§ THE FIRST LORD OF THE ADMIRALTY (EARL STANHOPE)My Lords, it was exactly a fortnight ago that, taking part in the debate in reply to the gracious Speech from the Throne, I remarked that the joys and sorrows of our Royal House were so much the joys and sorrows of their people that I felt your Lordships would desire me on behalf of this House to offer to Their Majesties and to the other members of the Royal Family our deep and respectful sympathy on the recent death of His Royal Highness Prince Arthur of Connaught. Once again it is my sad duty to offer to His Majesty, on behalf of this House, our respectful sympathy and condolences on the death of yet another member of the Royal Family.
Her Majesty the Queen of Norway was no stranger to these shores. The last surviving daughter of His Majesty King Edward VII, she was born in Marlborough House, she spent her earlier years in this country as a British Princess, and then, after her marriage in Buckingham Palace, she returned, I believe nearly every year, to her home in Norfolk. It was, therefore, with peculiar satisfaction that the people of this country watched the great place which as Queen Consort she won in the affections of the warm-hearted people of Norway. Endowed by nature with many gifts Her Majesty touched life at many points, whether in the arts, or indoor or outdoor pursuits, the town, the country or the sea. My Lords, the passing of Her Majesty the Queen of Norway necessarily leaves a great gap in her family circle and in the country of her adoption, and therefore it is no mere form of words when in the Resolution which I am about to move this House expresses its deep 124 concern at the loss which our Royal House has sustained. Equally your Lordships will desire to express your profound sympathy with His Majesty the King of Norway and with the Government and people of that country, to whom we are bound by so many ties.
It is perhaps not altogether inappropriate that it should fall to the lot of one who represents the Admiralty in your Lordships' House to move a Resolution conveying our sympathy to a King who is himself an honorary Admiral in the Royal Navy of this country and the ruler of a seafaring race like ourselves. I beg to move, That an humble Address be presented to His Majesty to express the deep concern of this House at the loss which His Majesty has sustained by the death of Her Majesty the Queen of Norway; to condole with His Majesty on this melancholy occasion; and to pray His Majesty that he will be graciously pleased to express to His Majesty the King of Norway, the profound sympathy of this House with His Majesty and the Government and people of Norway.
Moved, That an humble Address be presented to His Majesty to express the deep concern of this House at the loss which His Majesty has sustained by the death of Her Majesty the Queen of Norway; to condole with His Majesty on this melancholy occasion; and to pray His Majesty that he will be graciously pleased to express to His Majesty the King of Norway, the profound sympathy of this House with His Majesty and the Government and people of Norway.—(Earl Stanhope.)
§ LORD SNELLMy Lords, your Lordships will desire very sincerely to support the Motion submitted with such feeling to the House by the noble Earl. In our double capacities as individuals and as members of this House we wish to assure His Majesty the King of our great sympathy in the loss he has suffered of a revered member of his family. We also desire with equal sincerity to offer our respectful sympathy to His Majesty the King of Norway and to the people of his country in their loss of a beloved wife and Queen. The late Queen Maud was an English Princess, and the story of her life is, of course, known to us all. She was accomplished both as Princess and as Queen. People treasured her friendship and her life was rich both in service and 125 in example. My Lords, I desire to associate my noble friends and myself with the Motion which your Lordships are asked to accept.
§ LORD GAINFORDMy Lords, on behalf of those with whom I am usually associated in this House I desire also to express our whole-hearted support of the Motion which the noble Earl the Leader of the House has so admirably placed before us. Perhaps a few words in reference to the accomplishments of the late Queen of Norway may not be absolutely inappropriate. She was a person who was extraordinarily fond of the country of her birth. She was a person whose affection for her relatives and friends was well-known. She was admittedly beloved and admired for attention to her public duties. But she had many other qualities. She was not merely devoted to public work, she was modest and unostentatious in everything that she did. She was amiable in character, and generous. She showed throughout her life a fondness for outdoor pursuits. She was a great gardener. She was fond of the arts. But perhaps what endeared her most to the people of Norway was her great love of animals and children. Those for whom I speak desire to be associated with the expression of sympathy to His Majesty the King of Norway, King Haakon, and also to his son, who has lost his mother as the King of Norway has lost a devoted Consort. At the same time we have sympathy with the Norwegian people in the loss of their Queen, and we desire also to express our humble and dutiful sympathy with our own King and Queen and the other members of the Royal Family in their bereavement.
THE LORD ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURYMy Lords, allow me in a word or two to associate myself cordially with the words which have been so admirably spoken in remembrance of our own Princess and in sympathy with the King of Norway and their son. There is sadness in the thought that she was the last of the children of that happy home at Sandringham, where the gracious spirit of our beloved Queen Alexandra ruled. It was always a peculiar happiness to her that she was surrounded by the memories of that home in her own neighbouring home in Norfolk. She was always as deeply attached to the land where she was born and where she died as she was 126 to the land where she reigned as Queen. She was a woman, as the noble Lord has just reminded us, of many and varied accomplishments, but she lived, and loved, a simple life withdrawn from the intrusions of publicity: the life of home and of the country, its fields, its flowers, its animals and its people. It was this very gentleness and quietness which, combined with a very real kindliness and warmth of heart, endeared her to the good people of Norway. My Lords, in these days of haste, noise and self-assertion there is some refreshment in the remembrance of a life so quiet, so modest, so unselfish, so steadfast, so single-hearted. As she lived, so now may she rest, in peace.
§ On Question, Motion agreed to nemine dissentiente: the said Address to be presented to His Majesty by the Lords with White Staves.