LATE KING ALBERT

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXIV, Issue 62, 23 February 1934, Page 5

LATE KING ALBERT

FUNERAL CEREMONY Impressive Spectacle DISTINGUISHED MOURNERS (By Telegraph—Press Aesn.—Copyright.) (Received 23, 2.0 p.m.) BRUSSELS, Feb. 22. Despite a continuous mist, which later turned to a drizzle, thousands waited in the streets all night to witness the funeral of the late King Albert. The palace square was thronged and the route was deeply lined.

The first ceremony was the final homage of ex-service men, including British, marching past and ?alut.ing the coffin on a gun carriage in the square. A detachment of luuiskillins was included in the array of military and naval forcing heading the procession, which began at 10.38.

The King’s favourite charger followed the coffin. Then came the new King, with his brother Charles, and afterwards the Prince of Wales and other royalties and diplomats.

Requiem High Mass and the Absolution were celebrated at the Cathedral of St. Gudule, in which the new King and Queen sat in gilded chairs beneath the high altar canopy. There was a salute of 21 guns as ths coffin was removed to the crypt. The widowed Queen, notwithstanding a sharp attack of lumbago, was present at the Cathedral. There were dense crowds along the four-mile route to the Chateau Laeken, where the King was interred. One hundred thousand ex-ser-vicemen, coming from all parts of .Europe, shared in King Albert's last review with his old army. It was thought that 20,000 Belgians would come, but over 90,000 arrived, providing a tribute which in sincerity and magnitude eclipsed the formal ceremonies. The King lay in the forecourt at the palace amid a carpet of flowers stretching 50 yards in all directions sent by admirers and sympathisers from every corner of the world, from rich wreaths of roses and lilies six feet in diameter to the humble posies of the poor. Throughout the three hours ex-ser-vicemen poured past the coffin, masses in civilian attire marching shoulder-to-shoulder. There were so many medals that their jingling mingled with the tramp of feet, the only sound of the procession, over winch thousands of banners of many countries waved. Even the almost forgotten Blue Cross, the Imperial Russian colours, was carried by a phalanx from the Baltic and Eastern Europe. There were marchers of all types and ages—greybeards, priests, monks and others, with their breasts covered with fighting decorations, while in the less organised sections men brought their wives and families. There were many pathetic groups. Some with wooden legs were on crutches and others were wheeled in chairs. One lieutenant who is blind, armless and legless was carried past.

Requiem occupied an hour; the Cardinal Archbishop gave ’he Absolution and the service ended.

A military band played “La Brabanconne/' on muted instruments while the coffin was carried out. The King's standard, draped in crepe, led the procession to Laeken, where the whole procession of troops marched past the coffin lying on the. gun carriage. Music was now heard for the first time, French and Belgians swinging past at quick mark while the British slow marched to the “Dead March in Saul” with the roll of muffled drums.

The Cardinal Archbishop gave final Absolution within the crypt. This was witnessed only by the Royal mourners, who watched tho coffin lowered slowly to the vault, where it will rest with tho Belgian Royal dead. SERVICES IN LONDON Message from Duke of Brabant (Received 23, 12.30 p.m.) RUGBY, Feb. 22. The King and Queen, with other members of the Royal family and most members of Cabinet, attended the memorial service of King Albert at Westminster Abbey to-day. Every seat in the Abbey was filled and the service was of the most impressive character. Sir James Parr represented New Zealand. At the same time a memorial service was held at St. Paul’s Cathedral which was attended by the Lord Mayor and members of tho Corporation of London. King George has received the following reply from the Duke of Brabant in answer to his message of sympatny: “I am deeply touched by the affectionate message that your Majesty has sent in your own name and in the name of the people of Great Britain in the terrible misfortune which has befallen us. Belgium will be deeply moved by this token of sympathy from a nation that Las always been at our side in the great moments of our history.”