THE DUCHESS MOBBED

Hokitika Guardian, 14 June 1929, Page 2

THE DUCHESS MOBBED

CHILDREN’S GARDEN PARTY LONDON, May 27. The Duchess of York was so tumultuously received by 6500 Edinburgh school children whom she had invited to a garden party at Holyrood l’alace that she was forced to run for safety. The Duchess gave explicit instructions that the children should have the utmost freedom, and even be permitted to do somersaults on the lawn if mey wished. Tlieir behaviour was at first most restrained, and they formed in sections to receive refreshments, yielding to the marshaling of a detachment of Edinburgh high constables, a picked body of business men assisting at such functions. When the Duke and Duchess of York appeared the children abandoned themselves wholeheartedly to tlieir hero worship, broke tlieir ranks and dashed across the lawn, chased by tlieir teachers and the morning-coated high constables.

The Duchess was immediately swallowed up in the huge crowd, and the ladies’ siiite was also lost. The court officials were frantic. The Duke and Duchess temporarily escaped by climbing the wall surrounding the garden, but the children rushed on. sweeping away the band of the Scots Grey’s and the kilted Cameron pipers. They clambered over the rock garden in an effort to follow the Royal pair, but officials finally forced a path through the cheering mass, along which the Duchess ran, smiling and waving her hand. She dived in the palace door as the young loyalists over-came the escort.