New York Opens Heart to British Royalty

Northern Advocate, 12 June 1939, Page 5

New York Opens Heart to British Royalty

3,500,000 Cheer King And Queen in Warmest Welcome Ever

NEW YORK, June 11. r PHREE GRUELLING DAYS OF UNENDING CEREMONIES, CLIMAXED BY NEW YORK’S RECEPTION IN THE UPROARIOUS TRADITION OF THE SKYSCRAPER CITY, BROUGHT THEIR MAJESTIES, HIRED AND WEARY, TO PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT’S HYDE PARK HOME LAST NIGHT FOR A WELL-EARNED AND DESPERATELY-NEEDED WEEKEND OF REST AND RELAXATION

Their Majesties were happy because the warmth of New York s welcome had exceeded everybody’s expectation, but they looked forward, nevertheless. to a night and day af informality, with nothing more eventful scheduled than services on Sunday morning in the little Episcopal church and in the afternoon, the much-heralded “hot-dog” dinner with Mr and Mrs Roosevelt. Their Majesties’ most trying day began yesterday with breakfast on the Royal train in Redbank, New Jersey, at 8 a.m., and the great ovation began when they left the train.

ROYAL STANDARD ON U.S. DESTROYERS. Thousands greeted them with cheei-s and many thousands more mec the roads as they drove the 15 miles to Fort Hancock, where they boarded the destroyer Warrington for New York. As the destroyer left Fort Hancock, the Royal Standard was raised at her masthead—the first time in history that it has flown on an American vessel. Harbour craft and excursion boats, loaded with hundreds anxious to see Their Majesties, pulled their whistles and foghorns open and left them there. A 21-gun salute was fired by the Fort guns, and another by the Warrington as the King and Queen stepped. aboard. Anxious to see New York’s skyline, Their Majesties remained on deck below the bridge, where cushioned wicker chairs had been placed. An airship and an escorting squadron of bombers circled overhead and two ferries loaded with Britons, singing “God Save the King” and a multitude of small craft supplemented the official escort of coastguard vessels. There was a heavy heat haze over the harbour, and no sign of the shore line when the Statue of Liberty suddenly loomed up, and then the Majestic skyline of Lower Manhattan vaguely began to take fii’m impxession. As the destroyer approached the Battery, it was almost as if a pair of binoculars was gradually being focussed. The guns of Fort Jay fired a ' salute as the destroyer was sighted.

RED CARPET ON PIER

Their Majesties disembarked shortly before noon, and walked along a red carpet laid the length of the pier. The Mayor of New York, Mr F. H. La Guardia, and Mr H. H. Lehman, Governor of New York State, officially welcomed them, after which the police band played “God Save the King” and “The Star Spangled Banner.” The British Ambassador, Sir Ronald Lindsay, then joined the party. Ticker tape and scraps of confetti began to float from the windows of adjoining buildings as Their Majesties entered an open car with bullet-proof glass.

Two car-loads of high police officials led the procession. Everywhere along the route thousands jammed the sidewalks, roof tops, windows and every available vantage point.

The Queen wore a powder blue frock and blue hat tilted to the right, long white gloves and suede slippers. The King was in formal morning dress and carried a grey top-hat. Both looked very tired. The King’s fatigue was the more noticeable.

TICKER TAPE AND CONFETTI. All the available policemen —over 13,000 in all —aided by firemen and war veterans were taxed to the utmost to restrain the crowds estimated to total 3,500,000, They were not disorderly, but just interested and curious, and kept-trying to press closer to get a better view. The parade avoided Broadway, which is New York’s traditional route, due to the danger of something heavy dropping from the high buildings, -but there was plenty of ticker tape and confetti just the same. In fact, officials said it was a greater welcome than that accorded Colonel Lindbergh, New York’s previous “high spot.” KING’S GRACIOUS GESTURE. The speed of the procession was reduced to 10 miles an hour, at the suggestion of the King, to give the crowds a better view. This threw all the subsequent proceedings nearly an hour behind schedule. Their Majesties arrived at the World’s Fair, where other thousands waited, soon after noon. They were welcomed by Mr Grover Whalen, the director, and drove through the streets of the Fair, being given an ovation throughout. After having lunch at the Federal Building, Their Majesties visited the British Empire pavilions, and then motored to Hyde Park, finding unforeseen crowds lining the roads, at times in ranks 20 or more deep. Gentle rain was falling when the Royal visitors arrived at Mr and Mrs Roosevelt’s country home, in contrast to the intense heat of New York. As the Queen alighted from the car, Mrs Roosevelt said: “My dear, you must be tired.”

present in the pavilion, and Miss Margaret MacGregor and Mr and Mrs Bulcock were presented to Their Majesties.

Their Majesties were in the pavilion for seven minutes. They posed for a picture against the background of a huge map of Australia.