QUEEN ALEXANDRA'S VISIT TOLISBON.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 12853, 29 April 1905, Page 2 (Supplement)

QUEEN ALEXANDRA'S VISIT TOLISBON.

A GREAT STORM. 'A DISTRESSING AND PERILOUS PASSAGE. [FROM OUR OWN" CORRESPONDENT.] London, March 25. Her Majesty the Queen left this country last Monday week for Portugal, it having been arranged that she, together with Princess Victoria and Prince a/j 3 Princess Charles of Denmark, should pay a friendly visit to the King and Queen of Portugal at Lisbon. It was decided that the journey should be made by sea in the new Royal yacht V ictoria and Albert. Few decisions probably have been more bitterly regretted when too late than this one. Had the Royal party travelled overland from Calais to Lisbon, going at the pace of the present best express, they would have accomplished the journey iu 18 home. As it was, by the morning of Wednesday in this week, ten days after their departure from London, they had not yet reached Lisbon, and during that interval hey had encountered two of the most terrific series of storia-buffetings that ever Royalty has been called upon to endure. Only the first- 80 land-miles of the entire journey had been accomplished, and the Queen and her party had to embark on board the Royal yacht, when they were greeted by the tremendous south-westerly gale which raged during the greater part of last weeka- gale which is historic for its amazing fury and destructiveness. Hapnily they were in shelter in the Portsmouth Harbour, and Her Majesty utilised the three days' detention there by visiting various objects of naval interest, including Nelson's old ship the Victory—special iuterest. attaching to this visit through the present year being the centenary of Trafalgar—and l>y way of contrast on© of the newest submarines.

When at last a start was made the weather was still so stormy and the sea* so rough that a run for shelter had to he made to Portland, where another day's delay was experienced. Even when then the yacht headed for the open sea a very tlying time .was encountered. Crossing the Bay of Biscay in the teeth of such a tempest was no pleasant experience. The yacht at last rounded Cape Finitterre and came abreast of tho harbour ot Vigo; that welcome shelter, too, was promptly sought. A compulsory #tay was made at Vigo until Tuesday night, another fierce gale having sprung up; but by this time the weather ana sea nad so far moderated that it was deemed feasible to main another attempt to reach Lisbon. The Portuguese capital was not finally reached until Wednesday evening, and there is little doubt that Her Majesty and her daughters were uncommonly glad to be safely at their destination after experiences which, in the case of Royalty, are, I should say, without precedent. A Lisbon correspondent writes: — The story of the Queen's voyage from England to these shores makes thrilling reading. Passing Cape Finisterre, the southern point of the Bay of Biscay, a south-west gaiie arose. A tremendous sea was running on Sunday afternoon, and it wa« feared that the Royal yacht with its precious freight would be driven on to the treacherous coast. What anxiety the officers in charge must have experienced is only known to themselves. The Queen and Princess Charles of Denmark showed remarkable courage, and devoted themselves to the comfort of tbs invalid Princess Victoria,, who was naturally in a weak and unnerved condition. For two nights Her Majesty stayed up by the side of her daughter. On Mon day morning the Victoria and Albert was forced to take refuge in Vigo Bay," and there she lay unrecognised until & cruiser entering saluted. In the bay the etorm raged so furiouslv that five attempts on the part of the military authorities to board the yacht were fruitless. The gale increased, tearing away one of the yacht's ladders and smashing a boat of the escort cruiser. Ultimately the yacht was able to proceed. Her Majesty and the Princesses arrived here in lairly good health, only suffering from natural nervousness and the severe rocking they had experienced." THE RECEPTION AT LISBON. Writing on Wednesday, a Lisbon correspondent! says:"Queen Alexandra arrived here amid scenes of thrilling excitement. The Royal yacht, escorted by H.M.s Cornwall, and accompanied by hundreds of steamers and boats, anchored soon after four o'clock amid a tornado of salutes from the warships and the forts. Directly the Victoria and Albert was berthed King Carlos,: accompanied by the Crown Prince, the Duke of Oporto, the Marquis de Soveral, and Ministers of Stale, boarded the Royal yacht, and half an hour later Queen Alexandra, escorted by King Carlos and accompanied by Prince Charles of Denmark, proceeded to two waiting golden galleys that gleamed with splendour even under the hall light of a sullen, overcast sky. These . beautiful State barge 3 were manned by 80 boatmen, in picturesque mediaeval garb of scarlet and gold, and their helmets glistened in the sombre light. In the first sat the Ministers, in the second were King Carlos, with Queen Alexandra and th» Royal Princes of Portugal. On arrival at the magnificent Black Horse Square the King jumped ashore, wreathed in smiles, and, extending his band, helped Her Majesty ashore. The Queen, though slightly pale, wan looking radiant in a becoming costume of lilac."

Our Queen seems to have met with a reception of remarkable heartiness, and, indeed, enthusiasm.. In the square the scene was one of regal opulence and colour. Here, in a sumptuous pavilion, wrought in scarlet and gold, and crowned with a diadem, Queen Amelie and the Queen-mother, surrounded by a brilliant assembly of Court functionaries, awaited the arrival of their illustrious visitor. The Queen-mother descended the steps and embraced Queen Alexandra; Queen Amelia was compelled, by a sprained ankle, to remain in the pavilion. j The scene in the streets of Lisbon when the Royal party proceeded to the palace was one which baffles description. Citizens and visitors from all parts of Portugal thronged the streets, which were one mass of joyous colour. Amid a perfect saturnalia of banners and precious hangings were to be frequently seen such mottoes as " God Save the Queen" and " welcome."