Ceremonial of the Kingdom of An Tir
Version: (2022)
Entrance
The Ducal Retinue shall arrange themselves as follows:
DUCAL HERALD
SCROLL BEARER ROSE BEARER (if member of the Rose)
BANNER BEARER CORONET BEARER
INCIPIENT DUKE/DUCHESS
The scroll, coronet, and rose may be carried upon pillows, if desired.
This party may be followed by a group of supporters.
At the Crown's command, the party may enter court, and approach the Throne and bow:
DUCAL HERALD
May it please Your Majesties, your loyal subject, ,
having by beauty, grace, and virtue twice inspired their
champions to win for them the Crown,
and having reigned and descended from the Throne,
has thus earned the rank and title of of this Realm.
They now make bold to approach you
that they may receive from your hand the Royal accolade,
and be invested with the other dignities of this high estate.
If there is no Rose-bearer, skip ahead.
The Rose-bearer will present the Rose to the Crown.
ROSE-BEARER
In token of their loyalty to the Crown and the Throne of the Kingdom,
here yields this rose into Your Majesty's keeping,
as token of their past estate as [Inspiration],
and their membership in the Order of the Rose.
The Rose-bearer returns to their place.
COURT HERALD
Approach the Throne, .
The incipient Duke/Duchess-Inspiration shall kneel before the Crown.
COURT HERALD
Let all of ducal rank here present
come forward to witness this accolade.
They shall arrange themselves to either side of the incipient duke/duchess.
If Letters Patent are not to be granted then skip ahead.
The Proclamation
Crown: Let the Scroll be read.
Presenting the Scroll to the Crown's Herald, the bearer resumes their place.
COURT HERALD
Hear and attend, all ye throughout the Knowne World,
that from this day hence ,
having twice borne the burden of the Crown,
shall bear the title of .
We, and , [Sovereigns] of An Tir,
do acknowledge this and do affirm their right to bear by Letters Patent: [blazon]
and to bear above the shield a front-facing helm with gold coronet bearing strawberry leaves
the shield encircled by a wreath of alternating gold hearts points to center
and gold heraldic roses barbed and leaved vert seeded gules.
In witness whereof, We do here set Our hand and seal,
this day of , Anno Societatis , being Gregorian.
, [Sovereign] of An Tir , [Sovereign] of An Tir
If the new Duke/Duchess-Inspiration doesn't have registered arms,
the herald shall substitute:
"We do affirm their right to bear by Letters Patent,
such suitable and unique Arms as, by consulting with Us and Our heralds,
they shall choose, and to bear above ..."
The Kiss
Crown
, it pleases Us greatly that you receive this Accolade at Our Hands.
DUKE/DUCHESS-Inspiration
My Liege, From your Hand I right gladly receive it.
And the Crown shall kiss the Duke/Duchess-Inspiration first upon the left cheek, then upon the right.
The Regalia
Crown
Let the Coronet be brought forth.
The coronet-bearer kneels before the Crown, and then returns to their place.
If the new Duke/Duchess is participating, the Crown shall call them forward. Otherwise, skip ahead.
Crown
, it would please Us greatly if you would invest your Inspiration with the coronet of their new estate.
Taking the coronet from the hands of the Crown, the Duke/Duchess shall place it upon their Inspiration's head, saying:
DUKE/DUCHESS
As it was my delight to win for you the Crown of An Tir,
so it is today my exceeding joy to give you this coronet
of a of this Realm.
But if the Duke/Duchess is not participating, the Crown shall take the coronet,
and placing it, shall say:
Crown
, be henceforth in this Our Realm, and wear this coronet in token of your rank.
Order of the Rose
If the Duke/Duchess-Inspiration is not already a member of the Order of the Rose,
then they shall receive from the Crown two roses.
Crown
, be welcomed into the Order of the Rose,
whose token this is, and be henceforth as you have been hitherto,
a model of honor and grace to the people of this Realm.
If the Duke/Duchess-Inspiration is already a member of the Order of the Rose:
Crown
Receive these roses,
and bear them henceforth with grace and dignity.
DUKE/DUCHESS
Upon my honor I pledge to do so.
The Scroll
The Crown will hand the Duke/Duchess the Scroll, and if the Crown
be a Duke/Duchess, they shall embrace and congratulate them.
If the Crown is not a Duke/Duchess, then the senior Duke/Duchess
present shall perform this rite:
Crown OR SENIOR DUKE/DUCHESS
Welcome, , to our right noble estate.
Then as the dukes present congratulate their new comrade,
the Crown's herald will exhort the cheers of the people.
The Fealty
If the outgoing Crown has participated in the investiture of their Inspiration,
they shall then swear fealty to the Crown with them. But if they have not,
then the Duke/Duchess-Inspiration shall swear by themselves at this time.
COURT HERALD
, is it your desire to swear fealty to Their Majesties?
DUKE/DUCHESS
It is.
After they kneel before the Crown, the herald says:
COURT HERALD
Do you now swear fealty to and ,
your undoubted [Sovereigns],
that you will obey their lawful commands in all matters that concern this Realm,
and as you have sat upon the Throne and received the oaths of the people,
do you in turn swear faith to the Crown and Kingdom of An Tir?
And, being mindful that the honor of the Realm springs from your own deeds,
do you swear that you shall treat those of every degree with chivalry and courtesy,
so long as Their Majesties remain Sovereigns of An Tir?
DUKE/DUCHESS
I so swear.
Crown 1
And We, for Our part, do swear fealty to this of An Tir,
and promise to protect and defend them and their household with all Our power,
so long as We remain Sovereigns of An Tir.
So say We, , [Sovereign] of An Tir.
Crown 2
And so say We, , [Sovereign] of An Tir.
Then they shall be given leave to depart, and the herald will exhort the cheers of the populace.
Mail copies of the ceremony to the Crown and Heirs along with the coronation ceremony.
Learn which title will be used.
Remind the Crown to bring a rose for the new Duke/DUCHESS, if the outgoing Crown is a member of the Order of the Rose.
Remind the Heirs to bring two roses.
Be sure that the Ducal retinue will be ready to go at the start of the First Court.
Have a blazon of the new Duke/Duchess's arms for the Scroll.
If the text of the actual writ is different from that given in the ceremony above, use the text of the actual writ.