de and held a Levee and investiture of the Bath. On
June 4th he gave audiences to various Ministers, proceeded with the
Queen to the Derby, gave a dinner to the Jockey Club and then joined the
Queen at the Duchess of Devonshire's dance. On June 6th the King
received the Indian Princes at Buckingham Palace and afterwards, with
Queen Alexandra, held a stately Court function. Two days later the King
and Royal family attended a service of thanksgiving for peace at St.
Paul's Cathedral. Other incidents followed and on June 14th His Majesty,
accompanied by Queen Alexandra, the Prince and Princess of Wales, the
Duke and Duchess of Connaught, Princess Victoria and Princess Margaret,
of Connaught, visited Aldershot to inspect the forty thousand troops
which had been slowly gathering there for weeks. A stormy and wet day
changed to brightness as the Royal party arrived and the town was found
to be prettily decorated and filled with enthusiastic people. A great
Tattoo was held in the evening with massed bands and myriad
torch-lights, but with not very pleasant weather.

On the following day it was announced in the _Times_ that the King could
not attend church owing to a slight attack of lumbago caused by a chill
contracted the night before. Queen Alexandra attended the service,
however, and in the afternoon visited several charitable institutions.
Monday the 16th saw His Majesty still too much indisposed to take his
part in reviewing the troops and this function was fulfilled by the
Queen, accompanied by the Prince and Princess of Wales. In the afternoon
the King and Queen returned to Windsor and in the evening His Majesty
was able to be present at a dinner party in the Castle. On the following
day the _Times_ expressed editorial pleasure at the King's apparent
recovery but urged caution and suggested that, despite the
disappointment of the people, it might be better if Ascot were not
visited by him on that day and the next but a substantial rest taken
instead. The same idea seemed to occur to the Royal physicians because
not only was the visit to Ascot cancelled but also a long-expected visit
to Eton which had been arranged for June 21st.

Other functions were postponed or cancelled and it was announced that
His Majesty was resting quietly and preparing himself for the essential
and heavy functions of the Coronation week. Such was the apparent
position of affairs in connection with this great event as massed
myriads of people ro