The King
Twenty Gentlemen Pensioners,
with the Standard Bearer. The Bishop
of Oxford,
wearing his
cap. In his Robes of purple
velvet, furred with ermine,
and the Crown
of state on his head,
bearing in his right
hand St. Edward’s
Sceptre, with the Cross,
and in his left the Orb
with the Cross, under
his canopy, supported
as before, and his train
borne as before. The Bishop
of Lincoln,
wearing his
cap. Twenty Gentlemen Pensioners,
with the Lieutenant.
Captain of the Yeoman
of the Guard,
wearing his coronet. Gold Stick of the
Life Guards in
waiting, wearing
his coronet. Captain of the Band
of Gentlemen Pensioners,
wearing his
coronet.
Lords of the Bedchamber.
The Keeper of his Majesty’s Privy Purse.
Grooms of the Bedchamber.
Equerries and Pages of Honour.
Aides-de-Camp.
Gentlemen Ushers.
Physicians. Surgeons. Apothecaries.
Ensign of the Yeomen Lieutenant of the Yeomen of
of the Guard. the Guard.
His Majesty’s Pages.
His Majesty’s Footmen.
Exons of the Yeomen Yeomen of Exons of the Yeomen
of the Guard. the Guard. of the Guard.
Gentleman Harbinger of the Band of Gentlemen Pensioners.
Clerk of the Cheque Clerk of the Cheque to
to the Yeomen of the Guard. the Gentlemen Pensioners.
Yeomen of the Guard, to close the Procession.
As the procession entered the Hall, the fifes, drums, and trumpets went to their gallery, and the several other persons composing it were directed to their respective places by the officers of arms.
On entering the Hall, the barons of the Cinque Ports, bearing the canopy, remained at the bottom of the steps. His Majesty ascended the elevated platform, and retired in his chamber near the state.
The company at the table then sat down; and the barons of the Cinque Ports carried away the canopy as their fee.
It is mentioned above that the several orders of knighthood returned wearing their hats. This was the case until they got to the entrance of Westminster Hall. There all the knights of the Bath took off their hats, as did some of the bishops and several other individuals who took part in the procession. There were only two knights of the Garter who appeared in the full dress of the order. These were his Royal Highness the Prince Leopold and the Marquess of Londonderry. The noble marquess, as attired in his robes, added very considerably to the splendour of the scene by his graceful and elegant appearance. His lordship’s hat was encircled with a band of diamonds, which had a most brilliant effect. As his Majesty passed up the Hall he was received with loud and continued acclamations—the gentlemen waving their hats, and the ladies their handkerchiefs: his Majesty seemed to feel sensibly the enthusiasm with which he was greeted, and returned the salutations with repeated bows to the assemblage on both sides. The peers took their seats at the table appointed for them, and began to partake of the banquet. During the interval between this and the return of his Majesty, the greater part of the ladies and gentlemen who had previously occupied the galleries retired for refreshments, or descended into the Hall, which they promenaded for a considerable time. There were also a great number of persons admitted into the Hall, who it was evident had not been in before. This occasioned some slight inconvenience to those whose duty obliged them to be present. We ought here to remark that the procession, on its return to the Hall, was not conducted with any thing like the same regularity which had distinguished its departure. This was probably owing to the great fatigue which all the parties had undergone, and to their consequent anxiety to get to their seats. Some slight derangement was occasioned by the aldermen, who, either from the cause just mentioned, or from a mistake with respect to the regulations of the heralds, had no sooner got within the triumphal arch, than they walked over to one of the tables, leaving several of those behind who ought to have preceded them. This trifling mistake was soon corrected by one of the heralds, who brought the worthy magistrates back to their former station in the procession.