Never before have I seen Queen Mary look so desolate and forlorn. She is always dressed in finery of the best taste and quality, always regal in appearance whenever she is seen outside the palace grounds, so this was something completely unexpected. Standing by the embarkation point at Greenwich with her court followers at a respectable distance behind her, she seemed at one point to be holding the king’s sleeve and trying to prevent him from moving away from her. I was quite close, so I saw that anguish in her eyes and her pleading look. Fortunate indeed that the nearest members of the public had been kept back at a safe distance. To see the queen’s distress, close up might well lead to revolt or fear.
Then it was over, quite suddenly. The king kissed her, said a few brief words and then
