BRILLIANT SCENE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 113, 14 May 1937, Page 7

BRILLIANT SCENE.

STATE BANQUET.

King and Queen Entertain at

The Palace

VISITING DOMINION GUESTS,

United Press Association.—Copyright

(Received 12.30 p.m.)

LON,DOX, May 13,

Buckingham Palace was the scene of a brilliant State banquet in honour of the Dominion Prime Ministers, and Ministers, and Australian State, and Canadian Provincial Premiers.

Again the Palace was a magnet for huge crowds. All the Coronation stands nearby were full of sightseers before dusk to await arrival of the guests. Queen Mary and Queen Maud of Norway, the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester, the Duke and Duchess of Kent, Indian Princes and foreign envoys were all warmly greeted.

The King and Queen stood together in the State room, shaking hands with their guests. The King wore a FieldMarshal's scarlet and gold uniform, and the Queen looked lovely in a dress of ivorv lace.

After the reception Their Majesties led a procession to the dining room, where the dazzling splendour of the function made a fitting climax to yesterday's great occasion.

The guests, numbering ¥50. were divided between the white and gold ballroom and the supper room. The King presided at a great central oval table in the first room, with the guests, 12 at a table, grouped in horse-shoe shape around him. The tables were laid with the State gold plate and massive gold cups and goblets.

The Queen presided at a separate gathering of guests in the supper room. where the table arrangements were similar.

A crowd of 100.000 outside the Palace cheered and called for the King and were rewarded at 10.35 when Their Majesties appeared on the centre balcony. They stood alone tinder arclights for three minutes, bowing and smiling while the crowd roared their greetings.

Later, in response to further cheers, they reappeared twice.

FOREIGN OPINIONS

King and People Form New Pact

I In Coronation. UNITY OF THE EMPIRE. (Received 11.30 a.m.) LONDON", May 13. A German impression of the Abbey ceremony is given by the correspondent of the "Allgemeine Zeitung." He says: "The foreigner who witnessed the spectacle felt that more than mere traditional formalities were observed, that a new pact between King and people was made, and simultaneously a new pact between the peoples of the British Empire.

"Never before did these millions participate so directly in a Coronation ceremony as in this age of broadcasting. When the Archbishop of Canterbury placed the Crown on the King's head it was as though the hands of millions of British subjects throughout the world held it.

"The beauty of the procession into the Abbey was virtually overwhelming, and more than one spectator watched it with tears in his eyes."

Morning papers in Paris see in the' Coronation a ne w manifestation of the unity and stability of the British Empire. "L'Petit Journal' , says: "The spiritual power of the British Monarchy remains intact." "L'Aini du Peuple" says: "Those who speculated on the weakness of the British Empire are astonished at its prodigious rally." AFTER THE EVENT. CORONATION SIDELIGHTS. (Received 10.30 a.m.) LONDON, May 13. The Crown jewels were taken back to the Tower of London from Westminster early this morning. Telegrams poured into Buckingham Palace from an, early hour to-day, and over 4000 were received by noon.

An official of Westminster City Council stated that 200 tons of litter was removed from the three-mile Coronation route.

Ten thousand Londoners used the telephones as alarm clocks yesterday morning, instructing the exchanges on the previous night to call them. . The majority were called between 2 and 4 a.m.

Passengers in the flying boats Castor, Courtier and Cassiopeia, operating on the Australian service, heard the Coronation service fully while flying at three miles a minute.

Westminster Abbey will be open to the public until June 5, enabling inspection of the Thrones. A small charge will be made. COSTUME BALL. BRILLIANT SPECTACLE. (Received 2 p.m.) LONDON, May 13. The West End was again thronged to-night with sightseers. The Coronation costume ball in the Royal Albert Hall was one of the most brilliant spectacles of the season. The Duke and Duchess of Gloucester attended after the banquet, and those present included Princess Juliana and Prince Bernhard of the Netherlands, Prince and Princess Chichibu of Japan, and other visiting Royalties.

TO NEW ZEALANDERS.

MR. SAVAGE PRESENTS MEDAL!

(Received 10.30 a.m.) LOXDOX, May 13. j Expressing pleasure at meeting them, Mr. Savage visited New Zealand Office and presented Coronation medals awarded to members of tlie High Commissioner's staff. He also handed medal* to Mr. and Mrs. Nash. Mr. and Mrs. Armstrong, and Mr. and Mr». I Jordan, as well as to several prominent ' Xew Zealanders in London.