VANGUARD PLOUGHS THROUGH GALE

Rotorua Morning Post, Issue 5318, 3 February 1947, Page 5

VANGUARD PLOUGHS THROUGH GALE

( Pres * Assn

ROYAL PARTY A'BOARD london's au revoir is enthusiastic

. — Rec. 9. 30 p.m.)

LONDON, Feb. 2. The British battleship Vanguard, on her way to South Africa with the King and Queen and two Princesses, is ploughircg through heavy seas jn a gale. In the afternoon, ttie French battlieshi(p Kichelieu and two destroyers came out of Brest Harbour to salute the King. His Majesty signalled his appreeiation of the gesture. Ratings were still sweeping snow from tlu1 Vanguard until shortly before the Iioyal party was «due. All work: on the dockyard ceased so (],at do.'kyard men and their wives families rould line the route from the waiti gato to the wharf. Early in the afternoon the Royal party trawlled by train from Waterloo Statimi to Portsmouth. Two hours befon* ihe train was due to leave, the Kiny still at his desk husy with State' pap.ers. In the drive to the statiun tlu* King was in the uniform of A.lniira! of the Fleet. He rode with the Qtii'i'ii and the Princesses in the firsl ear. .Memhers of the suite followt'ti in three ears. A hiy ciowd waved and cheered as the car.- passed through the .Palace Rates. The King saluted and the Queen ar i ihe Princesses, who we're smilinii" happily. waved to the crowd. Aluiiir tlie route of the drive windows were liutrr open and staft's cheered. Tht'iv was a large crowd at the statioti. People were standing six and seven feet deep along the barrieades. (ibod-byes on the platform occupied under five minutes. Their Majesties and the Princesses stood in the saloon waving to people who jjave tremendous cheers as the train pulled out. The Queen wore a pale beige eoat with an ostrich feather trimmed hat. Priiu-ess Klizabeth was in a pale blue coat aiui hnt with a veil. Princess Margare: wure pale pink. Queen Mary, the Dal.e of Gloucester and the Princess Royal accompanied the Royal party t» Portsmouth.- On the platform weiv II r. Attlee, the Home Secretary, Mr. .1. C'luiter Sde, Viscount Addison, tliehi he of Wellington, as Lord Lieutenant ,•:* the C'ounty of London, and other piominent people. As darkness t'ell the Royal Standard at the Yanguard's masthead was fliunllit and stood out against the low snow clouds.