THE KING'S ILLNESS.

Press, Volume LIX, Issue 11333, 24 July 1902, Page 5

THE KING'S ILLNESS.

THE FTRST ANNOUNCEMENT. "AX ATTACK OF LtTJIBAGO." LATEST MAIL The King's illness took, iron-ion complete* ly by surprise. The n>; . cuouncement that his Majesty was -?*{ appeared in the Court Circular <.•. Juris loth, which . stated:—"His Majesty the King was rosftble to leave his room to-day (Sunday}, owing to an attack of lumbago, cao*ed by a chill.'*' It was 'given out that his Majesty contracted the chill after the military tattoo at Aldershot on the previous wet Saturday nig tit. Alter ti»e tattoo he leit unwell, and a telegram was despatched to Sir Francis Laking, the King' 3 Physician-in-Ordinary. summoning him to The message reached Sir Francis Laking some time after midnight, and he at cnce proceeded to Aldersho?. "Sir Francis saw tue King, and wrote ouc a prescription, which was made up at th.a ora Brigade Hospital. Sir Francis recommendea that Sunday should be spent 111 perfect quietness, and \ih Majesty's engagements consequently were therefore cancelled. In consequence 01 the rain oa Monday. King 'Edwura did cot, attend the review of -troops on Laffan's Plain. Although it was announced that the King had passed a rost'ul nigiit imd was much better, the fact that his Majesty did not attend the review aroused anxiety, and ted to alarmist reports being circulated. One of these said his Majesty was in a_ lowstate, and laudanum was administered,, as his Majesty experienced pain. Complications were feared, and the King's physician sent to the 3rd Statiou Hospital, nndesr Lieutenant-Colonel Rawney, for another appliance. Hot fomentations were suggested. A later message stated that the King's condition had become much more serious than was at first expected. The doctors -were endeavouring to diagnose the exact nature of his Majesty's illness, but so far no definite information was available. in (.onsequcnof r,l the?« reports a telegram of inquiiy w;:s ssnt on tise Monday to Sir Francfs "Knoliyf:, at AMsrshot, Mti he replied:—'The best answer I car. ghu is that the King gets to Windsor rhis afternoon. —Knollys. When the Royal party i-etumed from the review the King, accompanied by th-e Queen, -set out for WiutMtr by l-oad, travelling by way Bagrhot, where iheir ■ilnjes-tie* called on the Duke and Duchess of Commtglit. Tireir Majesties arrival at the Castle shortly before six c'clock. entering by the jirivato grounds, their ;;rrivai, being vrinessed and cheered hv ;i few persons* assembled in the Lung WulU. In the eye»inp t!)E Kisa was able i:> v.;>lk about t!>j Castle, and personally to receive <hrs guests :>s they, arrived, his Majesty having issued invitations iw ;i dinner party. The Prince and Princess of Wales foliiMved thoir Maje>-tits l>y train. In 003----vcr.v.vtion with the Mayor- cf"'\Yin<feor, >;n ; ib.v arrival oi tie l'r.nee i»nd Princess at i Uie siatio.li from Aldershot, the Prince i f.'.iu '.he Kirii: had caught a eiuli in the i fioai;i>. a. but that ue whs much better. i tf course, his .Majesty* w-otil'l ; L:>vt- f> li? cait-ful. j While the Queen was at Ascot on Tuesi -Jay, .Juno 17th, King Edward went for a, ! driv« v in a closed carriage in the Royal j tteiuesns, ami returned to 'die CasiJb I .'lioitly Ijffore the Queen's procession i reached the Palace in the evening. At j \he Ca>.ti t\ at nigbt the King and Qn-pea i gave another dinner party. I Their Majesties went for a drive of 1 nearly iwo hours through Windsor Paxk on tli 2 Wednesday. The King eeemed better, and smilingh- acknowledged 'the salutations of a large number of psopie *ksk» had assemblsd in the Long Walk. The King and Qwen gave a dinner party at tba Palace daring the' evening. It was officially announced on Wednesday that, in anticipation of the severe strain to which the King would be subjected during the Coronation festivities, his Majesty's medical advisers ii&d recommended, 'him to forego all pufcf-ic engagemente during! the next few days. The Sing did not go to A soot on Thurs<da.y, but remained at Windsor Castle, and it was intimated in the course of "the .day that his visit to Eton had been postponed. The. King held his last Court before- the Coronation on Friday night at Buckingham Palace, the depressing weather ootside offering a marked contrast to the brilliant} function within. To si'.k>w how 1 it-tie the public understood the serious nature at the King's Illness, it is only necessary. to-quote the " Dnily Mail" of June 18th, -which stated that '" tihp Kinsr is making , satisfactory priCTess towards i-omplete convalescence.." adding thaA " his 'Majesty's physicians are dej litrht'ed with t-li« ropkl recovery of the Royal patient.' , Wlveri tfc-u mail left England the pubticj were s-IHI ntiawnre of the nature of \h-i illne?« whirl' sHhseoueutly the postponement of i-h.<* Coronation, and threatened the life (;f his Majesty the Kin?.