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East End Gives Royal
Couple Great Welcome
LONDON, April 27 (A.A.P.).
Feature of the drive in an open car by the King and Queen
through 22 miles of London streets on Monday afternoon was
the wholehearted- enthusiasm of people in the East End.
Their Majesties set- out from
Buckingham Palace at 3.34
p.m. amid, sunshine and the
roar of waiting thousands for
the 22-mile tour of- London in
an open ear.
The King wore the uniform
of an Admiral of ' the Fleet.
The Queen wore a, blue hat and
; coat. Members - of the palace
staff lined up at the palace
crates to eive their Maiesties a
send-off.
The tour was mainly through
the East End and London's
dockland, and the roads they
travelled included the Mile
End-road, East Indian Dock-
road and Old Kent-road.
Fhtlinsiasm
East. Enders' whole-hearted
enthusiasm caused the Royal
car to, take. two hours to drive
the 22 miles of London streets.
Their car was forced to travel
between 5 and 8 m.p.h., in
stead of the planned 12 m.p.h.
The crowd in its fervent en
thusiasm at some points-broke
through the police cordon and
swamped the road. .
-Police had difficulty in clear
ing the route just outside St.
James's Park and at Peckham,
Islington.
.East End children emerged
from . drab houses and rushed
from bomb site and play
grounds to shriek welcomes
to their Majesties.
Hoxton youngsters pealed a
Royal welcome to the Royal
pair with century-old hand
bells borrowed from Hoxton's
Holy Trinity Church.
Children predominated in
the enthusiastic crowds which
lined Mile End-road two hours
before the Royal : car was due
to appear.
Cloth caps, mufflers and
overalls, predominated at such
places as Camberwell Green.
Many housewives who ' had
spent hours queueing for food
still carried their shopping
baskets as they waved to the
happy Royal couple.
Hundreds of fathers in their
shirt sleeves at Vauxhall-
brldge lifted their children
shoulder high to give them a
view of the smiling Royal hus
band and wife.
Crowds at Vauxhall-bridge
lined the sides right across the
river, just leaving room for the
car, and in Vauxhall-hridge-
road hundreds on each side of
the Royal car waved handker
chiefs and steamers' hats a few
feet from their Majesties.
Genuine costers — a pearly
king and queen in their be
decked costumes — waved
from a shop's balcony fes
tooned with flags in Old
Kent-road.
Their Majesties returned to
Buckingham Palace 24 minutes
late.
Prolonged cheering brought
their Majesties, Princess Eliza
beth and the Duke of Edin
burgh; with Princess Margaret,
on to the floodlit palace bal
cony at 6 p.m.
The crowd's enthusiasm hav
ing upset the official schedule,
their Majesties had to hurry to
the microphone for broadcasts
.within five minutes after
reaching Buckingham Pala r.p..
Police estimated at least .
750,000 persons saw their
Majesties in their triumphal
tour. :
In his broadcast, the King i
said it had been a memorable
day for the Royal family.
"It was an unforgettable'
experience to . realise how
many thousands of people in
the world wished to join in the
thankfulness we feel for 25
years of. supremely happy
life," he said.
"Those years, for all who
lived through -them, have been
full of difficulty and anxiety,
often sorrow," he continued.
"On me, in my endeavor to
fulfil my appointed task,
they laid a heavy burden
which at times would almost
have been too heavy but for
the strength and comfort I
always found In my home.
"I- rind no better way of
showing my gratitude than
wishing you a full share of the
happiness with which I have
been blessed.
"If you are happily married
may you long enjoy life to
gether. If marriage is still be
fore you, may It fulfil all your
brightest hopes."
Faith Undimmcd
The Queen, broadcasting
after the King, said she was
also grateful for 25 years of
happiness with the King.
ISUi 1VU1JU 1J> lUMglUg bU
find the secret of community,
and all married lives are- in a
sense communities in minia
ture. The sanctities of married
life are ill some ways the high
est form of, human fellow
ship.
J 'Looking back over the
past 25 years I realise more
and more the wonderful
sense of security and happi
ness which comes from a
loved home. My heart goes
out to those who, living In
uncongenial surroundings,
arc longing for homes of
their own. I am sure
patience, tolerance and love
will keep their faith un-
dimmcd."
The Queen said their Majes
ties felt the miving service in
St. Paul's was one of dedica
tion, besides thanksgiving, and
they .prayed that by - God's
guidance they might have
many opportunities ' of ' service
towards the lands and-, the ,
peoples they loved , so very ;
much. . i
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