The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1893-05-12
ROYAL CEREMONIES.
Queen Victoria officiates at a
Public Event.
THE OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES OPENING

British People Show Their Devotion to
Their 0ueen-How Great Public Func-
tion Is Participated In by Royalty and
the Commoners
LONDON, May 1.-THE British Imperial
institute was opened with brilliant cere-
mony by her majesty Queen Victoria.
me sun sbone brightly. 1t was what the
British call queens weather." The queen
lad~a most hearty reception during the
rue TO the institute, and numerous mill
tary bands stationed with the troops lining
the route played the national anthem.
She bowed necessarily in response to the
cheers of the multitudes who thronged
the route from Buckingham palace to the
institute
AT the institute the Prince of Wales
read an address to her majesty from the
governing body of the British Imperial
institute, thanking her majesty for the
interest which she had shown in the foun-
dation and progress Of the institute. Her
majesty read formal response, in which
she expressed the hope that the work Of
the British Imperial institute would iuure
to the advantage of all the empire.
Key Presented to the Queen.
The building was then declared inaugu-
rated and q splendid master key of elegant
Workmanship was presented to the queen.
The key is made of metals and precious
stones from all parts of the British empire
The face of the handle shows the insignia
of the Order of ST. Michael and ST. George
and the reverse shows the star Of India.
The handle is embcllished with precious
stones and the remainder of the key Ia
gold. This key her majesty inserted in the
beautiful silver model of the imperial in
stitute which was presented to the Prince
anu Princess of Wales upon their silver
wedding day by the citizens of London.
The placing of the key in the model COM
pleted the circuit of an electric signal to
the queens tower of the institute, where a
peal was Immediately rung upon the bells
simultaneously salvos were fired from the
guns of battery of horse artillery drawn
up in Hyde Park. This part of the cere-
mony having been concluded the queen re-
turned to the east colonnade, and entering
her carriage was driven along the imperial
Institute road, the enthusiasm of the peo-
pie being rs strongly marked as ON her
first appearance.
The Future Queen May.
An interesting feature of the parade of
royalty was the part taken by the Princess
Victoria Mary of Teck, otherwise called
the Princess May, the betrothed of Prince
George of Wales. The Duchess of Teck
and the Princess May rode in the same
carriage with the Prince of Wales and the
Duke of York, and the Princess May was
cordially and repeatedly cheered by the
multitudes that throngcd the route The
Princess May was evidently gratified by
the demonstration, and she smiled and
bowed OH every side in response to the APP
plause. When the carriage of the Prince
of Wales reached the imperial institute
Prince George curteously gave his arm to
the Princess May, and escorted her into
the hall This sign of attention OH the
part of the future king to the future queen
evidently greatly pleased the vast throng
of spectators, and storm of applause
greeted the royal couple. Princess May
looked charming in dress of brown silk.
There is some comment, especially in
conservative circles, over the fact that
Prime Minister Gladstone was not among
the distinguished men present at the OPEN
ing by the queen of the British imperial
institute. Mr. Gladstone's wife and daugh-
ter were present but he was conspicuously
absent