July 1953 School Magazine

July, 1953

Brisbane Girls' Grammar School Magazine.

CORONATION LETTER Letter hom Diana Cavaye written from London on 3l·d June, 1953 It is now the morning after a day which seems to have been impossible. Every expectation of splendour was sur- passed and the sight of the Queen and the Duke in their golden coach can belong nowhere but to fa iryland. As the Coronation Day approached, I wondered if I would expect too much. No one could possibly have previously realised how magnificent, and romantic, and stirring the day could be. The Procession to the Abbey itself was enough to repay our 4 a.m. rising, and our day spent sitting in the rain. But \here was then the complete broadcast of the Service in the Abbey, then the Procession of 29,000 troops preceding the gold coach back to the Palace. Quite apart from the splendour, the day is one "never to be forgotten" for the feeling of unity and sympathy in the crowd. The streets were so full they couldn't hold another person, everyone was in the rain, but the feeling of joy ·was everywhere, and the broadcast of the Service was listened to very quietly and solemnly. The Queen and the Duke looked wonderful. Riding to the Abbey she was beautiful in that wonderful jewel-encrusted white dress, her diadem on her head, and her exquisite com- plexion glowing. She sat quietly smiling and waving as she passed, while the Duke looked like a happy Rock of Gibraltar beside her-smiling and waving too a little . You will have seen the pictures of the coach and its at- tendant men and horses, and hope you have seen it ·in colour; for I can't describe it. The coach is brilliant gold, the horses wear magnificent crimson, gold and white harness, and the men seem to be covered in gold and scarlet, except for their legs, which are in tight white breeches. The whole assembly glided past at walking pace, and with it there in front of me , I just couldn' t believe it was true. It was especially unreal as they returned to the Palace, for there was the Queen wearing her Crown, holding the Orb and Sceptre-and smiling at us. We had a wonderful view of her- and of the Duke who looked even more magnificent on the return (I think he had on his Admiral's hat). Undoubtedly, the Queen's Procession was the highlight , but there is much more to tell. And every single thing was enough excitement to last for a week. We reached our place by 6 a.m., we had a bite to eat, and then were completely occupied with the "passing parade". Many hundreds of people had camped in the streets for one or two nights in the rain, and 19

BEVERLEY PAY, IVA.

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