Evening star., 1939-06-10
BY PATRICIA CLARKE.

! arrived at the British Embassy
at 9 o'clock expecting to be among
the first guests to arrive, but crowds
thronged the green lawn behind
the great building. Instead of find
ing good place from which to view
my sKing and Queen, 1 preferred
first to wander among my fellow
subjects
There were all accents there, from
the deep Scotch brogue to the fash
ionable oxford accent" The latter
mostly from the handsome young
men in grey cutaway suits and top
pers marshaiing the crowd One
good-humored Lancashire woman
from Blackpool and her husband
found the heat pretty trying.
DO you remember up in Black
pool last summer" she asked, when
they called 70 heat wave?
Il told them I couldn't even keep
warm in that"
Nor were they all British subjects.
met one charming young gate
crasher in 20-month- Eliza
beth" a perfectly good American
citizen who had come with her
English mother. She got better
view than most, for the British
crowd, renowned for their general
good humor, let her mother through
to the front row, where the little
girl could be held up to greet the
King and Queen. There were lots
of children there. One little Scotch
girl in kilt, not more than 3 years
old, practiced curtsying to fill in
the time while waiting.
Women With Medals, Too.
Soon the ex-servicemen marched
IN and took their places inside the
rope that bound off the rest of the
crowd, and cheers arose. Not tu-
multous cheers. The crowd were
saving their breath for the King
and Queen. There were women
there. too, with rows of medals
across their white frocks-former
hospital nurses and ambulance
drivers.
We waited. 1t was getting very
hot and there was little shade in the
area in which the King and Queen
were to walk. I began to regret that
had not taken up a place under
the trees earlier. l walked up to-
wards the Embassy steps and there
gently edged myself into a good
vantage point to see the royal visi-
tors. The moment had arrived. The
cheering could be heard from Massa-
cnuSSetts avenue as their maiesties
drove up, and the voices gradually
sWelled as they entered the Embassy.
They were here. The crowd pressed
forward a little. The band took up
God Save the King" A woman next
to me sang it in lovely contralto
voice. Our King. Our Queen. 1t
was nearly two years since 1 had
sung that moving song and 1 sang
1t almost with tears in my ewes
Here they were this perfectly grand
couple at the head of a great en-
plre, standing bravely for something
so many want to destroy in Europe.
The King came down alone, a
handsome tanned young man. to
shake hands with the ex-servicemen.
He chatted with every one of them
I saw him stand talking for quite
while to a man with crutches.
could not hear what he said but you
could see plainly the look of SYM
pathy and interest in his face.
Impatient for Queen.
The crowd began to get a little
impatient. Where was the Queen?
From the back came a few shouts,
I'VE want the Queen" Soon she
came, petite figure dressed all in
white.
Isn't she sweet?" asked the
woman beside me. She's wearing an
off f-the-face hat so that we can all
see her"
This was the first time I had seen
her since I saw her drive by in all
the magnificence of the coronation.
Here in simple white dress, she
looked just as dignified and just as
much Queen as she looked sur
rounded with the pomp and splen-
dor of that day.
Shes simmer" remarked anoth-
er woman near me. Indeed she is.
Whether it be intentional on her
part. or whether it is after the
strain of her long tour, it is GER
tainly becoming Her smile is still
as fresh and lovely as in the days
when she captivated the British
public as Duchess of York
Remembers Reception Demeanor.
I had seen her once as Duchess of
York at a reception. 1 was not
among those personally presented to
her, but l stood close by and
watched those that were. I was
struck by one thing then which I
have never forgotten AS the long
line of women passed and shook
hands with her. she never once
dropped her eyes to their gowns.
She looked straight into their eyes
and smiled She was interested in
them and not in what they we're
wearing I thought then it is
thing few women can do.
After walking down the length of
the crowd the Queen Joined the
King and together they walked back
to the top of the Embassy steps
where few privileged persons were
presented to them. And then the
band again struck up God Save the
King" They we're leaving; leaving
with the sound of British cheers in
their ears. Cheers for the King and
the Queen and also for two grand
people who have won the hearts of
q grand country.