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9 August 1902 — 3 Savile Row | |
Saturday. 9th August [1902]. Coronation Day. I was called at 6 and proceeded to dress & breakfast. I wore a black damask dress almost entirely covered with old flemish lace—with decolleté boddice, my turkish order diamond tiara & a white ostrich feather on the head with a long piece of white tulle fastened into the hair & hanging down ones back. At 7.45 my brother Wimbornes landau carriage called for me so I put on my grey silk mantle & took a little black satin bag containing some chocolate, biscuits & flat opera glasses & was driven off to Arlington St. When we got near Piccadilly at the bottom of Dover St we were turned back by the police & sent back to Bond St where we were let into Piccadilly down St James’ St & so reached Arlington St. Ivor & his little son Oscar had not appeared on the scene. Oscar was dressed in a grey blue court costume with a small sword & a three cornered hat. They quickly got some breakfast & we set off—drove down St James’ St along Pall Mall, Charing Cross & Parliament St. The traffic was still pretty brisk—the police very active & we got along far quicker than we had expected only taking about ½ hour to reach the annex of Westr Abbey. There at the West Door I separated from Ivor & Oscar & had to pass outside the Abbey through a side door to get in again to my place in the Nave. I had an excellent seat in the 2nd row from the front whence I could distinguish well the persons in the centre passing up to their places in the body of the Abbey. Soon after I had settled myself, Sir Stanley & Lady Clark who were passing stopped to speak to 2 ladies seated next me– They were their 2 daughters Mrs Bibley & Mrs & they introduced them to me which was very pleasant for me as we were to sit together for so many hours. On the other side of me I had a nice old gentleman in a black velvet court dress with whom I entered into conversation. He seemed to be a city man. I pointed out to him such people as I knew. Two hours passed pleasantly away observing the Peers & Peeresses pass by—their velvet crimson robes edged with ermine were very becoming to the latter—not so to the peers who looked awkward & rather like old women. As a whole the Peeresses were a handsome well set up lot & I felt proud of my lady compatriots’ appearance. Unfortunately the day being gloomy the light in the Abbey was bad– About 11 o’cl the stream of passersby diminished & one felt the time was approaching– There appeared a procession from the choir consisting of the clergy carrying the crown jewels with some of the officers of state. We spectators gave up munching biscuits & chocolate & the officials took their places. Mr Victor Williamson stood near the choir screen from where he signalled to the musicians in the Choir when to begin the music &c. All eyes turned to the West door & the different Royal Processions swept before us the Princess of Wales’ procession, the other Princesses’, the Queen of Roumania (a most lovely woman), the Crown Pss of Greece &c and last of all the Queen in a splendid robe of purple velvet supported by 2 Bishops who each held her hand– Her head was bare—no jewel, no feather, but she looked very lovely & dignified tho’ rather nervous– Then the signal was given—& the organ pealed, the silver trumpets blew the King was coming. He was proceeded by the royal insignias—& was resplendid in velvet robes—but he looked pale with emotion & the traces of his late severe illness. One could hardly believe that he is the same man who so short a time ago had been at death’s door & whom we had almost thought was dead. Then all vanished behind the screen & we in the Nave settled down to wait. We could see nothing of the ceremony & could only follow the service by reading our service books with which each person was supplied, by the distant murmur of the prayers, the sung amens & other music. When the moment came that the King had the crown put on his head—there was a burst of music, the little Westminster school boys who were up in the clerestory, shouted their “Vivat Edwardus septimus, vivat Alexandra Regina, vivat vivat” in a kind of chant on a note which was in harmony with the music in the choir—a signal was given to the crowd outside when a herald shouted Long live King Edward & guns were fired from the Tower & other parts of London– Then all rose to their feet & “God save the King” was sung by the great multitude inside & out of the Abbey. It was a moment of great emotion which made ones throat feel tight. After the Queen’s crowning an officer of the Guards came to the door of the Choir & said “Long live K. Edward three cheers for the King—Long live Queen Alexandra Long live the Queen”—& the boys above led a cheer taken up on all sides. When this was all over came a great silence. The Communion service had begun & you might have heard a pin drop—while the King & Queen took the Communions– This over it was about 1.30 & the Processions began to return to the West door—in the same order as they had arrived– Then came the Queen– She was a vision of beauty. Like a queen in a fairy story—lovely gentle & fair– Then a great pause– Where was the King? why did he not come? It turned out that he had gone to Edward the Confessor’s chapel to deposit the sword of state & was also getting a little food to prepare him for the rest of his progress– At last he came—& then as he came thro’ the organ screen there was a great spontaneous cheer—the boys voices rang again & again & we were all carried away & shouted hurrah. There was no time to reflect that it was not the fitting place for such a demonstration. A sort of electric spark had run through the Assembly & it was done– When it was over one felt almost abashed. I thought how often I had blamed the Roman Catholics for applauding the Pope at the ceremonies in St Peters & I saw that I had been wrong in my censure & that it was magnetic & natural. Then when once the whole Procession had started on the return journey we left our seats & I managed to get into the choir part of the Abbey & made my way to the “Theater” where I had arranged to meet Ivor again. But tho’ I mounted on the steps of the thrones & looked all ways there was no sign of him. I went back to West door—twice—then at last I found him. He & little Oscar. It was then past 3 & he took me on foot across to the House of Lords & gave me some lunch of which I was much in need. Thence we returned on foot outside the Abbey to the W. door & had to wait for the carriage & were nearly the last to leave so that it was 5 P.M. before I got home—having been very pleased with the result of my day. Isabel Du Cane dined with me. Nellie dined out. Mr & Mrs Walrond called for Issie & me & took us a little way to see the Illuminations after dinner. We were too tired to stay out long. The police regulations were excellent—in the large streets, Piccadilly, Pall Mall, Strand &c the traffic was stopped & the police stationed in the centre of the streets divided them laterally & made 2 streams of people keep one up & one down so that there was no confusion, no crush & no danger. In the squares & more empty places the people were amusing themselves dancing—all very orderly—no horse play, no hawking or selling or squibs—the police forbid it—& so there were no accidents. I went to bed early. | |
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