The Wingham Advance-Times, 1953-05-20, Page 15:Ainktiodg,
J-40
Windsor Castle, the centuries-old home of Britain's
sovereigns, stands proudly on the banks of the
Thames a few miles Upstream from London. The
—BritiaL Travel Association Photo
Royal Standard flying at the masthead on the Round
Tower shows that the sovereign is in residenos.
MAY, 1954 CORONATION SUPPLEMENT PAGE TIMEX
Prince Philip
The Man At The Queen's Side
A Capable, Popular Consort
—British Travel Association Yhoto
H.R.H. The Duke of Edinburgh at Buckingham Palace. In the first
formal portrait studies to be taken since the accession of H.M. Queen
Elizabeth II, H.R.H. The Duke of Edinburgh is wearing the uniform of
Lieut. Commander of the Royal Navy with aiguillettes as a personal
A.D.C. to the late King, the Star of the Garter '(top) and the Star of
the Thistle. The Duke's medals are (left to right) 1939-45 Star, Atlantic
Star, Africa Star, Burma Star (with Pacific Rosette), Italy Star, War
Medal and Palm Leaf (mentioned in despatches), Coronation Medal,
Greek Order of the Phoenix and French Croix de Guerre with Palm leaf.
It is an unwritten tradition in Britain that the head of
the Royal household be a Navy man—and in every sense of
the term the man at the Queen's side is a Navy man, through
and through.
In a very real way, his Naval training has been of im-
measurable help to Prince Philip in coping with his rather
difficult position as Prince Consort, a position which in pre-
cise terms of precedence, can hardly be defined. But as head
of his household and husband of Queen Elizabeth he is cer-
tainly the best-known citizen in Britain, and probably the
most popular.
What is he like, the Man at the Queen's side?
The Duke of Edinburgh was at one time sixth in line of
succession to the Greek throne. His father was Prince An-
drew of Greece, who died in 1943, and his mother Princess
Mice of Battenberg, daughter of the first Marquess of
Milford Haven.
He was born in Corfu, but from the start received a
thoroughly British upbringing, spending most of his boyhood
with his uncle, Lord Mountbatten, in whose house in Park
Lane—as also at the White Lodge, Windsor and the Picca-
dilly home of the then Duke and Duchess of York—he quite
frequently met Princess Elizabeth.
The young girl and the rather shy,lanky boy were good
friends from the start, but it was only a childhood associ-
ation. They exchanged presents and letters, but Philip, boy-
like, was very -much absorbed in boyish pursuits and had
already announced his longing to make the Navy a career.
It was an ambition easy to gratify,
for he had, as time proved, all the
makings of a seaman—a willing-
,wes to work hard, a keen sense of
''Wscipline, a liking for the com-
radeshp of men, a sense of adven-
ture and a love of athletes. In due
.course Prince Philip was admitted
to the Royal Naval College, Dart-
mouth, where he won the King's
Dirk for the best cadet.
Fond of Athletics
As a scholar—he was educated
at the progressive school at Gor-
donstoun, Scotland, run by the dis-
tinguished German educationalist,
Dr. Kurt Hahn—he was not out-
standing. On the whole, he prefer-
red games.
One characteristic of Prince
Philip was remarked by all who
met him as a boy. Although re-
served, he was entirely without
"side." He mixed with everyone
without the slightest trace of self-
consciousness and by his own ex-
"Merrie England," Luton Hoo's
Coronation pageant, June 9-15, will
have more than 1,000 performers
in Elizabethan costume. The fam-
ous Luton Girls' Choir will take
. part with the well known singers
te
nne Ziegler and Webster Booth.
tends to accommodate 20,000 are
ing erected.
Reserve TV Equipment
Readied For Coronation
Alexandra Palace, London, home
of the world's first public tele-
vision service, is being equipped
with a new medium power tele-
vision installation (by Marconi's
Wireless Telegraph Company, Ltd.,
of Chelmsford, England). Vision
and sound transmitters and asso-
ciated equipment are being in-
stalled, as a reserve, in time for
the Coronation.
Wonderful Pageant
Impressive Procession 'Ere
Coronation Of Queen Victoria
It is a fair assumption that when Queen Elizabeth II is
crowned on June 2 this year, the ceremony in all its intricate
detail will run without the unfortunate hitches which marked
but did not mar the coronation of her great-great-grand-
mother Queen Victoria.
At the time of Queen Victoria's coronation in June, 1838,
there was a deficiency in the national budget and a pessimis-
tic few pressed for an "austerity" coronation, shorn of its
more costly trimmings. But neither Parliament nor the
people would hear of it. However, it was decided to scrap
the usual banquet in Westminster Hall—perhaps because,
on the previous occasion, when George IV became King, most
of the table silver was stolen by souvenir hunters.
Colorful Procession
The procession from Buckingham Palace started at 10
a.m. and was an impressive sight. Ambassadors and minis-
ters, bands, the royal carriages, more bands, the Yeomen of
the Guard, officers and officials, cavalry—and the Queen in
her state carriage, drawn by eight cream-coloured horses.
She received a great ovation from the crowds on her way to
the Abbey, where the ceremony, with all its solemnity and
involved ritual, must certainly have been a trial to her.
One queer feature of the procession was a gentleman
who looked more important than all the others put together,
and whose identity was speculated upon, with considerable
inaccuracy, by the crowds. He was, in fact, the Austrian
Ambassador and his scintillating aspect, covered as he was
from head to foot in jewels—even to the heels of his boots—
was breath-taking.
The police control of crowds and traffic was not nearly
so efficient as it is today, for at Piccadilly the Queen was held
up for 45 minutes.
The ceremony in the Abbey differed in few respects
from the ceremony to be enacted this month, but there
were certain blunders which will be most certainly avoided.
Her Majesty was supported on either side by the Bishops
of Bath and Wells and Durham.
One of their primary jobs was to manner of folk, so help me God."
keep the Queen informed of what This was followed by kissing Her
was expected of her in the long and Majesty's hand, though certain
exhausting ceremony, but both princes touched the Queen's crown
were at times vague as to what and kissed her left cheek. With
happened next. This was a sore minor variations, this was perform-
trial for the Queen, who desired so ed by 21 marquesses, 93 earls, 19
earnestly to comply strictly with viscounts and 91 barons. Some of
tradition, them were aged and weak on their
Ring Was Too Small legs ,and the Queen took quite a
The ceremony of recognition, the buffeting in the process. One
taking of the oath, the anointing knocked her crown so roughly as to
and pronouncement of the blessing, give her a severe headache, while
went smoothly enough—allowing Lord Rolle fell while ascending the
for the fact that the Queen had not dais and was helped to his feet by
been sufficiently informed of what the Queen herself!
was to take place—but when the Retained Poise
insignia of Royalty had been hand- Queen Victoria did complain
ed to her, the moment of receiving after the event that the bishops
the coronation ring was a painful might have known their job bet.
one. It had been made too small, ter, but throughout the coronation
but the Archbishop of Canterbury kept her poise and good humour,
insisted on putting it on the fourth even when, walking in her heavy
finger of the Queen's right hand, train, some of the bearers, halting
causing her pain and making it unpredictably, jerked her back-
very difficult, afterwards, to get it wards!
off again, At last, to the swelling strain of
Lords Paid Homage Hallelujah Chorus, the proceedings
When it came to the point when were over, and soon the streets
the peers of the Realm had to pay rang with frenzied cheers as the
homage ,Victoria kept her queenly procession began its drive back to
dignity when she might easily have the palace. And that night London
jeopardized it by a justifiable but and the Empire made merry as
inopportune smile—or even a repri- never before with fireworks and
mend. The procedure was for the fairs, beer and balloons—not toy
Lords Spiritual to kneel around, ones, but real ones wth passengers.
saying the words of homage: One balloon made a bad landing,
"I do become your liege man of the only accident of any size on an
life and limb, and of earthly wor- occasion when, because of vast
ship, and faith and truth I will bear crowds and an excess of spirits, ea-
unto you to live and die against all cidents could happen all too easily.
Princess Elizabeth and Lieutenant
Philip Mountbatten, R.N., had been
seeing rather more of each other
than social formality would de-
mand. With unerring judgment the
public sensed a reciprocal affec-
tion, and when•for the first time
the couple were allowed to meet
each other for longer periods dur-
ing a holiday in the Highlands of
Scotland, everyone knew that an
engagement was a virtual cer-
tainty. On July 9, 1947, King
George VI, with great happiness,
gave his consent to the betrothal of
the Heiress-Presumptive to Lieut-
enant Mountbatten, R.N.
The whole nation and common-
wealth-Fere happy about the
match, afid-those around the Prin-
cess were delighted, for they knew
better than anyone else that it was
indeed a love match. The marriage
solemnized at Westminster Abbey
was an event of great rejoicing
and so, too, was the birth of Prince
Charles a year later.
Everywhere the couple have been
together—in Paris or Washington
or Kenya—the Duke has proved
immensely popular,
Many Responsibilities
What is the role of a Consort?
He is, of course, in no sense a King
and has no special authority. But
as head of his family and confi-
dential advisor to the Queen there
is, manifestly, plenty of scope for
his capacities. In the complex ad-
ministration of the Royal house-
hold, in the management of the
Royal estates and arranging of
countless state ceremonies, his
understanding and support will be
of great value. His own patronage
of learned societies, too, 'is' not
simply a well-meaning acceptance
of duty. He knows a good deal
about science and its vital import-
ance in modern society.
Recognizes Tradition
On ceremonial occasions it will
be noted that the Duke walks be-
hind the Queen, He understands
the recognized traditions of the
monarchy too well to mind this. He
has been nurtured and bred on
British tradition; that the Queens
and Kings of England must be in
direct line Of descent is something
he not only knows but admires.
It may be rather old-fashioned,
but the British still consider the
description "British" to be a proud
title not to be bestowed indiscrim-
inately. When friends who know
the Duke of Edinburgh describe
him as being "as British as they
make 'em" they mean it in the
very highest sense a compliment.
The Duke and Duchess of Nor-
folk are joint presidents of a Cor-
onation Ball which will take place
at the Albert Hall this month. A
midnight 'Pageant of Coronations'
will illustrate historic incidents of
bygone ceremonies.
Sir Laurence and Lady Olivier,
Noel Coward, and Cecil Beaton are
among those organizing a ball in
aid of the National Playing Fields
Aisociation at the Savoy Hotel for
the night of the Coronation,
ample proved that he never wished
or expected to compete on anything
but equal terms..
Philip was a popular officer,
though a strict disciplinarian. He
had no side off duty, but would
-stand no nonsense at work. If he
has a grievance, he gets it off his
mind at once (he had some hard
words to say to press photograph-
ers during a recent visit to a coal
mine) and bears no malice. In ac-
tion with the Royal Navy during
the war—he saw his first action at
the Battle of Matapan—his energy
and cool bearing won high praise.
His hobbies and interests are in
keeping with his temperament. The
National Playing Fields Associa-
tion, which provides playing fields
for young children, has always
been one of his favorite interests.
He is fond of photography, ama-
teur theatricals, gardening, swim-
ming and boxing. He has made a
special study of British 'history.
Engagement Announced
It was known before 1947 that