QUEEN ALEXANDRA.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1739, 2 May 1913, Page 2

QUEEN ALEXANDRA.

A F] h'TIETII ANNIVJiIiSARY. Queen Alexandra celebrated informally mi I'Viday last, March 7, tho HUdi niiniversiry of her arrival in London on March 7, IHliil, writ™ tlio English correspondent of the Sydney "Telegraph." Tlio King and other members of tlio Royal I'nmily visited her Majesty during the day, and sho received many gifts of (lower* and a largo number of messages nf congratulation from relatives nnd friends, from public bodies, aud from charitable institutions in which sho has interested herself. Home letters also reached Qncon Alexandra from persons in humble circumstances who in various ways have had practical experience of her kindness and sympathy. Queen Alexandra received at Marlborough Jlouso diiring (ho afternoon a deputation from the City Corporation, beaded by tlio Loixl Mayor, who presented to her Majesty an address of congratulation in n gold box. Queen Alexandra, with whom was rrincess Victoria, received tho deputation in tlio morningroom at tlio Palace, where a mi rubor nf members of her household wcro in attendance, Her Majesty, who was in mourning, woro the diamond liccklaco which tho corporation, presented to her on her marriage in 1803. Tho Recorder rend tho city's address. Tho Lord Mayor, who was presented by Lord Howe, her Majesty's Lord Chamberlain, handed tho address to Queen Alexandra, who appeared deoply touched by its terms. Her Majesty (says "Tho Times") gave a. reply in her" own handwriting to the Lord Mayor, and requested him to communicate it to the corporation. It wtia as follows

"t thank you from the depth of ft grateful heart for tho vory kind address presented to me by tho City of London. I appreciate every word of it, and cannot express how; deeply toadied X am by the kind thoughts of mo on tho 50th anniversary of my arrival in England—in tho 'country where I found my second and beloved home. I shall never forget ,tho welcome you gave mo then, nor the invariable kindness and affection shown mo by high and low over since, which I pray to God I may never forfeit. ' "You may be assured that I have , always taken the greatest share and interest in tho welfare and prospcrity of our boloved country. Tho fifty ■years spent here among you havo ' brought me the greatest happiness, but, alas! also tho heaviest of sorrows in the death of my Moved husband and tho loss of my precious eldest son—sorrows which tho . whole nation shared with mo and by their sympathy helped. me to bear! "It is a happiness to me to feel that , by this address yon are also showing your loyalty and affection to my very "dear son, on whom I prav that every blessing may .ever and always rest. "ALEXANDRA." The Lord Mayor then presented the members of tho deputation to Queen Alexandra, who, after shaking hands with each, took them into tho.drawingroom to seo the beautiful flowers sent her by her family and friends in honour of the anniversary, and conversed with the deputation, several of whoin, including the Lord Mayor, told her Majesty that tliev witnessed her entry into tho city fifty years ago. Tho deputation then retired. , . , Queen Alexandra also received, among other messages, an address of congratulation from the Corporation of Margate, which was tho first jniblic. body to welcomo her on her arrival in. England m 18G3, and another from the AlexandraHomes at Margate. Tho Mayor of Windsor, sent to Queen Alexandra a telegram tendering her Majesty the congratulations of tho burgesses "on tho jubilee of her first, visit to the borough. Lord George Pratt, of field, Carried the colours in the guard of honour of the 2nd Battalion Grenadier Gufirds, 'which was mounted at Paddington Station when the Prince of Waleci and Princess Alexandra left tor Windsor. He is the only officer living who accompanied tho guard of honour. Mr. A. E. Cresswell'and Miss M. Cresswell, of Nelson, leave for Sydney to-day, to join 'the Seydlitz, which leaves for Southampton vi May 15; ' Misses W. and M. Grace, of 'tlie vicarage, Blenheim, are to loavo Wellington for Sydnoy to-day, to connect with tho Orient liner Orsova for London. Miss Cook, of Petone West School teaching staff, who has received a promotion ! to Brooklyn School, was made the recipient of a writing portfolio, from the teachers and scholars this week. Mr. P. A. Holdsworth, chief postmaster at Auckland, was married on Wednesday to Miss E. Beehan, daughter of tho Hon. W. Beehan.—Press Association*