NEWS OF THE WEEK.
THE King and Queen disembarked at Portsmouth on Mon- day and returned the same day to Buckingham Palace after an absence of nearly three months. The 'Medina' reached Spithead at ten on Sunday morning—more than twelve hours 'earlier than she was expected—but the actual landing was, in accordance with the arranged programme, put off until the following day. The weather on Monday was bitterly cold; but, in spite of this, large and enthusiastic crowds assembled to eheer the King and Queen, both when they stepped on shore at Portsmouth and along the route by which they drove from Victoria to Buckingham Palace. The enthusiasm con- tinued long after they entered the Palace, and when they subsequently appeared upon the balcony the enormous crowd in front of the gates expressed their feelings by singing the -National Anthem and "Home, Sweet Home."
