BRITISH HOSPITALITY.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 12 March 1928, Page 5

BRITISH HOSPITALITY.

A LAVISH DISPLAY. FOR. KING OF AFGHANISTAN. BY CABLE—PRESS ASSOCIATION—COPYRIO HI LONDON, March 10. When King Amanullah of Afghanistan and the Queen arrive in London on Thursday the magnificence of their reception will rival any accorded a ruling monarch by the British nation. The whole kingdom will be thrown open to them. Destroyers will escort them up the Channel amid thunderous salvos from the coastal batteries. The Prince of Wales will personally greet the Royal visitors at Dover, and on their arrival at London they will be met by King George, Queen Mary, Mr. Stanley Baldwin, Sir Austen Chamberlain and representatives of the Army, Navy and Air Force. At a resplendentlv decorated station Grenadier Guardsmen will form a guard of honour and the Royal procession will pass through troop-lined streets to Buckingham Palace. The Guards’ Bands, which for weeks have been practising the Afghanistan national anthem, will be stationed at points en route. Their Majesties will escort the visitors to Buckingham Palace, where they will occupy the Belgian Suite, the principal suite at the palace which i-s reserved for visitors of importance. In the suite the seven principal apartments are completely shut off and have a. separate entrance. A wonderful unmatched display of almost priceless treasures has been assembled in Oriental magnificence specially from Windsor Ca.stle. The visitors will live at the palace for three days, and for the succeeding 20 days will be the guests of the nation. The special desire of the Government has been expressed to all responsible that nothing be left undone and that everything that British hospitality at its zenith affords shall be extended. Accordingly,, when the visitors leave the Palace a party of 50 personages, including King Amanullah’s sister, her husband, the Queen’s father and sister and personal attendants will be housed in a suite at Olaridge’s on a scale, on instructions- from the British Government, equal to the Royal Palace. There will be twelve exquisitely furnished drawing and reception rooms, a lovely boudior for the Queen, retiring rooms for the ladies of her retinue, in addition to writing rooms, a library and up yards of 50 elegant bedrooms, and specially served with telephones, and the whole laid in rich Oriental rugs and aglow with Oriental lighting.