FESTIVAL OF EMPIRE.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume I, Issue 126, 13 May 1911, Page 5

FESTIVAL OF EMPIRE.

OPENED AT CRYSTAL PALACE A BRILLIANT PAGEANT. [PRESS ASSOCIATION. —COPYRIGHT]. (Received 13, 12.15 p.m.) London, May 12. The Festival of Empire opened in fine weather. The King, Queen and Prince of Wales, w’ith Princess Mary, drove to the Crystal Palace. A hundred thousand school children and boy’ scouts lined the route. Their Majesties had an enthusiastic reception and stopped to listen to 200,000 children at Southwark singing the National Anthem. Many triumphal arches were erected.

Several Mayors of borough councils presented addresses. The Dukes and Duchesses of Fife and Argyll, with Prince Teck and suites joined their Majesties at the Crystal Palace, where Lord Plymouth received them. A concert follow r ed. Madame Clara Butt and the Harriss choir of 4500 voices, rendered patriotic songs, including Kipling’s recessional.

Their Majesty’s afterwards reviewed the Pageant performers in costume. There w’ere a number of Australians and New’ eZalanders, including Miss Ward as a Maori Princess, and Miss Rubi Seddon, and Mrs. Hislop in Maori costume. Their Majesties then inspected the model Imperial Parliament House and the All-Red tour, including Canada’s £7OOO exhibit and the Fair of Fashion. Over 100,000 w’ere present in the Palace grounds. The King and Queen afterw’ards attended the Dominions’ reception, w’here at least 3000 were present, including Sir Joseph and LadyWard, Sir George and Lady’ Reid, the Hon. Hall-Jones, Agents-Gen-erals and their wives, Lord Roberts, Ambassadors, several Cabinet Ministers, and many’ Commoners. NEW ZEALAND HOUOURED. King George and Queen Mary’, after the concert, invited Sir Joseph Ward and Lady Ward to tea. King George expressed to Sir Joseph Ward his appreciation of New Zealand’s wreath at Windsor.