KING NEPTUNE

Greymouth Evening Star, 11 February 1947, Page 8

KING NEPTUNE

HERALDS ARRIVE ON THE VANGUARD bPyai. FAantv’s voyage . LONDON, Feb. 10., The Royal Family and the whole ship’s company watched King . Neptune’s heralds board the Vanguard, amid a blaze)'of fireworks last night. The Vanguard warned ships in the vicinity not to" interpret the rockets as distress signals. , The Vanguard is expected to cross the Equator at 6 a.m. local time today. King Neptune will hold court later to-day. “The two Princesses will have then noses powdered instead of being ducked and • lathered in the traditional fashion when the Vanguard crosses the Equator,” says Reuter s special correspondent. Neptune has agreed to waive the duckings for the Princesses in view of an ‘old friendship for their Britannic Majesties. Special certificates have been prepared for 1200 npvices, . including members, of the. Royal Party. “Neptune sent heralds to the Vanguard while the ship was some miles north of the Equator. The Princesses, excited, watched witfi Their Majesties from the turret top a blaze of red and green rockets as ‘Dolphinius’ hailed the Vanguards captain, Rear-Admiral Agnew, who invited the heralds aboard. “All the ship’s company gathered on the foredeck to see ‘Dolphinius tn robes and wig, attended by two bears and his chief of police, in a fearsome skull and-crossbones cap. “An equatorial storm drenched inc Vanguard’s decks while the Royal party was attending Divine service under an awning over the quarterdeck yesterday. , “The Royal Family later watched and photographed the tanker, Brown Ranger, from Freetown, refuelling the Vanguard with 1000 tons of oil. The Vanguard slowed to 10 knots during the refuelling. “Elaborate preparations are being made for the ceremonies of holding King Neptune’s Court when the Vanguard crosses the Equator. The King’s personal Vikmg. aircraft arrived at Cape Town carrying six journalists and a radio commentator. The Viking left England on February 5. Its flying time was 33 hours. ■ _