Auckland in Thrall

Auckland Star, Volume LVIII, Issue 45, 23 February 1927, Page 6

Auckland in Thrall

CAPTURED BY GRACIOUS GUESTS New Links with the Throne

Zens Flock to see Duke and Duchess

Readers of " Ivanhoe " will remember that it was the custom for retainers to wear round the neck a metal collar bearing some such inscription as " Wamba the sworn thrall of Cedric the Saxon." Aucklanders will not go the length of such heavy neckwear, but they are nevertheless sworn thralls of the King's son and his charming consort. They were captured yesterday by the kindly interest the Duke takes in everybody and by that winning smile with which the Duchess acknowledges the spontaneous and heart-whole welcome she has received from one end of the town to the other. ' When the Prince of Wales was announced we knew beforehand that he had a fascinating personality, and so we were prepared for the wonderful success of his progress from North to South, but we had not heard so much about his brother, the Duke of York, and the Duchess. They came, they were seen, and they conquered. Auckland has never before been so thoroughly shaken out of itself. The women, in particular, are all even more loyal than before, and the way they all flocked up Albert Park hill from Queen Street, when, the shops closed this morning, just to get a glimpse of the Royal couple as they motored from Government House along Princes Street to the children's demonstration at the Domain was quite unprecedented the city was quite emptied.