The King and Queen, accompanied by the Prince of Wales
and Princess Mary, drove to the Crystal Palace through South London on Friday week to open the Festival of Empire. The route taken by their Majesties, who were escorted by a troop of Life Guards, lay through Westminster, Kennington, Camberwell, and Dulwich, and special facilities had been given to 30,000 children of the elementary and secondary schools of South London to witness the procession. The proceedings at the Crystal Palace, where the King and Queen were welcomed by Lord Plymouth, chairman of the Council of the Festival, opened with a patriotic concert on Handel Festival scale in the Great Transept. The King and Queen then drove through the grounds and witnessed a parade of ten thousand performers in the Pageant of London. Great crowds assembled along the line of route, both going and coming, and gave their Majesties a most cordial welcome.
