AMIR OF AFGHANISTAN

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20355, 12 March 1928, Page 9

AMIR OF AFGHANISTAN

COMING VISIT TO ENGLAND. ORIENTAL MAGNIFICANCE. (Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright.) LONDON, March 10. - (Received March 11, at 5.5 p.m.) When the Amir of Afghanistan and the Queen arrive in London on Thursday, the magnificance of their reception will rival any accorded a ruling monarch by the British nation. The whole kingdom wi'l be thrown open to them. Destroyers will escort .them up the channel amid thunderous salvos from the coastal oattorics. The Prince of Wales will personally greet them at Dover, and on their arrival in London they will be met by King George, Queen Mary, Mr Baldwin, Sir Austen Chamberlain, and representatives of the army, navy, and air force at the rcsplcndentiy decorated station. The Grenadier Guardsmen will form a guaro of honour, and the royal procession will pass through troop-lined streets to Buck ingham Palace. The Guards band, which for weeks have been practising the Afghanistan National .Anthem, will be stationed at points en route. Their 1 majesties will escort the visitors to Buckingham Palace, where they will occupy the Belgian suite—the principal suite at the palace, reserved for visitors of importance. The seven principal apartments are completely shut off have a separate entrance. A wonderful unmatched disnlay of almost priceless _ treasures have been assembled in Oriental magnificance, specially from, Windsor Castle.

The visitors will live at the palace for three days, and for the succeeding 20 days will be guests cf the nation. The special desire of the Government lias been expressed to all responsible that, nothing be loft undone and that everything that British hospitality at its zenith affords shall be extended accordingly. When they leave the palace the party of 50 personages, including the Amir’s sister and her husband, the Queen's father and sister, and personal attendants, will be housed in a suite at CJaridge’s on a scale, on the instructions of the British Government, equal to the royal palace. There will be 12 ex-quisitelv furnished drawing and retention rooms, a lovely boudoir for the Queen, retiring rooms for he ladies of her retinue, in addition to writing rooms. a librarv. and upwards of 50: elegant bedrooms, all soeciallv served with telephones. The whole will be laid in rich Oriental rugs, and will be aglow with Oriental lightings.—A. and N.Z. Cable.