Eastern High School of Commerce - Eastern Echo Yearbook (Toronto, Ontario Canada)

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The King and Quee God Save the King! the cry rang out through the misty streets of London. Albert Frederick Arthur George. 15th. Duke of York, and second son of George Y. known chiefly for his interest in welfare work and frank efforts to be friends with labour leaders. had succeeded to the British throne vacated by Edward VIII. On December 10th. last, George VI re- luctantly but proudly became Kilitll 5hYlY his wife became Queen. Let us learn something about their lives before either of them dreamed of ever becom- ing King or Queen of an Empire. The King has always worked in the in- terests of the common people: he has studied working conditions, and has done his best to improve them. For this reason he was called The Industrial Prince . Boys activities also interest him greatly. and he established a summer camp in Kent which is attended by the sons of workers. He never misses a year in visiting this camp. and pays the costs of running it himself. During the War, he served in the Navy under the name of Mr. Johnson. Never was he accorded any favours or preferences over his shipmatesg in fact. many of them did not even know there was a Prince in their midst, He would work in the black holds of the colliers during coaling, and would lend a hand with the slings when time was scarce. He took part in the famous naval battle of Jutland and was commended for his cool- ness under fire. lt is hard to imagine our King thus shar- ing the perils of the common people, but now, after working and striving with them, how well he must understand his people. Worse for him than battle hazards was the physical defect of stammering. He was also very shy and nervous and extremely disliked appearing in public. However. he never shirk- ed a speech or disappointed his public. and by sheer perseverance and courage he over- came these defects. It had been a long hard uphill fight. but finally he achieved success. The King is a very good dancer, and an EASTERN ECHO ,I fi by XYINNIFRED KAY, 451 expert tennis player. having taken part in several tournaments at Wimbledon. On April. 26. 1923. as Duke of York. he married Lady Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon, the fourth daughter of the Earl of Strathmore. the head of an ancient Scottish family, which has played a considerable part in history. Their ancestral home is Glamis Castle, con- nected with which are such names as Bonny Prince Charlie , Mary. Queen of Scots, and Lord Macbeth. Here in this delightful old home, Lady Bowes-Lyon and her favourite brother. David. played about in the great rooms and long corridors. and tended to their many pets. She led a normal. happy life, and therefore has grown up to be possessed of such virtues as radiant friendliness. unassuming intelligence. and robust strength of character. The two children of the present King and Queen. Princess Elizabeth and Princess Mar- garet Rose. have won their way into the hearts of all the Empire. The palaces at Sandringham and Balmoral will resume the aspect they wore under his late Majesty, King George Y, and the courts there, as well as in London, will be quiet and, dignified they have been since the days of Victoria. The new Kings first accomplish- ment-eand it would be hard to imagine a !l'Glllt'l'7lS to resume. as though there had been no break, the same scale of the life which has characterized the British Throne for 'i hundred years. Together this King and Queen will rule with many of the qualities which made King George and Queen Mary revered, thus strengening the bond of affection 'for the Crown which has become one of the strongest bonds between the nations of the Empire. At the time of his Accession, the King closed his speech by quoting his late fathers Silver Jubilee message and beginning what we hope will be a long and successful reign: f'My wife and I dedicate ourselves for all time to your service, and we pray God may give us guidance and strength to follow the path that lies before us. t'God Save the King! Fifteen

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' ' by ELSIE KEARN, 451 The merry peal of bells and the discharge of artillery in Hyde Park and from various ships stationed in the Thames River usher in this great day of days-the crowning of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth. Cheering crowds line the streets of gaily- decorated London from Westminster Abbey to Buckingham Palace, which is the route the royal procession takes. Now there is a great swelling cry as a beautiful golden coach drawn by six cream-coloured horses. moves slowly and with great dignity between the lines of wildly excited people. People looking down from flats and apart- ments - people from foreign lands f people who have never before witnessed such a glori- ous pageant and who probably never will again, all of these have come many miles across oceans and continents and at great cost to see this ceremony that has been a part of Merry Old England since the time of Wil- liam the Conqueror. Now the coach has reached the Abbey door: the King in his crimson robe, accompanied by the Queen, descends to the Abbey, which has meanwhile been filled by the nobility and peers of all the countries of the world. Upon their entrance everyone rises and the trumpets strike up the National Anthem. His Majesty, having taken his seat on the Chair of State, bows first to the members of the Royal family and then to the foreign ministers. The religious ceremonial of the Coronation is more splendid and elaborate in England than in any other country of Europe, being so faithfully founded on former historic events. The anointing of his Majesty, which has been continued for upwards of a thousand years, takes place after the signing of the oath, the King being seated in King Edwards chair and four Knights of the Garter hold- ing over him a rich pall of cloth-of-gold. The Dean of Westminster pours some of the Holy Oil from the Ampulla ta vessel shaped like a golden eaglel into the Spoon. and the Archbishop then anoints the King in the form of a cross on the crown of his head, on his breast, and on the palms of both hands. The Sword of State has been girded on him prior to the coronation. His heels are touched with the Golden Spurs just before the crown- ing, and during the ceremony he is invested with several robes and takes the Orb. Other regalia used in the service are the bracelets. sceptres. crowns and swords. The Queen. however. is anointed only on the head. and she is not called upon to take the Orb nor be invested with special robes like the King. Four duchesses hold over her head a pall of cloth-of-gold. According to custom, the Pearl Sword. car- ried by the Lord Mayor of London, is pre- sented tat the city's western boundaryl to the King who touches its hilt and returns it to the Chief Magistrate. The Lord Mayor then mounts and carries the Sword of State before their Majesties. This is one of the most ancient privileges in the greatest of the worlds cities. The King and Queen. now King George YI and Queen Elizabeth, leave the Abbey by the west door, His Majesty now in a purple robe, and take the return procession along Victoria Embankment, up Northumberland through Trafalgar Square, Pall Mall. St. james Street. Piccadilly Circus. Regent Street, Oxford Street, Park Lane. Constitution Hill and home to Buckingham Palace, where their duties will begin. Long May They Reignfi' 'I EASTERN ECHO Seventeen