BODY LIES IN STATE
Awe-inspiring Pilgrimage NATION MOURNS DEAD KING Solemn Scene In Westminster Hall SORROWING THOUSANDS FILE PAST BIER Elec. Tel. Copyright—United Press Assn.) (Received January 25, 11 a.m.) LONDON, Jan. 24. The body of King George now lies in state in the historic Westminster Hall, where his dead father similarly received the last homage of his people. The coffin, whence the gold, scarlet, and blue folds of the Royal Standard fall over the purple catafalque, stands out on the dais with the dignity of the cenotaph in a pool' of light thrown by four huge candelabra. Eight others direct the rays upward, floodlighting the age-old timbered roof. The remainder of the vast hall lies in shadow.
At the head of the coffin rests a single wreath, Queen Mary's, and in. the centre, scintillates His Majesty's Imperial crown. Below the shrine is the sceptre with the Cullinan diamond and the Royal orb, while the draped foot of the coffin is scarlet, the King's colours of the Grenadier Guards. Six candles of unbleached wax, with great silver candlesticks, burn unwaveringly in the stillness and a silvern, jewelled cross rises above the head of the coffin.
As Big Ben tolled 8 a.m. the great doors of the hall were flung open and a seemingly endless queue of mourners began to move forward, the men removing their hats and the women lowering their heads. The mourners filed three abreast on either side of the great catafalque. It was estimated 6500 passed in the first hour, just a handful of the millions who will make the pilgrimage during the four days. As the morning wore on the queues became so long that ■the rate of movement was speeded up to 250 a minute. By noon over 25,000 people had filed through the hall, yet ,the queue was more than a mile long and was ever increasing. It extended beyond Lambeth Bridge, necessitating a diversion of traffic. Inside the hall the solemn silence only was broken by shuffling feet in awe-inspiring pilgrimage.
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Bibliographic details
Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 18922, 25 January 1936, Page 5
Word Count
338BODY LIES IN STATE Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 18922, 25 January 1936, Page 5
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