Queen Victoria by Richard Rivington Holmes Page B

Queen’s uncles, the Duke of Sussex and Cambridge, removing their coronets, did homage in these words: “I do become your liegeman of life and limb, and of earthly worship; and faith and truth I will bear unto you, to live and die, against all manner of folks. So help me God.” They touched the Crown on the Queen’s head, kissed her left cheek, and retired; it was noticed that Her Majesty’s bearing to her uncles was very affectionate. Then according to their precedence, the Dukes and other Peers performed their homage, the senior of each rank reciting the words, each Peer kissing Her Majesty’s hand and touching the Crown. The aged Lord Rolle, who was over eighty, trying to mount the steps, fell down, and with difficulty was raised. He again attempted to perform his duty, when the Queen, rising from her seat, went to meet him, to prevent him coming up farther, and extended her hand for him to kiss; “an act of graciousness and kindness which made a very great sensation.”
    Whilst the homage was performed by the Lords, the Earl of Surrey, Lord Treasurer of the Household, threw to the occupants of the choir, and the lower galleries, the silver Coronation medals; these were scrambled for with great eagerness. After the homage was over, the Anthem, “This is the day which the Lord hath made,” was sung, followed by the sound of the drums and trumpets, and nine loud and hearty cheers from the House of Commons, who then joined in the homage. The remainder of the Communion Service was then read, and the Queen, divested of the symbols of Sovereignty, received the Holy Sacrament; then resuming her crown, and holding the Sceptres, she took her seat on the Throne, when the Service was concluded, and the final blessing pronounced, followed by the singing of the “Hallelujah Chorus.” This ended the Jlong ceremonial; Her Majesty left the throne, and proceeded to the west door of the Abbey, wearing the crown, her right hand holding the Sceptre with the Cross, and the left supporting the Orb; she was followed by the Peers and Peeresses, now wearing their coronets, and the brilliant afternoon sun pouring through the windows made the scene one of incomparable splendour. Along the homeward route, the manifestations of loyalty were even more enthusiastic than in the morning; for the Queen was now fully apparelled in State, and wore the crown, in the front of which blazed the historic ruby of Poitiers and Agincourt. Mrs. Jamieson, who witnessed the procession, writes: - “When she returned, looking pale and tremulous, crowned, and holding her sceptre in a manner and attitude which said, ‘I have it, and none shall wrest it from me!’ even Carlyle, who was standing near me, uttered with emotion, “A blessing on her head.”
    It has been recorded, that after this tiring ceremony, the Queen gave a banquet at the Palace to a hundred guests; but this is hardly accurate, as no one was at dinner except those in the house, among whom were Her Majesty’s half-brother and sister, and her future father-in-law, the Duke of Saxe-Coburg. The crowd was too great, indeed, for anyone to have come, had they been invited. The Ministers gave official State dinners, and the Duke of Wellington a grand ball, to which 2,000 guests were invited; and a fair was held in Hyde Park, which lasted four days; the theatres were thrown open, and the whole of London was illuminated; the conduct of the crowds being excellent.
    Of the routine of the Court after its return to Windsor in this year, Greville gives a full account: - “The life which the Queen leads is this: She gets up soon after eight o’clock, breakfasts in her own room, and is employed the whole morning in transacting business; she reads all the dispatches, and has every matter of interest and importance in every department laid before her. At eleven or twelve Melbourne comes to her, and stays an hour, more or less, according to the business he may have to transact. At two she rides with a large