Rapturous Reception for Edward VIII at Remembrance Festival in Albert Hall
Wednesday 11th
November 1936
The commemoration of Armistice Day at the
Cenotaph in Whitehall proceeded along entirely traditional lines. The King led
the procession, wearing naval uniform and bearing the first wreath to be laid
at the memorial. He was followed by his brothers, senior politicians, Dominion
High Commissioners and practically every other dignitary in the land. Place was
found for a stray Maharajah who happened to be around.
The King also
maintained his practice of attending the British Legion’s Festival of Empire
and Remembrance at the Albert Hall. He had done so frequently as Prince of
Wales, but his father had only attended once in 1931 and that only as a
spectator. In contrast to the usual muted, dignified and reverential atmosphere
at the Cenotaph, the King was received with rapturous and sustained applause.
It was a striking, but perhaps dangerously misleading demonstration, of his
personal popularity.
Comments
Post a Comment