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From: <>
Subject: [India-L] Queen Elizabeth 1937 and All That
Date: Wed, 3 Apr 2002 14:11:07 +0100

Dear Listers,

I have been intrigued by the opinions put forward about the status of our
late Queen Mum. I have a copy of the souvenir of the Coronation of May 1937
which I have re-read with interest.

The King was crowned, "His Most Excellent Majesty George the Sixth, by the
Grace of God, of Great Britain, Ireland, and of the British Dominions beyond
the Seas, King, Defender of the Faith, Emperor of India." The coronation
itself has many parts which are too lengthy to go into but it was considered
that the anointing was the most sacred, followed by the crowning as the
culmination. The King is anointed, crowned etc, first and then given homage
by the Peers. I quote from the booklet; "The Anointing, Crowning, and
Inthroning the Queen immediately follow the homage to the King. This
ceremony is a shortened form of the Coronation of the King and can also be
traced to Saxon times."

Those of us who watched the various old films on TV over the last few days
saw this for ourselves. The Queen Consort is given a ring and a sceptre,
and anointed and crowned in her own right.

I also have a souvenir for the present Queen's coronation and no such
equivalent ceremony occurs for her spouse. Prince Philip has never been made
the official Consort as was Prince Albert, for Victoria.

So it would seem that the title of Queen was not just a courtesy.

Forgive me for going off the beaten track. I also wish to say how much I
enjoy all the input from all the listers.

Billie

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