The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1884-04-12 00:00:00

THE ARRIVAL AT WINDSOR.

At Windsor soon after twelve o'clock the routeibe-
tween the' South-Western Railway Station and Henry
Irlll.'s Gate was lined by troops and thousands of
spectators, all in mourning. The Berkshire volun-
teers, under the command of Colonel Sir Paul Hunter
and Major Simmonds, drew up in front of the en-
dosure,which leads to the Queen's waiting-room at
the station, and formed a guard of honour. A captain's
escort of the Life Guards was also mounted at the
same place in readiness for the appearance of her
Majesty. Just before the arrival of the Queen addi-
tional decorations of the Royal waiting - room
were made. The platform was covered with black
cloth, and on either side of the doorway through
which the coffin was taken was a collection of choice
flowers —violets, hyacinths, ferns, cinerarias, cle-
matis, &c. Above the outer doorway, which was
draped similarly to the inner one, was a silver
cross on a blue ground, and the monograms I 11.5.
and A.O. The floor of the waiting-room, was like-
wise covered with black cloth. Beyond these indica-
tions of the sad occasion there was none to
be seen in the station itselfe save that the
general public were for the time excluded,
leaving it solely to the use of the mourners. Mr.
Chesman, the station-master, with the aid of Mr.
Hoskisson, superintendent of the railway police, had
charge of the platform arrangements, and they faith-
fully fulfilled the wishes of her Majesty, that as much
privacy as possible should be ensured while the coffin
was being conveyed to the gun-carriage. At the lower
end . of the arrival platform, a party of the Seaforth
Highlanders, or the Duke of Akany's Own, as
they are styled, were assembled as early as half-
past eleven o'clock. Fine stalwart fellows they
attracted -considerable attention. A hundred of
the same regiment wide the Queen's colours and
their drums end fifes NI-reed a guard of honour.
They wore their scarlet jackets faced with white,
but haring only the forage .cap, their bonnets having
been in use for some time, they lost soraething of
their picturesque appearance., which gained for there
eomuch ft.vour when they weee present on another
and very different occasion—the late duke's marriage.
About 600.0 f the Yuot Guards kept the centre of the
roadway clear, and ail spectatore were rapidly con-
fined to the pathway. In place., where there was
fear of pressure the Life Guards were drawn so
that at no time throughout the impressive scene v.:as
there any unpleasant incident. Everything was °cr
ducted in solemn silence and reverent cbservance.
.:-
Just before half-past twelve the Q,-„leen left the
Castle, proceeding by way of the great Quadrangle
and the slope, and "merging b/e the
gatew which i 3
opposite the station. The Lord Chamberlain and
the Lord and Groom in Waiting were in atteadance,
sf,
Her Majesty was accompanied by the Prineess of
Wales, the Princess Christian, the Princess Beatesce,
and attended by the Dowager Marchiones4 of Vy.
the Countess of Moreton, Miss Loeb, the Hon.
Lady Biddulph, and by two Equerries. At thirty-sir
minutes past twelve o'clock the train was sighte3
coming round the curve near the station, and the next 1
instant it was drawn pp alongside the platform. lier

Majesty quickly advanced from the waiting-room,
and affectionately embraced her grandchildren. The
party of Seaforth Highlanders then proceeded to
remove the coffin from the vats, and the melancholy
task was noiselessly performed. The coffin was first
placed (Ton a small wheeled vehicle specially
constructed for the purpose, and then it was
raised to the shoulders of the Highlanders who con-
veyed it through the waiting-room to the gun
carriage. The Princes bared their heads as the
remains were being carried past them. Her Majesty
seemed wonderfully calm. The coffin was covered
with the St. George's ensign, and upon it were placed
the duke's feathered bonnet and sword. The band
of the Seaforth Highlanders, as the illustrious burden
was slowly brought forth from the station, played "The
Flowers of the Forest." A ptocession was then formed,
and slowly moved towards the castle, the massed bands
of the Grenadier, Coldstream, and Scots Guards play-
ing Chopin's funeral marches. Heading the procession
was part of the captain's escort of Life Guards, suc-
ceeded by the massed bands. Then came the coffin,
borne on the gun-carriage. On either side of it walked
the Marquis of Lorne (in Highland costume), Prince
Louis of Battenburg, Prince Albert Victor, the Prince
of Waldeck Pyrmont, the Duke of Cambridge, Prince
Christian, the Duke of Hesse, the Imperial Crown
Prince of Germany, and, immediately behind, the
Prince of Wales, who was in field-marshal uniform.
Then followed the late duke's charger, a handsome
dark bay, with all its trappings, and the Highlanders
who had borne the body, and who were without
arms. A close carriage, drawn by four grey
horses, and containing the Queen, the Princess of
Wales, the Princess Christian, and the Princess
Beatrice, next came, the four ladies in attendance
following in another carriage. On foot and behind
the last carriage, were a number of gentlemen of the
Royal households, headed by the Lord Chamberlain
(the Earl of Kenmare), and including Dr. Royle, the
late Prince's medical attendant, in uniform, and Mr.
Collins, his private secretary. The captain's escort
closed the procession, and the Seaforth Highlanders,
who had formed the guard of honour at the station
under the command of Captain Brooke Hunt and
Lieutenants Barlow and Warrand, fell in and brought
up the rear.
As the cortege ascended the sloping roadway which
leads to the lower ward of the castle, it presented a
grand and solemn spectacle. Every head was un-
covered. There was perfect stillness, and the strains
of the massed bands as they passed beneath the grey
walls of Windsor fell upon the ear with softening
and pathetic effect. Her Majesty continued com-
posed, and once or twice looked from her carriage
upon the sombre and mourning concourse.
By about half-past one the last of the procession
had entered the lower ward. Minute guns were fired
by a battery of the Royal Horse Artillery stationed
in the Long Walk, Windsor Park, while the proces-
sion passed through the streets. The Vice Chamber-
lain (Lord C. Bruce), and the Very Rev. Dean of
Windsor (the Rev. Randall Davidson), awaited the
procession at the entrance to the Memorial Chapel,
and the remains were removed by the party of Sea-
forth Highlanders to the centre of the edifice.
Only the Queen and the immediate relations of the
deceased entered the building, which was draped with
black cloth, relieved by wreaths that had been seut
from all parts of the Continent, conspicuous among
them being a large wreath of violets forwarded by the
Empress Eugenie. A short service having been per-
formed by the Dean of Windsor, her Majesty and the
members of the Royal family drove to the Castle,
the remains resting in the Memorial Chapel until the
funeral.