ROYAL FUNERAL.

Auckland Star, Volume LXV, Issue 45, 22 February 1934, Page 7

ROYAL FUNERAL.

BELGIAN MONARCH. Prince of Wales Makes Journey By Aeroplane. MOURNING SUBJECTS. (United P.A.—Electric Telegraph—Copyright) (Received 12.30 p.m.) BRUSSELS, February 21. There were so many thousands desiring to pay homage to the late King Albert that the Chapclle Ardente in the Royal Palace, where he is lying in state, was open until after midnight and was reopened at 8 a.m. to-day when there were further queues, many waiting for six and seven hours. All day yesterday the people continued to file past the body. By midday 50,000 had paid their last tribute. A British official wireless Rugby message says the Prince of Wales flew to-day to Brussels from liis private aeroe'rome at Windsor Great Park. He was escorted by nine Air Force bombers to the Belgian coast, where he was met by a squadron of Belgian military aeroplanes which conducted him over Belgium. He was received on arrival by Prince Charles, the late King's second son, officials of the British Embassy, j officers of the Belgian Army and Air Force.

Admiral of the Fleet Sir Roger Keyes and Lord Allenby sailed from Dover in tlio afternoon for Zcebrugge in the cruiser Curacoa, escorted by H.M.s. Winchester. Representative detachments of the British Navy, Army and Air Force will also attend the funeral. The King and Queen, the Duke of York and other members of the Royal Family will attend a memorial service in Westminster Abbey to-morrow. The British Army is sending a wreath of poppies. The President of Germany, Marshal von Hindenburg, is to be represented at the funeral by Herr von Keller, formerly Minister in Brussels. It is stated that the ex-Kaiser cannot be represented because he has received no information from Belgium.

ENSIGN DIPPED. ORDER PROM ADMIRALTY. The Belgian Ensign is being flown at the dip to-day on H.M.s. Philomel, as a tribute to the King of the Belgians, whose funeral takes place to-day. This recognition is reserved for only special occasions, and is made almost solely for the death of Royalty. An order was issued from the Admiralty with the following instructions:— "In. consequence of the lamented death of the King of the Belgians, the following procedure is to be carried out: Ships abroad are to carry out the procedure laid down in the King's Regulations for the day of the funeral only." Further than this, a message received yesterday from the senior naval officer of the New Zealand Division ordered that colours be half-masted and that the Belgian Ensign fly at the main at the dip all day to-day. On occasions, such as a death among a ship's company, colours are usually lowered to half-mast for two hours, covering the hour of the funeral. The procedure being followed to-day is very uncommon.