PAGEANTRY AT WEMBLEY.

Press, Volume LXI, Issue 18420, 29 June 1925, Page 11

PAGEANTRY AT WEMBLEY.

ROYAL OPENING CEREMONY. THE PEOPLE'S WELCOME. (FKOU OUH OVW COJ!RESrO>'3EST.) LONDON. May It. Xo one over wearies oi" a lloyal-cum-.Militai y spectacle. The.s.e things are carried out to perfection- in England, and pen pie from overseas who were in the Stadium for the-opening ceremony oi tlic new "Weni'ilcy —many of ihem witnessing something unknown to them—were thrilled by the interest and beauty of the ever-changing scene. The same thrills of pride passed through everyone present, for none can ever grow blase of these great Imperial occasions of pomp and circumstance, even though the element of novelty is .missing. The weather conditions were favourable early, and by 11 a.m. every seat in the vast Stadium was taken. The massed bands of the Brigade of Guards were in the centre of the arena, brilliant in scarlet on a lovely green sward. Away in tho south stands were the massed choirs of St. George's Chapel. "Windsor, "Westminster Abbey. St.. Paul's,,, and S'outhwark Cathedral, vivid in piuj; white surrounding the Band of the Kcyal Military .School of Music and a ilo?.e)i cornet players, who kept up conslant responses' to the rolling music of the military hands below. Precisely at II.W the band of the Scots Guards entered the 11 ova I tunnel and manoeuvred round the ground to the. 11 ova I stand, which was ablaze in scarlet, gold and purple. The Duko of York, as president, of the Prohibition, was the first to take u-o his position on the dais, to the strains of the hagpipes'and tho. excited shouts of the people who constantly rose en masse and cheered. L'n fortunately, tho Duchess was not able to bo present, suffering from her throat. In noon sunshine the scene was magnilieont. The flower of British nobility, reinforced by the heads of the Army,' Navy and Air Force, in full uniform, filled tho Stadium, and as the sound of. the artillery salute signalled tho arrival of tho King, tits cheering became deafening.

The Royal-box was filled with members of the Diplomatic Corps. The .Viceroy of India and the Countess of Reading wqvo present, together with a party of Indian' Princes, including the Maharajah of Jcdhpur and his brother, tbo Maharajah Ajib Singh. The Services wore strongly represented, among those who attended being Earl Beatty, with Countess Bentty, Ea.rl Jellicoe, Earl Haig, and Lady Haig, Sir "William Birdwood, Sir William Thwaitcs, Sir - John and Lady HanburyWilliams,' Sir William Horwood, and Lary Horwood, Sir William Furse and Lady Furse, arid Sir W. F. Nicholson. Most of the mon were in leveo dross or full military uniform, with plumes and much gold lace. The wonderful stage was set. Everything was in perfect order, as it always is on these ceremonial" occasions. Nine aeroplanes patrolled the surrounding slcies. Accompanied by the mounted escort and heralded by a. fanfare of trumpets and the leaping of the whole assemblage to its feet the Roval Coach with six bays, postillions, and escort of Life Guards, immediately preceded by two carriages with the Royal staff, turned into the Stadium. The Queen was wearinrr a lovely cloak of powder blue, with a feathered toque to match. It instantly became the mosb conspicuous colour in the vast oval. The King in Naval Uniform. : As the King and Queen drove- round the Stadium to the Royal dais, at one end, the cheering was thunderous, as block by block was reached, and each block in turn became a flutter of white handkerchiefs. The Queen seemed to take particular notice of the surpliced boys of the massed choirs, ivho looked a solid block, of white from the far side of the arena. It Avas manifest that the Knig and Queen alike were delighted . with their reception, .and they showed their pleasure b.y bowing continuously during their progress to the Royal dais, which was banked with flowers and carpeted in scarlet. Gilt pillars supported the rooF, from which were purple hangings. In the centre were two gilt thrones for the King and Queen, flanked bv gilt chairs for members- of tho : suite. Officers of the fighting Services in full dress uniform distributed souvenir programmes to the distinguished visitors. All. around the top of the Stadium, young sentinels stood by the hare flag-. :staffs waiting for the areat nromenb of the breaking of the Union Jack.; Dominion, and Colonial flags, which took nlace when the King opened the Exhibition.

Lesson of Empire. In the centre of the dais was the broadcasting apparatus draped with scarlet and white. and most people seemed to have heard very well the addresses of the King and the Duke of York. The benefits which flowed to the Empire from' the holding of this Exhibition in 1924 were so marked that it was decided, after mature consideration, to continue it for a second year, said the new president, fn his address asking his IJoyal father to declare the Exhibition open. "Wo felt that the work of education which the Exhibition represented could usefully be during a second season, and with your sanction. and that of tho Governments of the Empire, and with tho generous aid of the. guarantors, who renewed t-'.'e credits they-had provided for tho 1924 occasion, it was decided to continue that work in l-9'20. The Exhibition which you see set out before you has integrally the same purpose as in 1924 —to show how. great are the resources available within tho Empire: but whilst the Exhibition thus maintains the same character, it will present its lesson of Empire in a new manner. Careful thought andendurinc: energy have been dei-oted to the problem of fashioning f.-ur display so that it will imuress not only the fresh observer but tbo.se who were familiar with the Exhibition of 1924, as beinn; full of novel interest."

Knowledge and More Knowledge. ; The King, when reading his address, wore horn-rimmed spectacles. In his strong voice." he agreed that the task undertaken by tho Exhibition 'was too important to leave uncompleted when, at the close of the 19:24 season, it became apparent that much useful work yet remained to be done. '"The Council of the Exhibition teok a wise and patriotic step in deciding: to keep in being for another year what you have rightly described as a Univcrr sity of Empire. The British Empire depends for its security and prosperity on . goodwill between its constituent peoples, and the one sure foundation for that goodwill is a full knowledge of our mutual aspirations, capacities i nd needs. To seolc knowledge, mora knowledge,, and again more knowledge of the great heritage which has been entrusted to us is the soundest imperial policy. I recognise the British Empire Exhibition as a successful instrument of that policy, and I trust that- its achievements in 192-j will equal, if they do not surpass, those of 1924. . . I trust that when in November thisExr hibiton closes, it will haye completed the work so well begun in 1924; and will have shown to our peoples and to the- world at large a picture of tho British Empire, intent on aims of peaceful reconstruction and of careful development of its resources; earnestly

seeking peaco both at. homo and abroad.''

The King's Signal. An Empire Collect was said by the ■ Bisho D of .London, followed by the Lord's Praver. The massed choirs then sane; "Fight the Coed Fight.'.' Sir 'Tra.'vers Clarke next stepped forward and saluted and the King by .pressing a button gave the signal for the iornial ■opening or "the Exhibition. Simultaneously the Union Jack and , the Dominion and Colonial flags were lirokfß on the Stadium walls.,.'over the palaces and pavilions, and throughout the grounds. A salute of 2.1 ; guns followed. The, echo of the artillery had „xlbt died away when a squadron of aeroplanes swooped over the Stadium in salute to the Kino;. Ladv Anne Cavendish, daughter of the Duke of 'Devon-; r.hire, presented to .the 'Queen, a bouquet of orchids. , ... It was at this point that.the ram, which hitherto had been but slight, became really heavy for- a few minutes, but there remained that rock-liko 'indifference of officers and men on parade.. The massed bands plaved'a slow and a quick troop, and of all the evolutions of troops on .parado that counter marching, of the Guards, in lines perfectly dressed, and with a sense of time and balance superbly acute, is still surely ■•■. as; remarkable a performance as one might wish to see. .It was cheered and cheered again. The gathering wasma.de to represent every phase of our national life Round about the dais were uniformed men ana - of .the • Canadian Police, iu their scarlet jackets, dark breeches and Stetson hats, ; paraded to the north ; dark-skinned representatives of Africa and India-were stationed to the south; and on the ' enter flanks of both stood nurses from the Regular and Territorial Armies, fcovs from the Royal Hospital and Duke of York's Schools, scarlet-clad veterans from Chelsea, Army nurses, Boy Scouts. Sea-Scouts, Girl. Guides. Toward the close there came a procession of men and woir.cn that stretched from one end of the Stadium to the other. We see these people every day' of the week, and' scarcely spare them a thought. First came the policemen, mounted and afoot;.the.machines and. men of the London Fire Brigade, the men and women of the Order, of St. John of Jerusalem: the British Red' Cross' Society ; the College of Nursing, and the Royal British Nursing Association: the men of the railways, the General Post Office/ and the mercantile marine. Against the bright uniform of the Guards their workaday dress contrasted oddlv; hub they reminded all who saw them that, if the Empire lias been won and must be..defended, by arms, it eau only be kept by work.

A Graceful Act. Finally, occurred one oi' those little incidents which make all the difference between complete, success and something just a Little short of it. As the' Jloyal landau drove up for the King's departure it was noticed that the -hou'd was closed, for the rain " had been heavy. By his Majesty's command it was lowera-d, and the delight of tho crowd found.expression in a whirlwind of cheers that persisted until the last trooper of the glittering escort had l'/issed from sight. The. sun came out as the order was given, and the King and Queen drove away amid cheers, j(lore enthusiastic. if possible, than those which welcomed their arrival. Piccolieciions of that- opening ceremony will revive many wonderful memories—hut foremost el' all will be tho remembrance of '"the voice of the people. - ' speaking from the people's great heart. The High Commissioner for New Zealand was not present. be ; ng on his way to Gallipoli, but Ladv Alien was there, and a great concourse of XowZeaianders, over 200 of whom obtained their cards of a-dmis-ion from the Hitch Commissioner's Office. Lady .Allen subsequently -entertained' some friends to luncheon at the New Zealand pavilion, her guests consisting chiefly of members cf her working "bee." accompanied bv their husbands: Lady Myers, Mr and Mrs A. F. Koberts. Mrs McXaughton Christie. Dr.. Christie. Miss D. Christie. Miss Pen-in. Mrs AV. IT. Cruickshaiik. Mim TL T. B. Drew. Mr Drew, Mrs B. Mvers. Colonel Mvers. Mrs H. L. Friend Mr Friend, Mrs Low. Dr. Low. Mrs ?ale, Mrs J. Sale. Miss Lola Mvers. Miss O'Brien. Miss N. Bloxham. Mrs C. J. Wray; Mr Wray. Mhs Stelia Murray. Millions of Listeners in Many Lands. The transmission .of the _ opening ceremony bv wireless was a triumph in broadcasting. The King's speech was distinctly heard, and shortly after the conclusion of the proceedings in the •Stadium reporTs were received in London from many parts cf the British Isles showing that the transmission had l>?en highly successful. Ir. addition to the millions of listeners in Great Britain there were millions on tho Continent who heard tho King's speech, which was picked up and rebroadepst from stations in different pails of Europe. ;