SUPERB CLIMAX.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 106, 7 May 1935, Page 7

SUPERB CLIMAX.

PUBLIC LOYALTY.

"TERRIFIC" DISPLAY. Demonstration oi) Return From St. Paul's. PINNACLE OF ENTHUSIASM. lUnited r.A— Electric Telegraph—Copyright) (Received 11.30 a.m.) LONDON, May 0. After the St. Paul's service the spectacle gradually dissolved, only to reform as the Royal procession arranged itself on the Cathedral steps to meet the renewed plaudits of a million subjects as it returned through bannered London to the Palace. Their Majesties' return was even more triumphant than their progress to the Cathedral. Trafalgar Square has not previously seen such enormous crowds. The Prince of Wales, tlie Duke and Duchess of York, and the Duke and Duchess of Kent, following close behind, enjoyed similar exciting greetings. The demonstration outside the Palace was terrific, obliging Their Majesties to appear on the balcony, which was draped in scarlet and gold. Hats were thrown into the air, and handkerchiefs and flags waved wildly as Their Majesties stood together and waved to the crowd. The remainder of the Royal Family joined'them a' few minutes later, and the crowd sang the National Anthem and "For They Are Jolly Good Fellows." Their Majesties acknowledged this superb climax of affection wjt.li waves of the hand and then retired to the Palace. Throughout the hour occupied by lunch the crowds remained outside the Palace. The King, who had changed into a lounge suit, afterwards came on to the balcony with the Queen, bowing and waving acknowledgment of the incessant cheering. Tlie King then returned to the Palace leaving the Queen alone on the balcony while the crowd again sang "God Save the King," and finally dispersed singing enthusiastically. Radial Point in Decorations. Perhaps tlie best impression of tlie great blaze of colour throughout London was that immediately in front of Buckingham Palace, with the majestic Victoria Memorial regilded and glistening as a radial point in the decorations It was both the starting point and the finishing point of tlie Royal progress. The procession moved along Constitution Hill, flanked by tier above tier of scats densely packed with spectators, up Piccadilly, ablaze with many-hued streamers and symbolic poles, down St. James' Street to Pall Mall, where the clubs vied with one another in the magnificence of their adornments. The return journey to the Palace m as made via Queen Victoria Street and the Victoria Embankment. The immense width of the latter defied special decoration, but every building in its course was beautifully decorated, as were the stately piles in Northumberland Avenue. Most Inspiring Scene of All. The most inspiring scene of all, however, was in the Mall. This Their Majesties entered beneath tlie Admiralty Arch, which was fittingly dressed with the Navy's white ensigns. The immense length of tlie Mall was flanked by wide spectators' stands fronted in blue and red. Every few yards were handsome masts surmounted by gilded miniature crowns, beneath which, were plaques symbolic of some unit of the Empire. Each mast supported an elongated, giltfringed, pennon in the form of the flag of St. George. It made a really charming vista with the Palace as an inspiring background. New Zealand and Australian visitors wero scattered everywhere, with the exception of tlioso who were lucky enough in the ballot to get special 12/6 seats on Government stands on Constitution Hill, or in the Mall. Of these 200 were placed at the disposal of Australia House and 140 at the disposal of New Zealand House. The applications for them were 10 times in excess of the accommodation, so a ballot was necessary.