FUNERAL OF KING EDWARD.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 13740, 23 May 1910, Page 7

FUNERAL OF KING EDWARD.

THE LAST SCENE. A GREAT AND SOLEMN PAGEANT. REVERENTIAL SILENCE OF THE CROWD. United Prese Association—By Electrio Telegraph—Copyright. LONDON, May 20. There was an imposing scene in Buckingham Palace Courtyard when the visiting kings and princes were assembling. As Queen Alexandra, in her carriage, took her place in the procession, all the nlflnarchs and princes saluted. The procession made a brilliant spectacle, as the splendid cavalcade, circling Parliament square, entered New Palace Yard, where King Edward's charger and favourite fox terrier Caesar were standing behind the gun carriage. The King, the Kaiser, and the Duke of Connaught dismounted, and Queen Alexandra and Princess Victoria alighted. The Kaiser kissed Queen Alexandiii, and accompanied her into the Hall, King George, the Duke of Connaught, and Princess Victoria following. After a short service the coffin -was borne through the porch, the Archbishop ot Canterbury, accompanied by his ehn.plain, preceding it with a cross. The coffin was adjusted on the gun carriage, and the procession started. Ita head was a mile and a half away in Piccadilly. A extinguished group, including Mr Asquith, the Earl of Crewe, other Ministers, and Lord Rosebery, witnessed the arrival of the kings and princes at the porch of Westminster Hall. Queen Alexandra wore a brilliant jewel of the Garter. Intense and reverential silence prevailed along the entire rotite, the crowd being deeply touched by the sight of the riderless charger, followed by a stalwart Highlander in the Royal Stuart tartan, leading Creser, and also by tho splendid renderings of the, impressive funeral marches.

The progress of tb,e procession to Paddingtoii station was as cabled, and was carried out absolutely without a hitch.

King George and tho monarchs bowed their heads as the 'Guardsmen reverently transferred the coffin to the train, the massed bands playing the Dead March m "Saul."

King George and most of the Royal personages travelled in the saloon next to the mortuary carriage. Tho train was the same as used for Queen Victoria's funeral, the engine being heavily draped with purple and white.

' The heat and the long standing caused mahy civilians and troops to faint. Eleven hundred St. John Ambulance men were in tho streets, in addition to a, large forco of Army doctors and assistanta.

The whole route was packed to the utmost cepacity, and it is ' estimated that the crowd exceeded 1,000,000. The crushing at , many of the points was very severe, especially at Hyde Park Corner and tho Marble Arch, where many of tho spectators sustained broken limbs.