Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 20, Number 58, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 24 March 1899 — THE MAKING OF A KNIGHT. [ARTICLE]

THE MAKING OF A KNIGHT.

Simple Ceremony by Which the Queen Transforms * Mr.” Into Sir. The party was conveyed by special train and royal yacht to Osborne. They were then assembled in an anteroom, and after being instructed in the respective parts they were to play were admitted one by one to the presence of her Majesty. The knight on entering the room made his obeisance twice, and advancing dose to her Majesty bowed a third time and dropped on one knee. Her Majesty then rested a sword on his shoulder for a moment and uttered the words “Sir ” (mentioning only the Christian name). She next placed the ribbon of the order round his neck and attached the badge to a clip which had already been fastened on his breast. He then raised his arm, and the Queen placing her hand on his wrist, he conveyed it to his lips, rose, bowed and retired backward. The moment the door closed behind him he was seized by two officials, who stripped him of his ribbon and badge and placed them hurriedly in a case, which they handed to him with directions to “deposit it with his great coat.” The correspondent’s friend did not like this. He would have desired that the badge should remain always on his uniform where the Queen had affixed It. After the whole party had been decorated they adjourned to luncheon and were conveyed back to London in time for dinner.