ROYALTY IN AUSTRALIA

Evening Star, Issue 19520, 30 March 1927, Page 5

ROYALTY IN AUSTRALIA

SYDNEY’S WARM WELCOME SLOW DRIVE TO TOWN HALL THE PUBLIC COMPENSATED Press Association —By Telegraph—CopyrightSYDNEY, March 29. 1 Driving slowly to the Town Hall, and with the restraining barriers down, tho Duke and Duchess to-day afforded tho city' the opportunity of which it was rSbbed on Saturday—namely, of having a T good view at close quarters. Iho ihmense crowd all along the route surged in close to the Royal car, barelv leaving room for it to pass, and cheered and flag-waved to its heart s content, apparently determined to prove! that the official procession that was sb hasty fell short of the public’s intention. . . . .. A {Press Association representative beam a working man give homely expression to the general publics opinion of the Duchess; “She’s a pretty lass, and wears her gowns well.” The female; portion of the spectators expressed itself with an almost unammoinj; “Isn’t she nice. And she looks as well in blue as in pink.”

• [ AMUSING SALUTATIONS “ THERE’S NO DOUBT ABOUT YOU, BERT.” * SPECTACULAR CHILDREN'S DEMONSTRATION. SYDNEY, March 29. While at the reception at the Town Hall the Duke presented Stanley Gibbs (who saved the life of another youth who had been attacked by a shark) with the Albert Medal. It is estimated that 45,000 persons passed tho Royal dais. Tho visitors were greatly amused at the number of democratic salutations shouted to them, including “ Good old Abby,” “Good on you, boy,” and “There’s no doubt about you, Bert.” Hundreds of people attempted to shake hands with the Duke and Duchess, but this was not permitted by the authorities. . .

The Duchess was so impressed with the display at the Cricket Ground, ■where 12,000 school children formed a white rose. that she asked the Ho I '. Mr Mutch (Minister of Education) to trant the children an extra week’s lioliay at Easter. Mr Mutch granted the ' Royal request. When the Duke and Duchess_ walked slowly through the laneways midst the huge flower the children greeted them with deafening cheers—probably the most shattering noise so far of the tour. The enormous crowd of children then broke their lines and formed round the Royal pair, dieering frantically. It was a remarkanle demonstration, and the Duke and Duchess BMttcd to be overwhelmed.

ENTHUSIASTIC LOYALTY

THE FINAL FUNCTION

POPULARITY OF ROYAL COUPLE

SYDNEY, March 29

The people’s reception at the Town Hall was the finale to the demonstrative welcome to the Duke and Duchess. All along the . route to the building the streets m the vicinity were packed, and the whole function was a fine, free, whole-hearted expression of loyality, rising to enthusiasm. Similarly the school children’s display at the Cricket Ground, in which many thousands participated, formiig a huge lettered “Welcome” to the Royal visitors, and the ceremony at the University, where an honorary degree was conferred on the Duke, revealed an equal warmth of sentiment. The Royalties expressed themselves as highly pleased with the generous and spontaneous tributes. The weather was dull, but the threatened rain luckily held off. The Duchess repeated her New Zealand experience of winning all hearts, while the Duke’s quiet and unassuming manner popularised him.

WITH THE DIGGERS

SPEECH TO RETURNED MEN. SYDNEY, March 29. Speaking at a luncheon tendered him by the Returned Sailors’ and Soldiers’ Imperial League, the Duke said there was a new time of prosperity coming for the Old Country. She was not finished yet, and ho was sure that Australia and other parts of the Empire would benefit from the prosperity »t Home. He concluded by saying that ho had become a patron of the league., and therefore he considered himself a “digger.”