moved with the King
and Queen through the long nave Of
the abbey to the throne.
First came the recognition:
"Sirs, I here present unto YOU
King George, your undoubted King"
The Archbishop spoke loudly. Where
fore all you who are come this day
to do your homage and service, are
you willing to do the same?"
Tumult broke. Every British
throat in the abbey swelled the cry,
God save King George!" Only a
thousand could see all the ceremony,
but all could join the shouting.
Trumpets sounded.
Facing east, then south west north,
the King turned to "shew himself unto
the people"
Four times the archbishop chal-
lenged. Each section OF the abbey
throng raised the cry, God save King
George!"
A fanfare Of echoing trumpets,
softened and died away
Thus the King was recognized, ac-
cepted sovereign Of the British people
and ready for his coronation oath.
Sir, is your majesty willing to take
the oath?"
The archbishop stood before the
King.
Slowly, deliberately the monarch
answered:
Il am willing"
A Bible rested in his hand.
The archbishop: will you solemnN
promise and swear to govern the
peoples Of Great Britain, Ireland,
Canada, Australia, New Zealand and