Evening star., 1952-02-07
Elizabeth Arrives in London
To Take Oath as New Queen;
Kings Funeral Expected Feb. Is
Monarch Begins
Duties, Then Goes
To Fathers Bier
BY the Associated Press

LONDON, Feb. 7.-Young queer
Elizabeth II returned to her home
land today to ascend the throne
and bury King George VI.
The 25-year-old Queen Of tht
United Kingdom and the domin'
ions overseas reached Londor
Airport at Ais pm. Q1:15 am
EST after a flight from Nairobl
Kenya. 1t was exactly a WeeE
since she left London, as Princes
Elizabeth, to make round the
world tour of five months.
A plain oak coffin was being
prepared for the body OF her IA
ther, King George vi.
Funeral May Be February 18.
The funeral may be held next
week, but more probably on Mon
day. February Is.
The four -engined transport
carrying the royal party set down
after a 4,000-m mile, one-stop flight
Prime Minister Winston Churchill
headed the official delegation or
hand to welcome the new Queen
The skies were gray.
The royal family was repre-
sented by the Duke and Duchess
of Gloucester, aunt and uncle OF
the Queen. Another uncle. the
Duke of Windsor, is sailing home
from New York to attend the
funeral.
The scene at the airport was a
cherries one, in the gathering
gloom Of the early English twi-
light. The airport was ringed by
scores of policemen sent to keep
the arrival private. Prime Min
lister Churchill had appealed to
the public in advance to stay away
from the airport and respect the
Queens grief.
Goes to Clarence House.
Elizabeth stepped out of the
plane at ABB pm. 1t was ar
ranged that she go to Clarence
House, her residence as princess,
and then to Buckingham Palace
to take the oath to uphold the
constitution, before the Privy
Council.
Tomorrow she will be formally
proclaimed Queen - the first
woman to rule Britain in 81 years.
Six cars stood by at the airport
to take the royal party and its
luggage to the heart of London.
Policemen were posted along the
15-mile route from the airport to
Central London, to speed the
motor convoy.
Mr.. Churchill bowed deeply and
shook hands with the Queen as
she stepped from the plane,
closely followed by her husband,
the Duke of Edinburgh.
Elizabeth wore a black hat and
coat. The Duke, in a dark over
coat, was hatleSS.
Five minutes after they left
the plane, the Queen and the
Duke drove away toward London.
Personally Thanks Crewmen.
A thin line of spectators stand
ing outside the airport saw the
procession pull away.
A group of soldiers snapped a
salute at the royal car as it passed.
The Queen unSmilingly waved
back.
Before leaving the airport. the
Queen said she would like to see
the crew of the airliner which
flew her from Africa. They lined
up on the concrete apron and in
a low voice she thanked them all.
Her face was pale and she was
plainly under a strain. But her
tears were unshed.
AS the royal car swept through
the gates, the Duke solicitously
bent forward and arranged the
rug around the Queens feet.
Their car was followed by one
carrying the Duke and Duchess
of Gloucester.
In the streets outside. men
barred their heads and women,
some in tears, waved their hand
kerchiefs.
AS Mr.. Churchill'S car left the
field his chauffeur had to brake
suddenly to avoid a collision with
another automobile.
Queen Mary Offers Comfort.
Airfield workers said the new
Queen, while talking briefly with
Mr.. Churchill, stood in almost the
spot where her father waved good
bye to her one week ago.
Queen Mary, SO, was advised by
telephone of the royal party's re-
turn, and Immediately drove to
Clarence House to comfort her
grieving granddaughter.
At the Sandringham royal
estate, where her father died
peacefully in his sleep yesterday
morning, silent, sorrowing car
penters sawed, hammered and
fitted the Kings coffin from q
great oak tree, felled months age