“The voice reminded me a little of the way radio announcers used to introduce a piece of classical music or describe the progress of the Royal Family to Westminster Abbey on one of their royal occasions.”
I understand that the “progress” here means a ceremonial journey,but how can it be interchangeable with the word “advance”? Can “advance” mean ceremonial journey also?
Hi Coolie,
“Progress” here means “progression”, “movement forward”, or “advance”.
Are you confusing “progress” with “procession” ?
Hi Art
There is apparently a (archaic?) usage for progress this way:
“go/be on progress with her Majesty the Queen”
I think that might be what cooliegirly was referring to.
Hi cooliegirly
I agree with Art’s opinion.
Amy
Interesting thought, Amy. 
I think I will look up some dictionairies
Yes, Cooliegirl you are right :o
I found this on Dictionary Online:
and
from Dictionary Online which cited The American Heritage Dictionary. But when I looked there I couldn’t find anything similar:
from The American Heritage Dictionary
I also found these:
from E. Cobham Brewer 1810–1897. Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 1898.
from Webster 1828
You learn something new every day 
And to get back to your original question, the word “progress” that historical sense cannot be replaced with “advance”.
:idea: (I wonder does the word “procession” come from “progression” . . .???)
Apparently in my study book, it insists that “progress” in the context means “advance”, and the reason given is that “the word pgress in this context means a ceremonial journey”, which I wasn’t able to relate to how it would make “advance” a suitable synonym for “progress”.
What a terrible study book!