“Yes, the other day I saw one of you leading a flock geese!"..
Elizabeth and Margaret Rose are
the circus.
“Oopooh!” the sisters exclaim to- gether as an acrobat flies from one trapeze to another.
in
Then a clown, a grotesque figure comical costume, dead-white face and blood-red lips, approaches the Royal Box.
Princess Margaret Rose shrinks back timidly “No. a clown,
no.
Soliloquy by the Princess. "Oh, this growing-up isn't all fun. Now they're putting a whole extra hour on lessons in the morn Elizabeth shakes hands bodly and ing. AND in the afternoon. It encourages her sister wouldn't be so bad if I only had to learn French from that gramophone thing. Or dancing,
"Ooh, yes
Elizabeth walks in the sunshine at the back of Buckingham Palace, all day.
and singing-lessons
The whole world
worships them to-day
Mummy and Daddy are away in Australia, But there is always Grandmother, with her welcoming There is a click of heels, a flash of cry of "Bambino !"
:
Suddenly Mummy is back.
steel as a sentry presents arms.
The little girl looks at the soldier
Elizabeth greets her with her first and laughs. She passes him, turns word,
"Mummy! Mummy!'!
And she is learning to walk.
dangerous business,"
Duchess to a friend,
*
*
THE THIRD - YEAR
back and passes again.
Once more the sentry stands ri- "A gidly presenting arms. the
writes
th
Again and again this happens, un- til the soldier's face is as scarlet as
his tunic.
A horrified officer appears, sum- mona Elizabeth's nurse. The child
Sad faces all around the baby, is taken away from the exhausted Her prattle strikes across the Bentry.
hushed voices.
ill.
Grandpa is ill. Grandpa is very
And now Grandpa is well again. His eyes twinkle as he listens to her chatter. The doctors know that here is physic more potent than any they have devised.
Elizabeth sits on the knee George V.
of
And later a great event. For at Glamis is born a baby sis- ter, Princess Margaret Rose.
THE SIXTH YEAR
Tiny hands are busy with needle and thread. Elizabeth has learned to sew, and is making a dress for her 3ft. doll, Julie:
The Princess sneezes. She has cold.
"Off to bed."
“Then Julie has a cold, too.".
The Duke and Duchess of York buy a large brown toy Shetland pony and take it back to Elizabeth.
So to bed Julie must go as well. "I want Elizabeth to be a good Baby Margaret Rose stares won- horsewoman when she grows up," deringly at this strange new world.
Timidly, Margaret Rose extends a tiny hand.
THE NINTH YEAR.
Elizabeth gets out of bed at Roy- al Lodge Windsor Park,
The blinds are drawn. Somewhere
has
a bell is tolling, tolling, tolling. They tell her why everyone been so sad, so anxious."
Grandfather is dead. Grandfather, who had laughed · and joked at Sandringham, Balmor- al, Windsor. Grandfather, who, in his busiest momentą, always had a
"Oh, Margaret Rose, wait until smile and a gentle word for the two you grow up.
The bells toll on.
*
THE EIGHTH YEAR
.
Elizabeth's first Royal Garden Party. She is nervous, but tries to assume Grandmother's air as she steps from a car. She is wearing a frilly pink muslin dress. Then
"Whooo000000sh.”
The wind plucks the hat from her golden head. She looks after it sadly. Then consoles herself with a slice of bread-and-butter.
Christmas comes. Two little figurès in cherry-red, Elizabeth and Margaret Rose, are with their mother at the Albert Hall. Their clear voices are lost in a rush of sound:
"Oh come, all ye faithful, Joyful and triumphant."..
Elizabeth looks Ramsay MacDonald.
gravely
sisters.
*
THE TENTH YEAR.
In the garden of their Piccadilly home, Elizabeth and Margaret Rose are playing.
Elizabeth is riding her bicycle along the drive.
Margaret Rose steps on the path and holds up one chubby hand.
And Margaret solemnly trots across the path.
"Oh, yes, that's our newest game pedestrians' crossinga.”
Princess Elizabeth speaks.
"I want to buy that tin of toffee." "Certainly, your Royal Highness." Princess Margaret Rose speaks. "I want that
Elizabeth takey, duck.”
her own money from her own handbag, and, at Scottish sale of work, gravely pays Mr. for both."--
And, hand in hand, the little Prin- "I often see your picture in the cesses pass the decorated stalls: papers.”
Growing up
growing to sweet and gracious girlhood.
Ramsay smiles.
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