Regalia Gallery

Notables assembled in the Abbey annexe at 1937 Coronation

Ecclesiastics, distinguished officers of state and regalia bearers awaiting the arrival of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth in the tapestried hall of the temporary annexe of Westminster Abbey. On the extreme left is Viscount Lascelles, elder son of the Princess Royal, one of the King's train-bearers. The group left centre consists of the Duke of Buccleuch, the Lord Steward; Field-Marshal Lord Milne, bearer of the Second Sword; the Earl of Cromer, the Lord Chamberlain; and the Duchess of Norfolk, canopy bearer to the Queen. The two ecclesiastics standing in the centre are the Archbishop of York and the Bishop of London (bearer of the paten), while the group on the right foreground consists of the Duke of Abercorn, one of the four Knights of the Garter appointed to hold the canopy for the King's Anointing; the Earl of Lytton, another canopy-bearer; Major Algar H. S. Howard, Norroy King of Arms; and Lord Hailsham the Lord Chancellor. Date: 1937

© Illustrated London News Ltd/Mary Evans

Coronation regalia jewels

Page from The Sketch depicting some of the famous and priceless jewels forming the Coronation regalia of King George VI in 1937. St. Edward's Sapphire (top left) in the state crown is said to have been in the Coronation ring of Edward the Confessor, the Star of Africe (top centre), is part of the Cullinan Diamond found in 1905 in the Premier mine in Pretoria - the largest piece of which is in the royal sceptre. The Black Prince's Ruby (top right) in the State Crown once belonged to the King of Granada in the 14th century and the Stuart Sapphire (centre bottom) probably belonged to King Charles II. Date: 1937

© Illustrated London News Ltd/Mary Evans

Mayors Ball, Lostwithiel, Cornwall. December 1989

The official last event of Lostwithiel 800, the anniversary year of the Town's Charter, was the Mayor's Ball attended by many local dignitaries. Back row from left to right: Cyril Bunn, journalist; Glenys Foote; Burness Bunn, journalist; Rod Keast; Linda Austen; Martin Austen, Rotary President; Paul Brewer, Lostwithiel 800 Chairman; Mrs Burden, Bodmin Mayoress; Ned Moffatt, Liskeard Escort; Iris Down, Restormel Mayoress; Jill Blanchard and John Blanchard; Fran Dennison, Lostwithiel Town Clerk. Front row from left to right: Jim Burden, Bodmin Mayor; Robert Hicks, MP South East Cornwall; Dawn Hutchings and Dennis Hutchings, Lostwithiel Mayor; George Down, Restormel Mayor; Joan Moffatt, Liskeard Mayor. Photographer: Jonathan Barker

© RIC, photographer Jonathan Barker