George V

Though hope in the recovery of George V remained throughout Great Britain last week, the King-Emperor himself made wise provision for the worst. Realizing that matters requiring his signature or decision were piling up, His Majesty expressed a desire to convoke the Privy Council and appoint a regency pro tempore. Cautiously the Royal physicians sought to divert the sick man from this purpose, fearing that the excitement and pomp of a meeting of the Privy Council might overtax his weakened heart. The patient remained adamant. Therefore the text of a suitable Order in Council was speedily drafted, members of the Privy Council assembled in the Audience Chamber adjoining His Majesty's bedroom, and the Secretary of State for Home Affairs, Sir William Joynson-Hicks took up his stance in the doorway, facing the Royal bed. Thus the King-Emperor "sat" or rather lay as Chairman of the Privy Council with as little excitement as possible. Slightly rolling over in bed George V listened while Sir William read the Order in Council. Full text:

"At the Court at Buckingham Palace, fourth day of December, 1928.

"Present.

"The King's most excellent Majesty in council.

"His Majesty in council was this day pleased to declare that having been stricken by illness he was unable for the time being to give due attention to affairs of the realm whereupon the draft of a commission . . . for the transaction of matters and things on behalf of His Majesty was this day read at the board and approved and His Majesty was further pleased to nominate Her Majesty the Queen, his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales; his Royal Highness the Duke of York; the most Reverend Father in God, Cosmo Gordon Lang, Archbishop of Canterbury and Primate of all England; the Right Hon. Douglas McGarel, Baron Hailsham, Lord High Chancellor, and the Right Hon. Stanley Baldwin, Prime Minister for the purposes therein mentioned and to declare that they should be designated under the style and title of Counselors of State.

"His Majesty also was pleased by and with the advice of his Privy Council to order, and it is hereby ordered, that Sir William Joynson-Hicks, Baronet, one of His Majesty's principal secretaries, do cause a warrant to be prepared for His Majesty's royal signature for passing under the Great Seal of the Realm a commission conformable to the said draft which is hereunto annexed."

At the concluding words Sir William advanced to His Majesty's bed and submitted the Royal Warrant for signature. Slowly and laboriously but quite legibly the patient signed:

"George R. I."

As the King relaxed after this effort, Sir William hurried from the room to pass the parchment in his hand under the Great Seal of the Realm. In length, sonority and meticulously archaic language the

Royal Warrant far surpassed the Order in Council. Plain Lord Hailsham and Mr. Baldwin became "Our right trusty and well beloved Counselor Douglas McGarel, Baron Hailsham, our Chancellor of Great Britain . . . and our right trusty and well beloved Counselor Stanley Baldwin, our Prime Minister and First Lord of our Treasury." The warrant was given "of our most especial grace, certain knowledge and mere motion." The potent conclusion read:

"We command all and singular archbishops, dukes, marquesses, earls, viscounts, barons, baronets, knights, citizens and burgesses and all our other officers, ministers and subjects that in everything appertaining to the matters aforesaid they be attendant, counseling and helping our said consort, the Queen, and our said counselors, the Prince of Wales, the Duke of York, the Archbishop of Canterbury, Baron Hailsham and Stanley Baldwin, as it behooves them."

King of Arms. The Sovereign could now dismiss all anxiety for the safe administration of the Realm. But his wise preparation for even Death heightened, stirred and put on their mettle the Earl Marshals of Arms, the two Kings of Arms, the six Heralds and the four Pursuivants. Should Death come it would be the awesome duty of these 13 personages to make oral proclamation, some three days after the event*, from the Friary Court balcony of St. James's Palace; and thereafter and furthermore to proclaim the accession of the new Sovereign, proclaim it again at Charing Cross, carry tidings to the Lord Mayor of London, and repeat the proclamation yet again in the Close, adjoining Chancery Lane, and finally at the Royal exchange, whereupon simultaneous salutes would boom from St. James's Park and the Tower of London.

To particularize this pageant it may be recalled that "the Officers of Arms habited in their tabards and attended by the Sergeants at Arms shall assemble at St. James's Palace and there proceed to the balcony in Friary Court" with the six Heralds--Richmond, Windsor, Lancaster, York, Somerset and Chester/---thereupon trumpeteers sound a "fanfare" and the proclamation is first read by the Garter Principle King of Arms, at present Sir Henry Farnham Burke.

The four Pursuivants--Rouge Croix, Bluemantle, Port Cully, and Rouge Dragon --are chiefly useful in seeking and receiving the permission of the Lord Mayor for the Earl Marshal and Kings of Arms to enter the "City of London**." The final proclamation is made by Norroy King of Arms, at present Arthur William Steuart Cochrane.

"My Boys." Repeatedly last week George V asked about the progress of the two sons who were dashing Londonward. Edward of Wales reached London Tuesday night, after having made the 6,450 miles from the African jungles in nine days, twelve hours. Soon after his eldest son reached his bedside, the King was reported in a bulletin as "slightly better." For the final stretch of rails, from Brindisi, Italy, to Boulogne, France, the Italian Government supplied a special train and officials cooperated to the end that it should cross Europe at an average speed of 35 miles an hour. Though impressive to Italians, Swiss and Frenchmen these record facilities seemed ridiculous in comparison with the fact that in Great Britain the famed "Flying Scotsman" chuffs from London to Edinburg daily at an average speed of 65 m. p. h.

The third son of George V, the Duke of Gloucester, was in South Africa when recalled. Since his speedy return was not vital he took an ordinary "mail steamer," the Balmoral Castle, from Cape Town, was expected to reach London slightly before Christmas.

His Majesty showed his usual solicitude for "my boys," last week, by having brought to his bedside a tray of cigaret cases, one of which he chose as a birthday present for the Duke of York, born on Dec. 14, 1895. The King also demanded to see two relics of his youth, when he was Captain of H. M. S. Melampus. One of these was his old parrot which flapped its wings and screamed "Ho! Captain! Ha! Captain!" The other was a silver collar stud, the first possessed by George V.

The King-Emperor's only granddaughter, Princess Elizabeth, famed as "Baby Betty" was reported to have wistfully and repeatedly asked her mother, the Duchess of York, last week a question: "Lyllybet see gran'pa today?" The answer was always in the negative.

* The Royal Standard would be lowered at Buckingham Palace a few seconds after Death came, and shortly afterward a signed proclamation would be released by the Privy Council.

/-The titles having no relation to their names.

** A small area in the centre of the "County of London" which might be called the "whole city."