The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-12-11
ROYAL EXILES
 IN ENGLAND Lonely Midnight Arrival at Wood Norton OF PORTUGUESE KING Manuel and Widowed Queen Amelia Reach Their Refuge With Only the Greetings of a Few
 YOkels
 


 mother, the widowed Queen Amelie, en tered upon their exile in England Tn circumstances that cannot fail to touch the, imagination.
 They had landed at Plymouth from the royal yacht Victoria and Albert Just after in the evening and took train at once for Wood Norton. near Evesham, the residence of the Duke of Orleans head of the house of Bourbon and pre- tender. to the French throne.
 It wanted only half an hour of mid night when the royal party reached this home of fallen ambitions. 'Evesham had gone to bed and only a group of yokels was at the station to raise faint hearted cheer
 The loneliness of the scene was in pa- thetic harmony with the royal trag- edy
 Dom Manuel and Queen Amelia trav- eled from Gibraltar to England in the British royal yacht Victoria and Albert, lent them by King George. They reached Plymouth at half past o'clock in the afternoon after a good and un> eventful voyage. As the yacht steamed to the sound she was saluted by the White Star liner Majestic, which had just arrived in Cawsand Bay. There were flags flying on the royal yacht, but she hoisted one specially and dipped it to return the liners sa- lute.
 Arrive at Night
 Darkness was gathering when the Victoria and Albert, lit up from stem to stern with electric lights. dropped an- chor in the sound. No royal salutes flashed out, and the guns of the forts and warships at anchor were impress sively silent. Immediately on the yacht anchoring two naval steam launches glided alongside and Admiral Sir Will mot Fowlkes, naval commander-n- chief,. stepped on board and greeted the king Accompanying him were Lord Annaly Qord-in waiting to the king) Earl Howe Qord chamberlain to Queen Alexandral, the Duke of Orleans, the Duke of Iuynes the Marquis of So- veral, and the Spanish ambassador.
 Just after o'clock the launches re- turned, steaming direct to the Princess Royal pier. where a special train was drawn. Dom Manuel, a careworn, much worried young man in light suit, land ed before his mother. Two other ladies followed. There was no ceremony of any k;nd. and, like any ordinary ocean tray elers. the party passed to the train, which left at 6:35 o'clock Two saloon carriages were occupied by the royal party. Owing to the sharp curves the train was drawn slowly through the dacks by a dock engine, and beyond the ievel crossing the engine was exchanged for a more powerful one for the run to Wood Norton.
 A Gloom Shrouded Arrival
 fl was noticed that immediately the train started the king sat down and be- gan 10 run through pile of correspond- ence placed before him.
 When the train pulled into Evesham station at 11:30 o'clock at night all was gloom. There was no guard of honor. Only sleepy porter or two. a body of detectives and few journalists waited in the darkness of station where a few lights glmmered. Outside the sta tion small group of yokels and a few townsfolk waited courageously after other anxious spectators had retired to rest. The gleaming headlights of three motor cars were conspicuous in the gloom Be- ycnd there was the old High street of Evesham, dim and silent. Yet this arri- val of dethroned king at midnight seemed more impressive more solemn, than if he had come in the sunshine witt curious crowds to stare at hin.
 All was very quiet when the train drew up. There were few words spoken, and those in whispers, when the train halted and a few dark figures stepped
 
 round one door of the train. and then the group divided into two lines, and the dark figures bent their heads, and into the space between them stepped three figures. One was tall, elegant man, the Duke of Orelans, bearing on his arm a woman, tall also but stoopins a little as though very tirod. This was Queen Amelie of Portugal. Alone was a slim, boyish figure in heavy overcoat. The light from station lamp flashed upon his face-upon white face with dark eyes, underneath which were dark lines. They were sorrowfIl eyes, and the face was very serious. This was Dom Manuel of Portugal.
 The Palace in the Darkness
 Both the young king and his mother carried bouquets of lilies of the valley. The royal exiles went quickly into the motor cars and the group of spectators raised a faint cheer, which sounded very hollow in the darkness. King Manuel lifted his hat and Queen Amelie bowed in humble recognition. Ono by one the cars glided away out of the station, put on speed and rushed away.
 The strong white lights of the cars flashederiely over the Worcestershire countryside. Presently they flashed upon the gift scrollwork of the great iron gates of the palace in the darkness of Wood Norton. The gates were flung wide open. The cars went softly up tho drive, and through an open doorway there was flung a sharp sword of yell How light. The cars stopped. A tall fig ure was first to jump down. Again it was the Duke of Orleans. the master of this house. He bent low over the hand of the queen. who is his sister. Slowly. very wearily it seemed. the slim figure of the boy followed them. Together they went into the porch and into the bright radiance of this old English home- stead.
 Beyond this was a little picture, not English, as strange as a dream In these Worcestershire woods. The ser wants of Philippe d'Orleans did hom- age to Manuel, King of Portugal, and the royal house Of the Braganzas, whose flag was now mast-high above the great chimneys and the gables. The doors closed. The great iron gates were swung to. The house of Kings In exile had received It's guests
 The old building, with it's great chimneys and many gables, Is like a house in fairy tale, and beyond it's oak doors. on which lily flowers are carved. many kings and queens and princes and prince sses have passed in scenes of Old World splendor. Dom Manuel has two rooms on the first floor overlooking the terrace and the gardens. The queens suite Is next ro his on the same floor. Portraits of the royal families of France and Portugal hang on the walls, which are draped with tapestry and the rooms are fur nished in old French suites of gilt