WELCOME HOME

Evening Post, Volume CXIX, Issue 95, 23 April 1935, Page 8

WELCOME HOME

DUKE OF GLOUCESTER

FAMILY AT STATION

LONDON PAGEANTRY

(From "The Post's" Representative.) LONDON, March 30.

Home for the Duke of Gloucester means a busy few days. Then perhaps he wsl be permitted to take a holiday. H.M.A.S. Australia was delayed by fog but when eventually the ship turned into Spithead the weather, was. clear and bright enough to enable the spectators along the shores to get an excellent view of the pageant that marked the last stage of the journey home.

With the Duke bf Gloucester's standard at her masthead, destroyers preceding and following her, and flyingboats forming an aerial escort, the Australia steamed into harbour. As she passed the Spit Elbow buoy, a Royal salute was fired. At Victoria, in the glorious afternoon sunshine, the Duke was welcomed by his own family. The reception was ceremonial to the extent that levee dress and uniforms were worn by the■ principal actors, and the Brigade of Guards mounted a guard of honour. For the rest, it was very homely. THE OFFICIAL PARTY. A portion of the platform where the Continental boat trains depart was fenced off, and carpeted and curtained in crimson. Glorious banks of daffodils, tulips, and other ■ flowers were arranged at the back of the platform. A quarter of an hour before the train was due a little party of those who were officially welcoming the Duke assembled in the enclosure. Among these were Mr. Lyons (Prime Minister. Of Australia), the High of Australia, Sir James Parr (New Zealand High Commissioner), Mr. J. H. Thomas, and Sir Philip . CurJiffeLister (Secretary for the Colonies). All these wore levee dress.;' Lord Trenchard and representatives of the Navy, the Army, and 'the Air Force were in uniform, and Lord Jellicoe, in morning dress, was among the unofficial party who had been invited to the enclosure. / Shortly afterwards the National Anthem, played by the band of the Irish Guards outside the station, was heard, and the King and Queen, accompanied by the Duchess of; York, the Princess Royal, and the Earl of Harewood, arrived on the platform through a decorated reception room. The King wore the full dress uniform of a Field Marshal and the ribbon of the Order of the Garter; the Queen had a smoke-grey costume. The Princess Royal was wearing rose pink, and the Duchess of York was wearing powder blue. The King was looking well after his holiday at Eastbourne. The Royal party passed before the official reception party, shaking hands, and for five minutes there was general conversation. Most of the time his. Majesty was in conversation with Mr, Lyons, who has not been in London before and who had not before met the King. FAMILY REUNION. When the train arrived the Duke stepped out at once. He saluted the King, and shook hands. He then kissed the hand of his mother and then her; cheek. His sister and the Duchess of. York he greeted with an informal brotherly kiss. The vPrince of Wales and the Duke of York, who. had travelled from Portsmouth with the Duke of Gloucester, also paid their formal respects to the King and Queen. Then the Duke of Gloucester shook hands with the representatives of the Dominions and the remainder of the official party.

It was a very friendly homecoming. The afternoon sun 'shone on the uniforms of the men, on, the bright carpet, and curtains, and'on the array of spring flowers, making a very striking picture.

After the .welcomes were over the King and Queen 'and the Duke of Gloucester passed to the station court' yard, which had been decorated with hundreds of small flags. The guard of honour gave a Royal salute, and the band played the National Anthem. The Duke, with the King and the Royal Princes walking "behind him, inspected the guard. • He then returned to the other members of the Royal Family, and stood talking,with them while an open State landau, drawn by four chestnut horses, with blue-liveried postillions, drew up. The Duke entered the carriage with Major-General R. G. H. Howard-Vyse, his chief of staff, and as the band again played the National Anthem, drove out, preceded by outriders, to the streets, where the crowds were waiting to cheer him. The escort of Life Guards wheeled into position before and behind the carriage. A second landau followed. The procession was comparatively short, but it made a brave show as the open carriages drove slowly along to Whitehall and then down the Mall to Buckingham Palace in the. sprirfg-like afternoon. THE CITY'S WELCOME. The next day the Duke of Gloucester was welcomed by the' City of London with customary formality. Doubtless, the function was arranged long ago, for such impressive ceremonies need time for their preparation, though, centuries-old customs make them matters of routine. About 770 guests were invited to the reception and the "dejeuner.'frThe Lord Mayor, the Rt. Hon. Sir Stephen H. M. Killik, his daughter, (Mrs. Greenland), the Lady Mayoress, and the Sheriffs and their ladies were formally welcomed at the Guildhall by the reception committee three-quarters of an hour before the time lor the banquet. On the dais in the beautiful and lofty library, the Lord Mayor, and Lady Mayoress received the guests. It is always interesting to witness this procession of all the official great ones of the country. At the doorway their names are announced by a toastmaster, and their names are echoed by another, toastmaster /half-way up the aisle. The Prime Minister, Ministers of State, the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dean of St. Paul's, Masters of the-City 'Companies, chairmen of banks, Admirals of the Fleet, Field Marshals, civil servants of high rank, Lord Chief Justice of England and Lady Hewirt, Mr. J. A. Lyons (Australian Prime Minister) and Mrs. Lyons, Lord Snell (chairman of the London County Council),, chairman of the Stock Exchange, High Commissioners for Dominions— every man at the .head of or representing some important branch of public life—were among the guests. The most enthusiastic cheers were reserved for Sir John Simon, who is burdened with such a weight of responsibility at this time.

The stream of celebrities flowed on for three quarters of an hour. Men of extra importance were heralded in by half a dozen members of the reception committee bearing wands of ■■ office. Then the Lord Mayor and the Lady Mayoress, the Sheriffs, and the reception committee withdrew to meet the Duke, the Sword and the Mace always in close proximity1 to the Lord Mayor. ADDRESS AND DUKES REPLY. Trumpeters announced the return of the procession to the library. .The Duke of Gloucester, wearing the uniform of Colonel of Hussars, .walked

beside the Lady Mayoress. The Lord Mayor, Sheriffs, Aldermen, the Common Council once more in position, resolutions were formally passed for presenting an address. The Recorder, in wig and gown, standing on the dais in front of the Duke, then read the address:

"We respectfully offer our congratulations on the success achieved by your visit and on having by your unremitting efforts, unfailing tact, dignity, and courtesy, done so much to strengthen the ties which bind together the peoples of the Empire, in their loyalty and devotion, to the Throne and person of his Majesty the King." In reply the Duke said: "I am glad to be home once more after so long an absence, and I feel proud and grateful that the citizens of the Empire's capital should be foremost in extending to me greetings and wishes on my safe return. ,

"I am happy to say that in every part of the Empire I was able to visit I was received with the same enthusiastic demonstrations of loyalty as greeted the King and Queen, my brothers and the Duchess of York."

After this the general company moved to their places in- the Guildhall. Gaily decorated with flags, it made a striking spectacle. All'along one end on a high shell were arranged the graceful silver gilt Jugs and vessels —the collection of centuries—and behind the chairman's seat great gold plates. There, too/ the Sword . and Mace were placed. ,

Before every toast two trumpeters sounded a fanfare which was echoed by two other trumpeters in the gallery. True to the tradition of Mayoral banquets, two carvers with lofty white hats and white aprons were mounted on rostrums rising high above the level of the tables. Their carving, whatever it may be behind the scenes, is today a mere formality while perched on their lofty stands. The menu itself was a work of art. It consisted of twelve pages decorated with red and white ribbon. The paper was an imitation of vellum. On the cover was a very fine print of the Guildhall itself.