In the broad transepts of Westminster Abbey, a thousand peers and ladies sat, clothed in velvet and miniver, dazzling in their show of decorations won in peace and war. In the nave, the chivalry of empire unrolled like a Bayeux tapestry. Music played, yet over 7,000 subjects, gathered to honor their Queen while worshiping their God, a hush of dedication hung like a prayer.
Shortly before 9 a.m., the first processions arrived: the Lord Mayor of London and the Speaker of the House of Commons; the representatives of 74 foreign powers, including General George C. Marshall and Russia's Jacob Malik; the Sultans of Zanzibar, Perak and Selangor; Her Majesty, the Queen of Tonga. The Dukes of Gloucester and Kent entered and took up positions in the chancel. The Queen Mother and Princess Margaret, each with her ladies in waiting, moved down the aisle and took their privileged places. Outside, and ever nearer, came the sound of horses' hooves on Parliament Square.
As Big Ben tolled 11, the hoof beats ceased. Four hundred boys' voices soared into the great crescendo of Sir Hubert Parry's anthem: "I was glad when they said unto me, We will go into the House of the Lord!"
Vivat Regina. From the west door of the Abbey, Westminster's beadle led the ranking clergy of Great Britain to the foot of the altar steps. The orders of knighthood followed—Bath, Thistle and Garter—then the standards of the Commonwealth, led by Ceylon's (a lion grasping a sword), and concluded by the Royal Arms of England, borne by Montgomery of Alamein. Polity, law and religion—the triple stays of monarchy—were impressively represented in the persons of eight Prime Ministers (of Ceylon, Pakistan, India, South Africa, New Zealand, Australia, Canada and Britain), two Archbishops (York and Canterbury), and the Lord High Chancellor of England in full-bottomed wig and gown. Last came Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, and then, with joyous fanfare of trumpets, Her Majesty, the Queen.
"Vivat Regina Elizabetha! Vivat! Vivat! Vivat!" shouted the Queen's Westminster Scholars as the Queen walked up the aisle, her long, crimson train borne by six maids of honor. At a faldstool on the left of the altar, the Queen knelt and prayed alone. Silently she rose and stood before the altar, facing first east, then south, west and north, to show herself to the people. Four times, once to each side, the Archbishop of Canterbury proclaimed: "Elizabeth, your undoubted Queen: wherefore, all you who are come this day to do your homage and service, are you willing to do the same?"
Four times, with four fanfares, the answer came back: "God Save Queen Elizabeth!"
Oracles of God. Thus "presented" and "recognized," Elizabeth of England accepted the oath of high office:
Archbishop: Will you solemnly promise and swear to govern [all your peoples] according to their respective laws and customs?
The Queen: I solemnly promise so to do.
Will you to your power cause law and justice, in mercy, to be executed in all your judgments?
I will.
Will you to the utmost of your power maintain the laws of God . . . [and] maintain in the United Kingdom the Protestant reformed religion? . . . All this I promise to do.