KING’S ILLNESS

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 27 December 1928, Page 5

KING’S ILLNESS

CONDITION IMPROVING.

GRATIFICATION' AT BULLETIN. CHRISTMAS FESTIVITIES. (United Press Association —By Electric Telegraph Copyright.) (Australian Press Association—United Service.) LONDON, Dec. 25. The King passed a quiet day. His local condition is improving and his strength is maintained, stated a bulletin issued at 8.15 p.m. The next bulletin will be issued to-morrow evening.

The bulletin .has caused nation-wide gratification and an atmosphere of happiness and relief throughout. Palace authorities consider the most reassuring sign is that the King is maintaining his strength. Extreme slowness of his progress continues, therefore they do not expect any rapid advance.

Meantime in churches throughout the country prayers were offered for the King’s recovery. Queen Mary and the Prince of Wales attended service in the Palace chapel, after which the Irish Guards played old Einglish carols and round the centre gate 3000 persons stood, bareheaded, singing in subdued voices the hymn “Praise the King of Kings.’.’ Tattered beggars moved in and out of the throng pleading for alms. In order that the public should not be unduly disturbed over the holidays, no bulletin regarding the King’s condition was issued by the Buckingham. Palace physicians, but Sir Stanley Hewitt, surgeon apothecary to the King, stated at noon that the Royal patient’s condition continued to be satisfactory, he having passed a fairly comfortable night. For the first time since the King s illness began one of the members of the medical staff attending the monarch, Lord Dawson of Penn, was missing from the morning consultation at the Palace, but Sir Stanley Hewitt and Sir Hugh Rigby spent an hour and a half in the sick room. The King received members of his family, including the Duke of Gloucester, who was greatly affected by his father’s changed appearance. The Prince of Wales left the palace o-n a motor trip, but arranged to return in the evening for Christmas. Medical circles considered the return of the King’s children in time to spend Christmas with him wall go a long way towards his ultimate recovery. London celebrated the holiday with the usual spirits, despite the drizzling ram. On Christmas Eve many people crowded into Piccadilly and the Strand, and the night clubs did a rushing business. The stores remained open especially late for the benefit of those who left their purchases until the last minute in view of the seriousness of the King s illness. The evening at the palace was devoted to a family dinner party at which the Royal Family were present. Sir Stanley Hewitt was the only outside guest. Lord. LaseeUes was absent fulfilling engagements in Yorkshire. Princess Elizabeth did not visit the palace, but played joyously in a nursery full ot provision was made at the Palace for the staff’s entertainment, the Queen being desirous that the King s illness should not interfere with the festivities.

KING BUILDING UP STRENGTH.

LONDON, Dec. 24

To-night’s bulletin is regarded as one of the most remarkable ever issued since the King’s illness became grave, it indicates clearly and more definitely than those of the past two or three days that the illness is pursuing the course the doctors hoped and anticipated, it supports the suggestion that there is every chance q( his Majesty being aefinitely out of danger on Christmas Dl palaeo officials emphasised to-night that as long as progress lasts, however slow, his Majesty is going on as well as can *be expected. References in the bulletin to sleep and nourishment are the most satisfactory features, showing that his Majesty is beginning gradually to build up strength by natural sleep and nourishment. The Royal family, united by the King’s illness, is spending Christmas at Buckingham Palace for the first tune for ten years. The usual scale of festivities has naturally been abolished. Nevertheless, if the King’s improvement is- maintained, there will be a simple family party on Christmas Bay. It is a long time since there has been such a comprehensive family gathering in London. The luncheon party will include the Prince of Wales, the Duke and Duchess of York, Viscount Lascelles, Princess Mary, the Duke of Gloucester, Prince George, and little Princess Elizabeth and Princess Mary s Queen has ordered a Christmas tree from Sandringham, specially toi the pleasure of her young grandchildren. There will be an assembly or presents of members of the family, bought for each other, including those which will ultimately be given the bulletin issued at 11.40 a.m. on Monday stated that the King had spent a quiet night. The local conditions continued to show progress and the geneial condition remained unchanged. The Duke of Gloucester reached Southampton at 6 in the morning an left immediately by car for London, driving himself and travelling fast despite a drizzle. He was anxious to ““port that the Data, araa aloof Sy in the voyage, but was more cheerful when the bulletins nnproved and then joined in the ship’s social life.

SLIGHT IMPROVEMENT CONDITION STILL SERIOUS. DUKE OF YORK IN TEARS. Received 10.53 a.m to-day. LONDON, Dec. 26. ' After a consultation with his colleagues. Lord Dawson of Penn indicated in a .statement to journalists, that the King had slightly improved. Lord Dawson said: “There is a slight improvement in both the local ant general condition, it being part ot the slow forward movement. Sit staiiie. Hewitt anti Sir Hugh Rigby participated in the consultation. A moderate crowd gathered before the palace gates despite the heavy ram. There was little doubt expressed, however, that the King’s condition as still serious and the anxiety of the palace staff to™ readily be seen beneath the attempt t be happy over the holidays. The King has alternating periods between states of consciousness and coma and these vants recently saw the Duke of York m tears outside the sick room, after his father had been unable to recognise him.