ANXIOUS DAYS

Press, Volume LXXII, Issue 21686, 21 January 1936, Page 9

ANXIOUS DAYS

Little Sleep For The Queen NEWS EAGERLY AWAITED IN LONDON i I (UNITED I'HESS AS3OCIATIOW—COPT*IGHT.) (Received January 20, p.m.) LONDON, January 19. The Queen has slept for only five hours since the King's illness took a serious turn on January 18. The King, about whose bed two screens form an inner and an outer barrier against draughts, spoke with his family before the departure of the Prince of Wales and the Duke of York for London, the Prince speaking with his father for a few minutes alone. The Queen and her sons later talked downstairs. The Duchess of York several times telephoned to Sandringham. The Duke of Kent went to his I father's bedroom after his arrival, and the King chatted cheerfully with him. enquiring after the baby Prince Edward. V/hile the Queen and members of the Royal Family anxiously wait and hope, the King lies in his favourite room en the first floor. The Queen's room is next to it, and she visits the bedside as often as she may. The Prince of Wales and the Duke of York will return to Sandringham on January 20. For the first time for many years, members of the Royal Family did not attend the morning service ai St. Mary's. They remained at Sandringham House where crowds awaited news, but there was no sign of anything from the house. The Earl of Harewood and his sons, Viscount Lascelleis and the Hon. Gerald Lascelles (grandsons to the King), joined in special prayers at the village church at Harewood, Yorkshire. Anxiety in London Meanwhile the civilised world is echoing "Amen" to the prayer sent ! all over the world from the church lof St. Mary Magdalene (SandringI ham) where the King worshipped. last Sunday: "We pray especially for our Sovereign King George, that by Thv holy power he may be restored by Thy gracious will to health of body and mind." The postponement of the bulletin expected at 4 p.m. increased the anxiety of the crowd at Buckingbam Palace. Many queued up with umbrellas in the wintry drizzle until their misgivings were allayed by the announcement on the notice board at 7.45 p.m., which showerthat his Majesty's condition was at least static. The Prince of Wales had returne 1 to the palace 75 minutes earlier. The crowd rushed forward with bared heads when the bulletin was exhibited. Those near the board read out the notice which, amid expressions of relief, was communicated verbally to those in the rear while an official conveyed it by sign language to a group of deafmules .of which he was in charge. The Royal Family The Prince of Wales, 'after acquainting the Duke of Gloucester of the progress of the King's illness. left Buckingham Palace for Downing Street and saw Mr Baldwin. The Duke of York will spend the night at the Royal Lodge at Windsor, where the Duchess is progressing excellently after her recent illness! Other members of the Royal Family at Windsor are Princess Helen, Princess Victoria, Princess Elizabeth, and Princess Margaret Rose The Queen and the Royal walked in the grounds a* Sandringham this afternoon. The Duke of Gloucester is much better, but he was unable to go today to Sandringham, to which the Duke of Kent and the Archbishop of Canterbury (Dr. Cosmo Gordon Lang) are on their way. No undue importance is attached to the visit of the Archbishop of Canterbury, who is an old and dear personal friend of their Majesties. WEATHER NOW MORE FAVOURABLE BULLETIN SHOUTED TO CROWD (Received January 21, 1.40 a.m.) LONDON, January 20. In the opinion of medical circles, the weather is now more favourable to his Majesty's health. It is pointed out that the recent hard frosts and dry cold aggravate bronchial cases. To-day it is warm and sunny at Sandringham, but moist, following the overnight rain. Anxious crowds gathered at the palace in the early morning, including hundrcdr; of workers passing through.the park. Most motorists stopped and read the bulletin. A palace official was so pleased at the news that his Majesty's condition was unchanged, indicating that he was carrying on the fight, that he shouted the news to the crowd before hanging the bulletin on the railings. ENQUIRIES FROM EUROPE ITALIAN AND (JKRMAN SOLICITUDE LONDON, January 19. The King of Italy ha*s personally requested Signor Grandi, thej Italian Ambassador, to make direct enquiries about the King's progress and to convey his sincerest wishes for his Majesty's recovery. German former service men arriving as guests of the Brtish Legion, sent the following telegram to the Prince of Wales: "Our first thoughts are for the health of his Majesty. We ask the Prince of Wales to convey this message." FRENCH NEWSPAPER TRIBUTES PARIS, January 20': ' French newspapers have devoted full-page articles to tributes to his Majesty's greatness.