The Roosevelt party, consisting of the ex-President, Mrs. Roosevelt, and Miss Ethel Roosevelt, arrived in Berlin on May 11th from Stockholm, and at noon the same day were taken by royal train to Potsdam.  At the New Palace the party were heartily greeted by the Emperor, whom they found standing on the steps waiting to receive them.  After shaking hands the Emperor led his guests into a small reception-room, where they were introduced to the Empress, the Crown Prince and Crown Princess, and other members of the imperial family.  The Emperor then took them to the Shell Room, so called from its being inlaid with shells and rare stones, and here were found some of the Emperor’s high officials, including Admiral von Mueller, chief of the Marine Cabinet, and one of the most able and amiable of the Emperor’s entourage, who had met Mr. Roosevelt when on his trip to America with Prince Henry several years before.  Luncheon followed at six small tables in the Jasper Gallery, the Emperor taking his seat between Mrs. Roosevelt and the Crown Princess, while the Empress had Mr. Roosevelt on her left and her eldest son, the Crown Prince, on her right.  Princess Victoria Louise, the Emperor’s only daughter, occupied a seat on Mr. Roosevelt’s left.  After lunch was over the guests went back to the Shell Room, and here the Emperor, taking Mr. Roosevelt apart, began a conversation so long and animated that the shades of evening began to fall before it ended.  The Roosevelts did not return to Berlin by train, but were first driven by the Emperor to inspect Sans Souci, and were afterwards whirled back to Berlin in the yellow imperial motors.

Only two other incidents of the visit need be mentioned.  One of them was a lecture on “The World Movement,” delivered by Mr. Roosevelt in very husky tones (for he was suffering badly from hoarseness) at Berlin University, in the presence of the Emperor and Empress.  The other was a parade of 12,000 troops, arranged by the Emperor at Doeberitz, the great military exercise camp near Potsdam, which Mr. Roosevelt, clad in a khaki coat and breeches, and wearing brown leather gaiters and black slouch hat, observed from horseback beside the Emperor.  As the troops went by at the close of the review the Emperor and Mr. Roosevelt saluted in military fashion simultaneously.

Immediately after the visit of the Roosevelts, the Emperor was called to England to attend the funeral of King Edward VII.  The imperial yacht Hohenzollern, with the Emperor on board, arrived in England on May 19th.  Next day the Emperor travelled to Victoria terminus, where he was received and warmly embraced by King George.  They proceeded to Buckingham Palace, where the Emperor’s first call was made on the widowed Queen Alexandra.  On the 21st took place the funeral of King Edward, the procession to Westminster Abbey, where the service was held, being headed by King George with the Emperor on his right and the Duke of Connaught on his left.  Both the Emperor and the Duke were dressed in Field-Marshal’s uniform and carried the batons of their rank.  The countenance of the Emperor is described by a chronicler of the time (and the Times) as wearing “an expression grave even to severity.”