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Past the King and Queen, who were accompanied by the Queen Mother Margherieta (proud of her son), Crown Prince Umberto, the Princesses Mafakla and Giovanna, the Duke and Duchess of Aosta (the King's cousins), Benito Mussolini and members of the Diplomatic Corps, marched a two-hour military and police parade. Later, a monster procession of more than 100,000 people, headed by a platoon of the Royal Guards on white chargers, marched past the Quirinal Palace, paying a tribute of cheers to its Sovereigns and receiving in return the King's salutes and the Queen's bows. Dense crowds lined the streets from the Piazza Colonna, down the Corso Umberto, through the Piazza del Popolo to the Quirinal square. The most touching scene of the procession was when 50 surviving Garibaldi veterans, wearing their red shirts and led by Ezio Garibaldi, grandson of the Patriot, marched past the grandson of Vittorio Emanuele II whom they had helped to make King of United Italy. Emotional Italians on all sides broke down, sobbed; others raised thunderclaps of cheers; mothers lifted their babies to see the old men, not one of whom was less than a septuagenarian. During the day, the Diplomats were received by the King, who listened and replied to their addresses of goodwill and congratulations. Representatives of the Aventine Opposition—Deputies who boycotted the Chamber as a protest against the Fascist régime following the murder of Matteotti (TIME, June 23 et seq.)—called at the Quirinal, presented their greetings. No untoward incidents were reported. The Fascisti did not march in a body, but mixed in with the other organizations. The day was an impressive display of loyalty to the Crown, personated by the head of the House of Savoy. It was natural that the Italian people , carried in their minds the tremendous growth of the nation which has taken place since the King came to the throne. Not only has the World War delivered the Italia Irredenta (portions of the nation in Austrian hands, comprising some 7,000 sq. mi.), but Italy has grown into an African power with some 600,000 sq. mi. of territory. How much the King had to do with this it would be impossible to say, but there is no doubt that the people link these far-reaching events with his name.
King Vittorio is a small man, little more than five feet in height. He resembles more a prosperous farmer than a prince of the famous House of Savoy. Possibly there has never been a King in all history that has effaced himself so completely as has King Vittorio. Court formalities are the bane of his existence and he cuts them to a minimum. He is a constitutional monarch par excellence; indeed, it is said of him that "he is more constitutional than the Constitution."
He has known how to act constitutionally and to make his actions tell with greater force than have those of some despots. Hardly had he come to the throne than he refused point blank to make the Socialists suffer because a loon from Paterson, N. J., murdered his father. Shortly after, he delivered one of his few speeches, which has since become famous for its brevity and point: