THEIR MAJESTIES HOME AGAIN

Wairarapa Times-Age, 23 June 1939, Page 6

THEIR MAJESTIES HOME AGAIN

Tumultuous Welcome in Southampton and London

LAST STAGE OF VOYAGE IN FOG

HOME FLEET ORDERED BACK TO PORT

PRINCESSES REACH LINER IN DESTROYER

By Telegraph—Press Association.- -Copyright. (Received This Day, 11.50 a.m.) LONDON June 22. Fo<>’ forced the Empress of Britain to slow down to twehe knots while their Majesties were breakfasting. The weather continuing bleak, the King finally regretfully sent a message to Admiral Sir Charles Forbes, aboard the battleship Nelson, cancelling the Home Fleet’s reception, whereupon thirty-one ships which had gone out. in order to escort the Royal liner returned to Portland and Weymouth without sighting- the Empress of Britain. . Sir Charles Forbes wirelessed to their Majesties the Home Fleet’s congratulations on their safe return and regret that the weather had prevented the welcome it had hoped to give them. Meanwhile, the Princesses Elizabeth and Margaret Rose, on their arrival at Portsmouth, wore piped aboard the destroy ei Kempenfelt in naval fashion and transferred to the Empress of Britain at 12.20 p.m. They joined their Majesties on the bridge, and, after affectionate embraces, acknowledged cheers from the Kempenfelt. The liner proceeded slowly up the Solent, escorted by four destroyers, with seaplanes flying overhead. The shore of the Isle of Wight was crowded with a waving and cheering throng as the dim outline of the liner was discerned. Queen Mary, the Duke and Duchess of Kent, the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester, the Earl of Harewood and the Princess Royal arrived at Southampton by train to find the town jammed with excited thousands who had been waiting since.dawn and struggling along the approach 1o the waterfront and the twomile route along which their Majesties would be driving to the station. The town had declared a genera] holiday and the Solent was alive with every description of craft intending, to join in the escort to the port. As the Empress of Britain neared Southampton, the King invested Commander Sapsworth, Surgeon-Captain Maxwell and. Paymaster Ricco with the C.V.0., and Lieutenant-Commander Dawnay with the M.V.C). His Majesty gave personal gifts to the ship’s officers. The liner berthed eleven minutes early. The first aboard was Queen Mary, escorted by the Duke of Gloucester. Then came the rest of the Royalties. Their Majesties themselves were a picture of health. They first embraced Queen Mary and eagerly inquired if she had recovered from her accident. Every siren blared mingling with the incessant cheering of the crowds, as the King, in the undress uniform of an Admiral of the Fleet, ' descended the gangway, followed by other Royalties. The procession to the Palace was a splendid climax to the triumphal return. Enormous crowds cheered the arrival of their Majesties at Waterloo and further multitudes lined the route, giving a tumultuous welcome. Their Majesties reached the Palace at 6 p.m.