FUNERAL OF QUEEN

Taranaki Daily News, 5 September 1935, Page 5

FUNERAL OF QUEEN

1,000,000 DO HONOUR TO ASTRID. SOLEMNITY OF MOURNING. By Telegraph—Press Assn. —Copyright. Brussels, Sept. 3. Despite a drizzling rain after midnight, thousands of men, women and children armed with blankets and macintoshes lined the streets throughout the night over the two and a-half miles from the palace to Laeken for the funeral of Queen Astrid. It is estimated that there were 1,000,000 in the streets when the sun emerged at 9 a.m., and there was a blue sky when the cortege left the palace at 10.20 a.m. to the strains of the Last Post and a salute of 33 guns. The huge funeral car was drawn by eight heavily draped and plumed horses. The coffin lay under a great canopy of black and gold. On the coffin were the Queen’s crown and state robe of crimson and ermine. The procession was headed by cavalry, artillery and infantry ex-servicemen. Immediately behind the coffin walked King Leopold in a general’s uniform, bareheaded, pale-faced, and with his arm in a sling. He walked between Prince Charles of Sweden and the Count of Flanders, and behind them was the Duke of York in an admiral’s uniform, the Crown Princes of Sweden, Denmark and Italy, then members of the Government, diplomats, judges and officials. At the church of Sainte Gudule Cardinal Vanroey, Primate of Belgium, conducted requiem mass. The mourners then entered motor-cars and followed the coffin past the tomb of the Unknown Warrior to the Church of Notre Dame at Laeken, where the body was placed in the Royal vault. On arrival at Laeken the coffin was carried to the crypt, escorted only by King Leopold and the closest relatives. The body of the Queen was laid in its last resting place close to King Albert’s. While other mourners motored to Laeken King Leopold insisted on walking the whole distance behind the coffin. He was completely exhausted when he arrived. Mr. V. C. Duffy represented Australia and Dr. G. Craig represented New Zealand at a requiem mass in Westminster Cathedral.

Flags are flying half-mast over London as a mark of respect for the late Queen Astrid.