The King Desires Duke's Funeral to Be at Windsor

Taranaki Daily News, 29 August 1942, Page 4

The King Desires Duke's Funeral to Be at Windsor

British Official Wireless.

Rec. 7.45 p.m. Rugby, Aug. 27. The King has expressed a definite wish that the funeral of the Duke of Kent shall take place in St. George's Chapel, Windsor. The Duke's body is being brought down from Scotland to-day. The King is deciding the final details of the burial. The Queen visited the Duchess of Kent to-day at her home in Buckinghamshire and had a long talk with her. A messase from Nassau says that the Duke of Windsor is not going to England to attend the Duke of Kent's funeral. He and the Duchess will attend a memorial service in Nassau on Sunday. The Duke of Abercorn, Governor of Northern Ireland, has sent a message to the King expressing the heartfelt sympathy of the people of Northern Ireland, stating that the late Duke's visits_ to Northern Ireland had been an inspiration to all there and had left happy memories behind. The Governor also sent messages to the Duchess and Queen Mary. The Rt. Hon. J. M. Andrew, Prime Minister of Northern Ireland. referred in Parliament to the Duke's death and said his visits to Ireland had set an example of service and self-sacrifice never to be forgotten. The Army Council, in messages of sympathy to the King. the Duchess of Kent and Queen Mary, stated: "The council Igratefully recalls the keen interest alv/ays displayed by the Duke of Kent in all aspects of the activities and welfare of the army. in which he held the rank of major-general and of two of whose regiments he was colonel-in-chief. All ranks of the army mourn the loss _ of one who set a fine example of devotion to duty and who has given his life while serving his country." "The high sense of duty and devotion to arduous responsibilities" of the Duke are recalled by General Smuts in a message to the King. In Britain, General Sikorski and M. Jovanovitch are among those who expressed their sympathy. General Sikorski recalled that the Duke was to have visited the Polish armed forces on September 8. M. Jovanovitch went to Buckingham Palace to offer the condolences of the Yugoslav GovernBient. The Times points out that the ordinary rules of succession apply to the dukedom, meaning that Prince Edward succeeds as the second Duke of Kent.