Evening star., 1952-02-13
Acheson Arrives
For King George
Funeral Service
Windsor Also There:
z Miles of Mourners
Stond in Line in Cold
by the Associated Press

OF Windsor returned to England
today to join in the national
mourning for his brother, King
George vi, whose subjects
gathered in increasing numbers to
pay tribute at ancient Westmin-
ster Hall.
ut is indeed a sad arrival" said
the Duke who arrived alone at
southampton from New York.
Secretary of State Dean Ache
son arrived by air from the United
States to represent President Tru-
man at the state funeral Friday.
He will join six kings. and the
representatives of many heads of
states in the rites at Windsor.
Line Is Two Miles Long.
Despite snow flurrieS and II de-
gree cold a line of mourners six
abreast and two miles long formed
at noon outside the doors of nine
centuries-old Westminster Hall
where the dead King lay in state
q second day.
Businessmen and students,
workers, women and children
from Scotland. Wales and North
ern England, the commonwealth
and foreign countries were in the
line.
It extended up the bank Of the
Thames to Lambeth Bridge, across
the bridge and down the Albert
embankment.
5000 an Hour Pass BY.
Oficers of the household cavalry
In shining breastplates, relocated
gentlemen-at-arms and yeomen of
the guards wearing Tudor dated
uniforms stood at rigid attention
by the catafalque.
At 8 am, when the hall doors
opened. $1,000 were in line. They
filed past silently at a rate of
5000 an hour-1.000 more than
yesterday-but the line had grown
to 10000 by noon.
The huge stone hall was cold.
1t was Lit only by grey daylight
flltering Through the windows
high in the walls and six tall
candles which threw a soft light
on the closed, standard-drapedI
coffin. The 10-man guard of
honor stood still as waxwork fig-I
ures around it.
5000 File BY IN UAx |
When the doors shut early this
morning, almost four hours after
the scheduled 10 pm. closing, 49,
426 had filed past the coffin dur
ing the first day Of public homage.
The three days OF pilgrimage
concludes tomorrow night.
The Kings family remained in
seclusion yesterday but his daugh-
ter and successor. Queen Eliza
beth II, granted her first official
audience as sovereign last night
to Prime Minister Winston
Churchill, who paid his formal
respects. In special messages to
her armed forces over the world
she described herself as the wife
of a serving officer and promised
to see to the welfare and ef-
f1ciency" Of the forces. -
The young Queen conducted her
first official ceremony at Bucking-
ham Palace today, receiving Mr..
Churchill and 20 members of the
House of Commons in state audi
ence.
Among those with Mr.. Churchill
were Opposition Leader Clement
Attlee, the former Prime Minister,
and Foreign Secretary Anthony
Eden.
A close friend of Britain's roy
atty, 79-year-old King Haakon of
Norway led the procession of for
eign royalty to London. He ar
rived Monday and is staying at
Buckingham Palace.
Royal suites were prepared at
Claridge's for King Gustav and
Queen Louise of Sweden, King
Paul Of Greece, King Frederik and
Queen Ingrid of Denmark and
Queen Juliana and Prince Bern
hard of the Netherlands.
Only 21-year-old King Bau-
douin of Belgium did not plan to
come. His decision to send his
brother, Prince Albert, caused a
political uproar in his own coun-
try.
Queen Mary, grandmother of
Queen Elizabeth II, viii miss the
funeral of her son.
The dowager queen 'is perfectly
WELL" a member of her household
said, 'but 1t should be remembered
that she win be IS this year and
1t is felt that she should avoid
the strain and ordeal of the cere-
mony."