KING WASHES FEET OF POOR.

Auckland Star, Volume LIV, Issue 124, 26 May 1923, Page 19

KING WASHES FEET OF POOR.

ROYAL HUMILITY AT MADRID CEREMONY. A picturesque Easter religious ceremony took place In the palace at Madrid this year, when the King and Queen of Spnln. as Is customary on the day before Good Friday, washed and kissed the feet of a dozen poor people, and afterwards fed them. , Long before midday a large number of ticket-holders had begun to line the corridors of the palace. Their Majesties entered one of the large salons of the palace. At one end was an altar, around which stone the officiating priests, and in a semi-circle around a dozen poor people were seated, the men on one side and the women on the other. In the presence of the King's Mother, Queen Maria Christina, members of the Diplomatic Corps in gokl-laced uniforms, and Government Ministers and officers, the washing and klselng of feet began, trie Kins washing those of the poor men. kneeling to kiss them, and the Queen the fept of the poor women, which she. also, knelt to kiss. When this had been completed the poor people were eecorted to long tables laid for dinner, when the King waited on the men. and the Queen on the women, handing then' course after course of a long menu. Occasionally a crash was heard at the table where the King was waiting. whi<-li was greeted with delight by the people, who excitedly whispered: "The King has broken a plate." The Queen was a most successful waitress, although handicapped by her long court train.