By Command of the King Card
1917 Letter 6
[1917]
Dear Mother –
On Tuesday four of us went to Windsor. Invitations are sent each week to hospitals to enable Colonials to visit the Castle. Our party was 35 in all – 3 M.O’s and 28 patients. We went by train from Twickenham arriving about 10 am. Our tickets did not admit us till 11 but we were allowed to enter the grounds and watch the changing of the guard in the quadrangle. The band of the coldstream played and it was a sight I wouldn’t have missed for anything.
By Command of the King Card
Afterwards we were shown over the whole place (excepting of course the King’s private apartments). The pictures will give you a good idea of the State apartments. Our padre who was a Can. once but is now a rampant American said it reminded him of something or other in Seattle!! We almost killed him before we got home. He was too awful.
We had lunch in the Castle and Lady Minto, Lady Cadogan, and several of the Ladies in waiting looked after us.
By Command of the King Card (Reverse)
After lunch we were told that the King and Queen would receive us. And they did – standing in St. George’s Hall (x) we advanced – or processed as they say – halfway up the hall – saluted or curtsied – and the King said a few words & we passed on. The King wore a grey morning suit and the Queen a black shirt and mauve blouse. She is a big woman and quite good looking. The King looked very tired.