Brussels, Sept. 3.
Highly impressive scenes were witnessed here to-day on the occasion of the funeral of Queen Astrid of the Belgians, who was} killed in a motoring accident along] [Lake Lucerne last Thursday.
'A hundred and fifty thousand ex-[servicemen lined the route, while [thousands stood in sorrowful silence' jas the cortege proceeded to the Church of Ste, Gudule, Immediately behind' the hearse Jwalked the tragic and bareheaded iAgure of King Leopold, wearing the full dress uniform of a general and Jcarrying. his right arm in a black, sling.
The King was accompanied by [Prince Charles of Sweden, the father fof Queen Astrid, and the Count of Flanders, the King's brother, 'The Duke of York, representing cesses followed. Behind came re-'King George, and the Danish Prin-presentatives of foreign countries and high Belgian dignitaries, 'The pall-bearers Included the Prime Minister, M. van Zeeland, Ministers and' Presidents of [Chamber and the Senate.
'The Queen's role as a young and beloved Queen and mother was sym~ bolised by thousands of children ming the route. Only the tolling of [church "bells and the shrill notes' of massed bugles were audible as the cortege moved slowly through the Palace gates.
"The funeral was conducted by the [Cardinal Archbishop of Malines and] ber. lasted nearly two hours. It concluded with the Benediction and the playing of the National anthem by the Grenadiers Band.
The King, halting, haggard and weeping, followed the hearse alone on foot—all other mourners were in cars all the 24% miles to Lacken, where Ihe brushed aside the escorting soldiers.
He was to have entered a carriage at the monument of the Unknown Soldier for the journey to Laeken, bat at the last moment he signified his intention of walking the whole distance.
There was another touching scene when the coffin was Inid in its last resting place in a crypt at Laeken. [The King stood gazing at the cof oblivious of the crowd. He ws obviously suffering physical as well jas mental pain as he entered the church, while four squadrons, each of nine aeroplanes, elreled overhead.
Only the King, Queen Elizabeth, Prince Charles of Sweden and Princess Ingeborg, Queen Astrid's sister, apart from the clergy were present at the final ceremony. me cetin bears the simple imerip-
Her Majesty Astrid, Queen of the Belgians 1905-1935, Everywhere, windows. balconies and roofs were crowded. Oflicers were seen weeping while. saluting, fand soldiers did not attempt to conceal_ their sorrow while listening-in {to the funeral, which' was broadcast.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.