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469

INVESTITURE of His Imperial , NAPOLEON Garter next presented in like manner the Rib- III, of the FRENCH, with the Ensigns hand with the George, and the Sovereign, assisted of the Most Noble Order of the Garter. as before, put the same over the left shoulder of His Imperial Majesty, the Chancellor pronouncing At the Court at Windsor Castle, the Admonition. April 18, 1855. The Sovereign thereupon gave the Accolade to CHAPTER of the Most Noble Order of the the Emperor of the French; and His Imperial A Garter having been summoned for this day, Majesty then passing round the table received the the following Knights Companions, in their mantles congratulations of each of the Knights Companions and collars, assembled in the Guard Chamber; present, and then resumed his seat. viz :—the Marquess of Exeter, the of Rich- The Chapter being ended; the Knights Com- mond, the Marquess of Lansdowne, the Duke of panions were severally called over by Garter, Buckingham and Chandos, the Marquess of Salis- and, with the Officers of the Order, retired from bury, the Duke of Cleveland, De Grey, the the presence of the Sovereign with the usual Marquess of Abercorn, the Marquess of Hertford, reverences. the Duke of Bedford, the Earl of Clarendon, Earl During the ceremony a Guard of Spencer, Earl Fitowilliani, the Duke of Northum- Corps of Gentlemen-at-Arms was in attendance berland, the Earl of Ellesmere, and the Earl of at the door of the Chapter Room ; and a special Aberdeen, attended by the undermentioned Officers Guard of Honour of the Honourable Corps was on of the Order, in their mantles, chains, and badges ; duty, in attendance upon His Imperial Majesty viz :—the Bishop of Winchester, Prelate ; the the Emperor of the French. A Guard of Honour, Bishop of Oxford, Chancellor ; the Honourable and consisting of two Companies of the Grenadiers, Reverend the Dean of Windsor, Register; and one Company of the Coldstream Guards, Charles George Young, Knight, Garter Principal with the Band of the latter corps at their head, of Arms ; and Sir William James were posted in the Great Quadrangle of the Castle, Clifford, Baronet, Usher of the Black and, on the termination of the Investiture, saluted Rod. At half-past three o'clock the Knights and retired. Companions were severally called over by Garter, Her Imperial Majesty the Empress of the and proceeded into the Grand Reception Room, French, attended by the d'Essling, the when the Sovereign, and His Royal the Countess de Montebello, and the Baroness de Albert, His the Duke of Malaret, witnessed the August Ceremony, as did Cambridge, and His the Prince of also the French Ambassador and the Countess Leiningen, having passed to the Throne Room, the Walewski, and the following members of His Knights Companions, with the Officers of the Order, Imperial Majesty's suite; viz.—Marshal Vaillant, proceeded into the presence of the Sovereign. Minister of War, the Duke of Bassano, the The Sovereign being seated in Her Chair of , of Montebello, Colonel Count Ney, Count Fleury, the Knights Companions took their respective the Marquis de Toulongeon, and Count Tascher de seats at the table, the Prelate standing on the right la Pagerie. hand of the Sovereign, the Chancellor on the left Their Royal the Duchess of Kent, hand, the Register, Garter, and Black Rod at the the Duchess of Cambridge, and the Princess Mary bottom of the table. of Cambridge, several of the Great Officers of State The Chancellor then, by command of the Sove- and Cabinet Ministers, with the Officers of the reign, promulgated a new Statute, dispensing with Royal Household, were also present. the existing Statutes of the Order, in as far as At the conclusion of the Chapter, Her Majesty required for the especial purpose therein mentioned, accompanied the Emperor to his apartments, follow- and in consideration of the high friendship and ed by the Empress and His Royal Highness Prince close alliance now happily subsisting between the Albert, and attended by the and Gentlemen Sovereign and His Imperial Majesty, Napoleon III, of the Imperial and Royal Suites. Her Majesty and Emperor of the French, ordaining and declaring the Prince then returned to their own rooms. His Imperial Majesty a Knight of this Most Noble The Officers of the Order had afterwards the Order, any statute, decree, rule, or usage to the honour of being severally presented to Their Im- contrary notwithstanding. perial . His Royal Highness Prince Albert and His In the evening a State Banquet was given in Royal Highness the Duke of Cambridge, the two St George's Hall to their Imperial Majesties, at Senior Knights Companions present, thereupon re- which were present the above-named Royal, Noble, tired from the Chapter, and conducted the Emperor and Distinguished Personages ; the Knights Com- of the French from His Imperial Majesty's Apart- panions and Officers of the Order. ments to the Chapter Room, between their Royal During the Banquet Her Majesty drank to the Highuesses, preceded by Garter (bearing the Ensigns health of Her Illustrious Visitors the Emperor and of the Order upon a crimson velvet cushion) and by Empress of the French. Black Rod. In the Evening a Grand Concert was performed On entering the Chapter Room, His Imperial in the Music Room, to which a numerous party of Majesty was received by the Sovereign and the the were invited, and the town of Wind- Knights Companions standing, and on approaching sor was illuminated. the Sovereign was seated in a^ Chair of State on the right hand of Her Majesty. The Sovereign announced to the Emperor of the At the Court at Windsor Castle, French that His Imperial Majesty had been de- April 18, 1855. clared a Knight of the Most Noble Order of the The Queen, as Sovereign of the Most Noble Garter. Order of the Garter, hath been graciously pleased, Garter then, kneeling, presented the Garter to by Letters-Patent under Her Royal Sign Manual and the Sovereign, and Her Majesty, assisted by His the Great Seal of the Order, bearing date this day,, Royal Highness Prince Albert and His Royal to dispense with all the statutes and regulations Highness the Duke of Cambridge, buckled it on usually observed in regard to Installation, and to the left leg of His Imperial Majesty, the Chancel- grant unto His Imperial Majesty NAPOLEON III, lor pronouncing the Admonition. EMPEROR of the French, Knight of the said Most