The Reminiscences of Zafrulla Khan — Page 103
103 REMINISCENCES OF SIR MUHAMMAD ZAFRULLA KHAN represented various countries were for three days - the Coronation Day and the two following days - not the guests of the British Government; we were the guests of the King, though, of course, we had to be put up in hotels. Buckingham Palace could not have accommodated all of us! We were bidden to lunch and dinner at the palace each day, so that we had an opportunity of meeting the members of the Royal family in an intimate atmosphere. The two Princesses were still quite small. The Queen (now Queen Mother) was, as everybody has known, a most gracious personality, putting everybody at their ease. It was a privilege to meet her. Of course, one met the King intimately also. He still suffered from his handicap, the impediment in his speech. I recall the occasion in St. Stephen's Hall, where the Empire Parliamentary Association gave a lunch in his honour. Normally when the King's health is drunk, the King does not respond to the toast but this was a very special occasion. His health was proposed by the Lord Chancellor and the Speaker of the House of Commons, and the King replied to the toast. He got up to make a speech, and for a minute or two he could not articulate his words. There he stood, a lone figure carrying the heavy burdens of the Empire on his shoulders, with this distinguished audience drawn from the four corners of the globe waiting for his words. Suddenly tremendous cheers broke out! He had not said a word and we all went on cheering I should think for a whole five minutes until our hands were almost sore. That expressed a much deeper appreciation of his position that anything he could have said. He must have felt greatly encouraged by the demonstration. Then he made his speech. It was a very moving occasion. The coronation ceremony was a long affair. We had to be at the Palace at 8 O'clock in the morning, where the Prime Ministers' processions started. We were in horse-drawn carriages. First Mr. and Mrs. Baldwin followed by the coaches of the Prime Ministers of the Dominons, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. Then came India. I was not accompanied by my wife and so Dr. Baw Maw who represented Burma, shared the coach with me. I was in the full uniform of a member of the Viceroy's Council: a white turban with a gold cap inside, full gold-laced coat, white Kersymere breeches and a sword stuck on my side. I had to sit up absolutely stiff, because otherwise the sword would get entangled somewhere or the still gold front of the uniform would be rumpled.