Katya & The Prince of Siam by Narisa Chakrabongse & Eileen Hunter

Author:Narisa Chakrabongse & Eileen Hunter [Chakrabongse, Narisa]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: River Books
Published: 2011-06-22T22:00:00+00:00

Prince Chakrabongse dressed in the uniform of Commander-in-Chief of the Siamese army for the coronation of King George V.

Back at the Palace ‘It was a muddle, no one knowing where to find their cars though eventually everyone got away and probably, like me, after lunch at four felt pretty done in.’

On 23rd June, Chakrabongse took a brisk walk through the gardens of Buckingham Palace to reach Constitution Hill in order to see the Royal Progress through the City. ‘Unfortunately the weather was still terrible … rainy and cold. The police were well in charge of the crowds, but of course got complained about purely for that reason!’

That evening there was a reception at the Foreign Office given by Sir Edward Grey, the Foreign Secretary, who only three years later, would pronounce in grave and memorable words his valediction to a world which still seemed secure at this time.

The next morning, yet again windy and cold, saw the King and Queen leave with all the visiting royalties in a special train for a Review of the Fleet. After the Mayor of Portsmouth had welcomed the new Monarch, the King and Queen and some of their distinguished guests boarded the royal yacht ‘Victoria and Albert’, while Chakrabongse and others were assigned to the ‘Alexandra’, where luncheon was served on board. At Spithead, 164 warships ranging from dreadnoughts to torpedo-boats and submarines were assembled in four lines, the last entirely composed of foreign vessels.

As the ‘Victoria and Albert’, followed by the ‘Alexandra’ steamed slowly between the second and third lines, a simultaneous gun-salute was fired from every ship, while each sailor at his station, cap off and waved in the air, gave three rousing cheers and the band struck-up ‘God Save the King’. ‘It was’, Chakrabongse noted, ‘most moving and memorable.’ The royal yacht then turned and, passing between lanes three and four, cast anchor so that both English and foreign admirals could come aboard and be received by George V. ‘This was indeed a tricky business, involving boarding numbers of small craft bouncing and tossing in the choppy seas, and then scaling a ladder into the ‘Victoria and Albert.’ Meanwhile a sedate tea was served in the ‘Alexandra’ to Chakrabongse and other royals, thankful – one imagines – to be spared so perilous a proceeding and possibly an undignified ducking!

Although the King and Queen were to stay the night and would see the Fleet dressed overall and illuminated, there was insufficient accommodation for everyone so Chakrabongse and many others returned to London that afternoon.

After a week-end with no particular engagements, there was a garden party at Buckingham Palace but, as it was pouring, Chakrabongse decided not to attend as he though it ‘unappetising weather to wander round a garden’, regretting his decision later when he heard that, owing to the rain, the party had been transferred inside the Palace and was entertained by Russian dancers and singers, which he knew he would have enjoyed. However he did attend a Gala performance at Covent Garden.

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