Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954), Tuesday 22 November 1938, page 11


DEATH OF QUEEN

MAUD.

Nurse the Only

Witness.

WORK FOR NORWAY.

LONDON, Nov. 21.

Queen Maud's death, which occurred on the same date as that of her mother, Queen Alexandra, who died 13 years ago, was so sudden that King Haakon,

who was staying at Buckingham Palace, was unable to reach her bedside before she died.

King Haakon had left Queen Maud at a late hour after wishing her good-night.

Doctors who were summoned by the only witness the nurse could only certify death A communiqué issued bv the doctors says that during the hours before midnight the distresses incidental to the abdominal operation had diminished and a disturbed day had given place to restfulness.

Quern Maud's body will be taken to Norway on a British warship.

The congregation at the morning service at the Norwegian Church at Rotherhithe stood

up to listen to the following message from King Haakon: "God has taken the Queen from me this night. It Is a heavy loss, though I well know is His will. He has taken her because her work on earth is finished and He has, I know spared her thus much

suffering."

The assistant pastor, the Rev I Dahle, said

that the Queen's many acts of generosity and kindness were known only to a few because they were performed unostentatiously.

KING GEORGE HEARS THE NEWS

King George heard the news at the village of Saint Paul's, Waldenbury, and spoke to King Haakon in London by telephone. After-wards their Majesties went to church, the Queen in black and the King wearing a black tie. During the service a robin redbreast

which was flying round the church perched on the edge or the pew in front or their Majesties. They exchanged glances and

smiled.

Their Majesties arrived at Buckingham Palace in the evening, instead of staying at Windsor, as they had planned. His Majesty later commanded that court mourning be observed until December 18.

After talking with their Majesties, King Haakon visited Queen Mary, the Queen

Mother.

SORROW IN NORWAY

OSLO Nov 21

The news of the Queen's death caused sorrow throughout the country. Newspapers were permitted to break the ban on Sunday publication to announce the news. Crowds

gathered in front of the Royal Palace, gazing

silently at the Royal Banner, which was flying at half-mast.

King Haakon sent the following message to the Bishop of Oslo: "The Queen has passed away. It is well to know that she is free from any more pain."

The Crown Prince, Prince Olav, Queen Maud's only child, has left for London.

The Prime Minister of Norway (Mr. Nygaardsvold), in a national broadcast, said:

"The memory of our good Queen will remain always in the hearts of the Norwegian

people."

The "Aftenposten" says that the Queen went to Norway unfamiliar either with the people or customs, and had many difficulties to encounter, chiefly in connection with the education of her two-year-old son, now Prince

Olav. She had to make him think and feel as a Norwegian, to fit him to succeed to the Throne. Her task was made more difficult,

as she was British and her husband Danish.

The newspaper adds that the entire nation acknowledges that the task was excellently handled. The Queen had a strong personality,

with an outspoken sense of justice. One of her oldest ladies-in-waiting said that the Queen was never "snobbish or afraid, and never forgot a friend in need."