AMBASSADORIAL MISSION

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 16234, 7 January 1927, Page 8

AMBASSADORIAL MISSION

DUKE AND DUOHESS LEAVE U.K.

GIGANTIC CROWD'S FAREWELL

IMPRESSIVE IMCTCRI

(Elec. To!. Copyright—United Press Assn.) (Australian and N.Z, Cable Association. (Received January 7, 1 p.m.)

LONDON, January 6

Nearly 500,000 people gathered oil the shores ot Portsmouth as the pale grey Renown, spotless and gleaming, bearing the Duke, and Duchess of York on their ambassadorial mission ot vital interest, to Australia and New Zealand moved oil' on her voyage. Though Portsmouth is accustomed: to naval ceremony, mate in recent years has occasioned greater interest and none h:is brought such a gigantic crowd from throughout England. , When the Royal special reached the viaduct after Condon's triumphant farewell a mightv roar went up. The Duke ami Duchess'of York, looking from the carriage window, were obviously delighted, particularly the Duchess, who was smiling continuously. When they drew up alongside 11..M.5. Renown, gleaming like a silver ship, 2000 relatives of the officers and crew in privileged plac'es cheered for fully five minutes.

From the train the Royal couple stepped to the centre of an impressive picture on the quarterdeck. Royal marines formed a. guard of honor, with a hand all dazzling in full dress uniform. The decks, gnu I arrets and bridge were hoed wit]) sailors eagerly awaiting the signal In cheer. When it was given a prolonged mightv roar swept round the cruiser and. echoed and re-echoed from stem In .stern. It was then taken up by the civilians, and everywhere could be heard far and near, growing in volume tun il it nas deafening. Standing at rigid attention on ihe crimson colored gnngniiv were Captain .Sullivan and the (.Hirers' of lI'.M.S. Renown in full dress. Two naval bauds on the jetty struck up "The Girl 1. Left. Behind Me," while everywhere ill the harbor men-o'-war fully dressed constituted a magnificent pageantry, which only England is capable of providing. Amidst this spectacle the Royal couple held a brief conversation with distinguished military and naval officers. The Duke walked towards the gangway.. closely followed by the Duchess and the. fume of Wales, and other Royalties.

The instant the Duke stepped on the deck his .standard was hoisted, i.lje bugles rang out, the guard of honor presented arms, and the Royal salute was given, while 21 guns thundered out iron, the assembled warships. With hand to cap the Duke stood in acknowledgment. At the close he extended his hand to Captain Sullivan, as did the Duchess, after which Captain Sullivan presented the officers of the ship. Thereupon Captain Sullivan conducted the Duke and Duchess of Yoik to the Royal apartments, accompanied by tiie Prince of Wales, Prince George, and Prince Henry, and there the final leavetaking wtis observed. Precisely at 1.30 p.m. the Renown Hew the .signal usual on such occasions, "May we part company'.'" the Comman-der-in-Chief signalling "Vis." whereupon the Renown gracefully moved off to renewed salutes and cheers from e-.'h warship as it passed. The Duke and Duchess of York stood outside their apartment waving farewell. Ahead steamed the destroyers Vancouver and V'ortigern. Outside, the destroyers Warwick ami Velox joined the party until sundown, when they signalled "Goodbye; Cod speed.'' and returned to the oase. HUMAN EMOTIONS' TRIUMPH

The ceremony at Porstrnoulh was almost equalled in London, where human emotions hod a sweeping triumph over the! barq formality with which'it designed Ihe departure from Victoria Station should be invested. There was no guard of honor, nor ttie pomp and pagentry usually associated with such an historic event, hut. the crowd was determined to give a background to such an impressive occasion, and grew so rapidly that the vast concourse spread from Buckingham Palace to Victoria Station.

Most of the Duchess' intimate friends performed their leave taking at Brunton Street yesterday, but the few who came this morning quickly realised how keenly the Duchess felt leaving her baby behind. The Duchess was every spare minute in and out of the nursery fondling Princess Elizabeth till the summons came at, 10.35 a.m. that the ear was awaiting. The Duchess lingered for a last hug of the infant and then laid her down with a kiss and whispered: "God bless my baby." Duly one close elderly friend witnessed the touching parting.

Thereafter the Duke and Duchess sped in a limousine to Victoria Station, the Duchess throwing a hist kiss to the Princess in the nurse's arms at the draw-ing-room window. En route there were incessant bursts of thrill greetings from women and girls, while Mayfair society leaders stood on balconies and landing waving farewells. Specially cordial as the car entered the station was a starling which alighted on the roof, the onlookers acclaiming the incident as the happiest omen.

NO PAGEANTRY

The Duke wore naval uniform and the Duchess a costume of dove grey, with hat to match, and a big posy of violets in her coat. Except for tho crimson carpet and a few ferns and chrysanthemums there was no attempt at decoration. Indeed, the whole ceremony was purposely shorn of any touch of pageantry. In the enclosure were Mr. S. M. Baldwin, the Lord Mayor and the Lady Mayoress, Sir Joseph.and Lady Co( k, Sir James l'arr, Earl P.eatty, Karl of Clarendon, Mr. W. OnnsbyGore, and Mr. W. C, Hridgoman, and they were soon joined by Lord and Lady Strathmore, Prince Arthur of Con naught and the Princesses Helena ami Marie Louise,

Their Majesties drove up at 10.50 a.m. and the farewells were instantly begun, the Duke and Duchess passing round a semi-circlo of friends hand' shaking. The Duchess presented a wistful girlish figure. Tier friends held her hand, each uttering a warm farewell. Once when her hand was free if was seen to be holding a tiny handkerchief which found, its way to her cheeks as if to chase away a vagrant speck of dust, and then was furtively brushed across her eyes. The company saw and understood. Tie u came a quiet and impressive parting with Their Majesties and the Karl of Strathmore. The Duke of York had a few minutes' conservation with Sir Joseph Cook and Sir James Pnrr, and fold each how eagerly lie was looking forward to the visits. lie Maid he also hoped that Lady Parr would soon lie convalescent.