SAFELY HOME.

Hokitika Guardian, 28 June 1927, Page 2

SAFELY HOME.

DUKE AND DUCHESS.

ARRIVAL AT PORTSMOUTH. (Australian & N.Z. Cable Association.) LONDON, June 2G. Preparations have been completed for an imposing reception to the Duke and Duchess of York, whose tour is everywhere regarded as having been very successful. The accounts of their popularity in Australia and New Zealand seem to have stirred the public to accord them a welcome befitting their welcome overseas. Officially, the reception will be distinguished by full Royal honours, both naval and military.

The Renown is duo at Spithead at 9.30 o’clock in the morning. The official landing is at 12.2.7 p.m. A special train will convey the Duke and Duchess to London, Teaching Victoria Station at three o’clock in the afternoon. From thence there will’ be a procession through tho City to the Palace.

PRINCESS BETTY. LONDON. June 27. The fourteen months’ old Princess Betty is likely to be the popular heroine of to-day’s homecoming. Public excitement is being fed by a mystery as to the place for her reunion with her mother, which remains Queen Mary’s secret, it is unlikely to lie Victoria Station. The Queen, who as Duchess of York had much experience of separation (rum her children, has planned a more private meeting place. Princess Elizabeth stayed at Strathmore, her Hertfordshire Home', until Saturday, when Nurse Knight brought her to No. 140 Piccadilly. However, many Londoners have decided that Buckingham Palace will he the meeting place, and they are taking up pi’aecs in the streets between the Palace and Piccadilly, for the satisfaction of seeing the baby motoring to her new home at the Duchess’s side. The Queen does not favour the use of diminutive parental names. Princess Elizabeth has been taught to say “ Mother ” anil “ bather. LONDON. June 2/. The Renown berthed at noon at Spithead in heavy rain. The programme was carried out as cabled, the landing being after "'ulday. followed by tho train journey to London.

THE NEWSPAPER AVEI.COME. LONDON. June 20. Newspapers all publish leading articles emphasising the happy results of tlie arduous royal tour, tliey pointing out that it had forged fresh contacts between the Motherland and the distant Dominions. The picture papers are publishing pages devoted to typical scenes in Australia. New Zealand ami other pi’aees where a characteristic welcome was extended. The “Morning Post” states: “ Ihe main object of the tour was that ot dedicating Canberra, where the Australians. with their big way ot doing things, have launched a great experiment bv founding their capital in a wilderness. Canberra is now a royal capital. The Duke and Duchess have, moreover, learnt how to love their hosts, the new British nations on the other side of the world. The “Times” says: “A particularly notable feature of the Duke and Duchess of York’s tour has been the attitude of the Labour Party in Australia and in New Zealand. There, as in this country, the tour was made an excuse at the outset for one or two spasmodic exhibitions of pettifogging criticism, but these murmurs were quickly hushed by the saner voice of the vast majority of the workers.

SUN SHONE ON AKmIVAU. PRINCE OF WALES’ GREETING. LONDON, J*une 27. H.M.S. lie no wll came up the harbour amidst a rainstorm, hut as tlie ship reached the quay, and berthed, the sun came out and the weather remained fine during the welcome. The first family touch to the re-union as the Renown drew to the dock was the Duke of York pointing out to the Duchess, with almost boyish gi'ee, the Prince of Wales and Princes Henry and George. Tlie Duchess waved excitedly and then kept her hand fluttering to the cheering crowd. The Prince of Wales leaped on to the gangway and shook hands, and then clasped the Duchess in an embrace hut Princes George and Henry were less demonstrative and merely shook hands.

The most touching scene came when the Royal party were leaving the ship. The officers, tars and marines began to cheer, their wives ashore joining in till the cheering became an unbroken chorus.

The Duchess, meantime, was walking round the decks and waving lid handkerchief in farewell. On behalf of His Majesty, the Duke of York invested Captain Sullivan with the C'.Y.O. and also conferred many M.V.O.’s on sectional leaders.

ARRIVAL AT LONDON

The Duke and Duchess of York had a tumultuous reception on arrival at Victoria Station, London. Vast crowds lined tlie route to Buckingham Palace.