Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1935-08-30
BRUSSELS WEEPS
At BIER OF ASTR|D
IN BELGIAN PALACE
Her Children Play GaYy,
Unaware Their Royal
Mother Was Killed.
MOURNING CROWDS FILE
INTO CHAPEL IN HOMAGE
Sorrowing Nation Prepared for
Funeral Tuesday-Leopold in
Tears as He Prays at Her Side.
BY he Associated Press.

BY be Associated Press.
BroSSELS, August 30.-Long lines
of Belgians entered the royal palace
in sorrow again today, paying their
last homage to Queen Astrid, who was
killed yesterday in an automobile
accident in Switzerland.
Eighteen months ago these same
folk came to view the mortal remains
of King Albert, who also died by
accident.
Funeral services are to be held next
Tuesday.
The dead Queen Astrid came back
to the capital to the muff1ed roll of
drums and to the sound of bugles
playing AUX Champs" ("Last Post)
the call usually sounded at funerals
Crowds Weep.
Banked with white flowers and
lighted by six large candles. the simple
coffin was placed in the palace chapel
(Chapelle Ardente).
The special train that bore the body
from Switzerland drew into the down.
town Care du Nord Station at $40
am.
Sorrowing crowds wept openly in
the streets and behind them doors
were draped with black crepe and
shop windows were shattered.
Drums, hung with heavy black vel
vet, began the funeral roll as the
Queens body was placed in a motor
hearse, and the notes from the
trumpets of a band Of army buglers
rang out strangely and sharply in the
usually bustling square facing the
station.
Leopold Hastens to Palace.
King Leopold left the train at Care
du Luxembourg and drove to the
palace in an automobile to await his
Queens body.
Troops lined each side of the street
as the cortege wound its way slowly
UP Boulevarde du Jardin Botanique
and turned into Rue Royale, which
led straight to the gates Of the palace
Church bells tolled throughout the
city. Hundreds of persons who packed
the sidewalks crossed themselves and
whispered softly worded prayers as
the hearse passed.
Meantime, Queen Astrid's three
children played gayly in a garden in
one of the royal villas, unaware that
their 29-year-old mother never would
return to them.
His right cheek covered with ad-
hesive plaster, his right arm bandaged
and his lower lip slightly cut, King
Leopold still plainly showed evidence
of nervous shock and physical and
mental anguish.
Bandages Own Injuries.
Before he left the train he bandaged
his own injuries.
In the palace as he awaited the
arrival of the cortege ne sat with
bowed head, surrounded by his favor
tie court officials.
Black hangings covered the walls
Of the tiny chapel and white dahlias
and roses, among Queen Astrid's ia
vorite flowers, banked the coffin. right
and left.
" LlAtC SOAllC ID dllu q
few others were admitted to the
chapel King Leopold waited in an
other room. Then when the others
had gone he entered the room alone
and knelt beside the bier.
After the King had remained for
several minutes praying and sobbing
quietly beside the bier, he retired and
cabinet members and persons of the
court were admitted.
Crowds Admitted.
At midday the crowd outside the
palace was permitted to file through
the chapel.
Prince Charles, Leopold's brother,
was absent from Brussels. Queen
(See ASTRID, Page ~