PAPAL RECEPTION

Southland Times, Issue 18938, 11 May 1923, Page 5

PAPAL RECEPTION

KING AND QUEEN'S VISIT BRILLIANT AND PICTURESQUE SCENE (By Telegraph—Press Assn. —Copyright.) (Australian and N.Z. Coble Association.) ROME, May 9. King George and Queen Mary had a private conversation with the Pope at the Vatican, lasting twenty-five minutes. The King wore full dress military uniform and the Queen the regulation black dress and veil which is obligatory for ladies visiting the Pope. Great crowds thronged the routes to see their Majesties in the Papal cars. The whole splendour of the Papal Court was called upon for the ceremonial. At the reception in St. Peter’s Square, two regiments of cavalry rendered military honours. At the entrance to the Palace, the Swiss Guard presented arms. In St. Damascus Court was a company of guards with music and a Papal flag, together with a platoon of gendarmes, who rendered military honours, while the band played the British Anthem. At three o’clock, Cardinals Bisleti Vannutclli and Merry de Vai conveyed to the British Sovereigns, the greetings of the Sacred College. This was quite unprecedented and was not done for the Kaiser.

At the foot of the stairway leading to the Papal apartments, they were welcomed by Prince Ruspole, while at the head of the stairway a large crowd of prelates, who were members of the Pontifical Court surrounded them, forming a brilliant and picturesque gathering. They were preceded by six palfreys flanked by a detachment of Swiss Guards. They proceded to the Clemintine Hall on the threshold of which another group of prelates, officers of the Vatican armed corps joined them. The escort proceeded through the hall, which was lined by guards in red uniform. As the cortege entered the ante room of the Papal apartments, the Pope advanced, unescorted and welcomed the Royal guests, and escorted them to his own private parlour. Subsequently their Majesties were received at Villa Patrizi, a number of English ecclesiastics and representatives of various English philanthropic institutions in Rome. Cardinal Jasparri arrived at the ing the Papal visit and remained to luncheon w’ith the royalites, which other representatives of the Vatican attended, the company numbering twenty. RECEPTION BY BRITISH COLONY ROME, May 9. (Received May 10, 9.15 p.m.) King George and Queen Mary attended a reception arranged by 700 members of the British colony at the Embassy and later a gala performance of the “Barber of Seville” in the Constanzi Theatre.