GEORGE V’S. FUNERAL

Waikato Times, Volume 121, Issue 20265, 6 August 1937, Page 2

GEORGE V’S. FUNERAL

“A ROTTEN STORY.” DUKE OF .WINDSOR’S COMMENTS. GARTER KING OF ARMS EXPLAINS. (Times Air Mall Service.) LONDON, July 1. “ If any distress has been caused to the Duke, I deeply regret it.” This was the reply made last night by Sir Gerald Wollaston, Garter King of Arms, to the Duke of Windsor’s comment, " What a rotten story,” on Sir Gerald’s remarks about the arrangements for the fiuneral of King George V., says the Daily Mirror. Speaking at a dinner of the Lyceum Club on Tuesday, Sir Gerald said that “less time than ever before” was allowed for the funeral arrangements. King Edward insisted, he declared, that the funeral must take place at the end of the week. The first days after the death of King George (on Monday, January 20, 1936), were taken up, Sir Gerald added, with the Proclamation of King Edward, and it was not till the Thursday that arrangements for the funeral could be taken in hand. He thought at the time that they could not possibly do it. It meant day and night work. “ Avoiding Long, Painful Delay." The Duke of Windsor was yesterday quoted by the Evening Standard as authorising the following statement for publication:— “ What a rotten story. “ I came up to London from Sandringham the day after my father’s death to convey the express desire of my mother that the funeral should take place on January 28. She was most anxious to avoid a long and painful delay, like that of two weeks which elapsed between the death and burial of my grandfather, King Edward VII. “ There were about thirty people at an Informal meeting which was held In my dining-room at York House about 5 or 5.30 ,dn : th?, fifyernoon of Tuesday, January 21. ‘‘ I called the meeting in order to discuss the funeral arrangements, and those present represented all the necessary authorities who would be concerned. “ Among those present were representatives of the three Services and of the police, the Earl Marshal, Sir Gerald Wollaston, an-d 1 think, Lord Wigram. 44 My brother, the present King, was also there. “ I told the meeting of my mother’s desire that the funeral should take place on. January 28: '"v j 44 All present, with 'the exception of Sir Gerald Wollaston, agreed that everything oould be arranged for Tuesday, January 28, a week from the day of our meeting. "Had to Speak Bharply.” 44 Since this. da.tA.-anit.ad the convenience of. everyoffß) ;I; had to tell Sir Gerald that ho must expedite his part of the arrangements so that the funeral could take plaoe on that day. “I said, ‘l’m eorry, but If everyone else says It oan be arranged, we must do everything we oan to follow the Queen’s wishes In this matter.’ I had to speak quite sharply to Sir Gerald on the subject. “ The next day I went back to Sandringham. I told my mother, Queen Mary, that I had arranged the matter as she had wished, and she thanked me for what I had done. 44 I know that my mother would confirm the fact that it was her wish that the funeral should take place on that day, and that the King would agree that opposition to the proposal was confined to Sir Gerald Wollaston.” Sir Gerald Wollaston was to have attended the registration centenary banquet at the Connaught Rooms, London, last night, and a place was reserved for him opposite the Duke of Kent, tout he did not appear and his name card was removed from the table. An offlolal said, 44 1 understand that Sir Gerald has found that he will be unable to attend.” He gave an interview, In which he said he had been speaking on art and pageantry at the Lyceum Club, ilescribing his work. Unexpected Complexion. 14 My statements,” he explained, were simply statements of fact. 1 instanced the work which was Involved during the funeral of King George V. An entirely unexpected complexion has been put on my words. “ I said that the funeral had to be done in a short time. That was a statement of fact, and nothing more. Obviously it would be more difficult to do it In a week than in a month. 44 All I said about King George’s funeral was simply Incidental to my general remarks on the nature of my work. “Certainly, In saying what I did I meant no sort of disrespect to the Duke of Windsor. Nothing was further from my mind. Indeed, If any distress has been caused to the Duke I greatly regret It.” Referring to the Duke of Windsor’s statement, Sir Gerald said:— 44 I recollect that the Duke did say something to the effect that it was his mother's wish that the funeral should be concluded in a week, in order to avoid prolonging the distress to the Royal Family.”