f thanks from the King to Earl Roberts for his management of the
military part of the funeral arrangements, and a most enthusiastic
reception to His Majesty and Queen Alexandra during a rapid passage
through London to Marlborough House on February 27th. From this time on,
during weeks of crowded work and the assumption of new responsibilities
and functions, the King received many addresses of mingled condolence
and congratulation. One of the first was from the Royal Agricultural
Society of England which the King had done so much to aid as Heir
Apparent. The President, Earl Cawdor, in speaking to the Council on
February 6th, referred to "the keen personal interest which the King had
ever taken in all that related to the welfare of the agricultural
interests of the country at large, and especially of the Royal
Agricultural Society. They had made many and many calls upon his time
and thought." Canterbury Convocation referred to the pending visit of
the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall and York to Australia, New Zealand and
Canada. The County of Derby the Royal Society, the Benevolent Society of
St. Patrick--all sorts of organizations, political, financial,
commercial, religious, scientific, official, artistic, benevolent and
literary--expressed their admiration for the late Queen and their
loyalty to the new Sovereign.

[Illustration: A GROUP AT SANDRINGHAM PALACE

The favourite residence of King Edward while he was Prince of Wales. The
King is at right of the centre, and the Duke of Cornwall and York, now
King George V. at the left side of the picture]

[Illustration: THE HOUSE OF COMMONS, WESTMINSTER]

[Illustration: THE HOUSE OF LORDS
At Westminster, where the Peers of the Realm assemble in their
law-making capacity]

[Illustration: THE HOUSES OF PARLIAMENT AT OTTAWA
The cornerstone was laid by King Edward VII in 1860]

RECEPTION OF LOYAL ADDRESS

On January 13th the King received, in state, at St. James's Palace, the
Corporation of London and the London County Council. In response to the
addresses His Majesty made a direct reference to the Housing of the Poor
Question, which he described as one in which "I have always taken the
deepest personal interest." At a meeting of the Mark Master Masons of
England on February 19th, with the Earl of Euston in the chair, the
usual address was passed, and then a letter was read from Sir Francis
Knollys, saying that the King felt it necessary to resign the
Grand-Masters