1957-12-28 — Page 7

21 on Christmas Day

PRINCE

THE CHINA MAIL, SATURDAY, DECEMBER 28, 1957.

WILL SHE GROW UP TO BE THE DIFFERENT

RINCE ALEXANDRA, As a result of her informa- Illy people usbend with her more than with other members

who came of age on Christmas Day, in rapidly becoming known ሲጸ the nearest royal equivalent to the girl next door.

And all through the year, largely as a result of this. her popularity has been growing and growing.

Despite her five nomes her friends

call her Mambo,

Christian privariety

This is their own adtplada..

of "Ma'am, by which she should be formally addressed.

When Princess Alexandra rankes £ public appearance, however,

friendly her

Kriti becomes a public smile, brek go bar ahoulders, and, with hand- bag tucked undernea!): her arm, a determined look of interest on her face, she is on duty, another of the Royal Family's "working girla."

As

졸업

of the Royal Family; she treated as a person, while they ere regarded as Personages.

A Tow weeks ARD, for lastance, she wor asked to open a new YM.C.A. hostel l Grimsby.

the gift of a gold key, customary The organisers decided that

was

ย

to mark such occasions, teless to a girl of 20.

he wanted something like

So the Princess was asked it

compact or a handbag.

"I know ernetly what want," she replied delightedt I'd like the works of Scartatii

The people of Crimsby sent 10 Italy, found that Scarlatti had written no fewer than 30) operas, cound the lot in 11

with the roy at Lore volumes munopran, and presented them

to the Princess.

The Swan

AST month thy procedure was repeated when she opened the Silver Jubilee Show of the Arts and Craft Scelety in London. Asked what she would like this time, she replied: "A personal piece of glass."

these puhlte appearances have Increased, so has her polse when things go wrong. She shares with Prince Philip the knack of turning a meste

into catastrophe triumph.

I

by

PRINCESS ?.

JAMES LEASOR

Paris Metro on a ing the student's, ticket.

Further, Copplar, the Duchess of Kent's home In Buckingham- shire, where Princess Alexandra grew up, is essentially a conf home before it is a house,

It s

warmin and person- lity; not the vast imperaun- ly of Buckingham Palar which brasla

so many rooms that it is one man's work just te wird the clocks.

AS Coppins the yourg Princess met her mother's friends diplomats, wrlier, Letors, like Sir Laurence Olivier, Noel Coward, and Dougins Fairbanks--with others who rehieved eminence not through a. fortunate accident of birth.

Their enthusiasm for a Me beyond the traditional narrow rim of royalty touched the

She received magnificent willing Under of her own young instance, vase of heavy glass, beautifully mind.

engraved with the likeness of a young swan about to spread its wings.

This nummer, for Princess Alexandra travelled north to Dumbarton, to launch the anti-aircraft frigate Jaguar.

But although ste mashed the boltie of champagne against the bow with all the verve, phe shown on the tennis court at Coppins, the good ship Jaguer refused to budge.

the

0

At this, sho turned 10 assembled dignitaries with smile, as much dis to say: "Well, I've done my part." Someone shouted: "Give her a shove!" Princess Alexandra did so, with agrin, and, as if on Irigate started to move.

The crowd reared approval,

LIFT

cue, the

• Alexandes, after

great- Krandmother, Queen

Ettward VII: Helen, after her grandmother, Princess Nielialan of Greece; li beth, after the Queenow Quees Botter; Diga, after the nure 1 Kent's alter; and Christabel, be сдие she was burn on Christestas Day,

LOVE

The ploture is oddly symbolte of the Princess as she prepares for her own coming of age,

She is the chubby sehcolgirl duckling who has so swiftly

nd surprisingly become swer the only royal Princess to be "finished" in Paris; the only girl.so close to the Throne (she stands ninth in succession) to be educated at a boarding mix freely with school and companions of her age.

Her cousins, the Queen and Pancess Margaret, were taught Only on rare by a governess, occasions did they mix briefly with carefully selected children whose own rank or riches made remote from Them similarly olher children of their age,

At an age when the Queen មន having private history the lessons at Windsor frum

hend master of Ston, them Princes Alexandra was travel-

Jodhpurs...

QHE is now by far the best cinssical pianist in the Royal Famlly, and would rather spend an hour at her piano than a day at the raers watching other men ride the Queen's horecs.

She rides herself, of course, and has been winning prizes since she was seven, but after

10

the time-that Princess Alexandra owes her present character and outlook.

But, in this, as in so much Family eise, mummy knew best. She has known upsets and calamitles that disturbed her own girlhood, and so has carefully prepared her three children, in case such misfortunes should come again.

Choice

Once, at Heathfield School, near Ascot, where the Princess deserved her roputation 10: practical Jokes-actually, dousing The matron with cold water In mistake for a classmate-the mother of a friend remarited to her with surprise: "Sometimes I find it hard to remember you are a Princess!"

فكار

her J-

country, and portance to the Crown,,

ولا

On Christmas Day 1938, when news of her birth was brought her grandmother. Queen Mary, with her memories of a year that saw three Kings on the Throne, the old Queen ex- claimed feelingly: "This is by for the nicest thing that's happened this year."

a heavy fall two Januaries ago. WHEN the Duchess's husband when out with the Pytchley TV was killed in an R.AF. Ifunt, her enthusiasm has not crash in Scotland, 15 years ago,

she had increased.

to decide whether to: Years ago it was a different bring up her

With the frankness of 15, between young family story, So keon was she to reach rigidly in the royal way-as the Princess Alexandra agreed, Windsor Horse Show once that Duke and his three brothers the split her jodhpura, Her End been brought up---or "Sometimes I find t hard younger brother's Coverness, whether they should develop in myself,” she admitted Miss Katherine Peebies, obliged the freedom

she had

with needle and thread and, as herself as a child.

she sewed, Princess Alexandru remarked

known

a

with

franticness The Duchess chase freedom, refreshing in royalty: "How I end it is to this wise chelee--

wouldn't keep rot wish mummy

altogether popular with QUCH

Royal making me wear her, old enes" other member

Value

informality

of the

her

& DUTY... and

S the eighth lady in the equally carefully chosen alght-

club.

A land, and ninth in sue-

to it.

routelt hours stand very close

She It was realised when Prin-

bus not long lived in the cession to the Throne, it is cess Margaret was only six that London, for her mother, possible, but most im her elder sister would one day Duchess of Kent, moved into the probable. that

her grace-and-favour wing of Ken- Queen. The fact that Princess

lngton Palace just three years Alexandra will

be brother is a duke has never im-

ago, and until Princess Alex- rê- to be widely andra came cognised the often travelled in

Queen.

ever

pressed Princess Alexandra.

Her importance is thus not comparative but imperative.

What, then, is Princess Alexander's significance. in the It stems from the fact that rapidly changing pattern of the she is the only girl so close to Royal Family, which, like same the Throne with an upbringing astonishing kaleidoscope, must similne to thousands of her always change, yet ever contain cousin's humbler subjects, She

knows how they think on First, he is not a stand-in because she has been near for Primess Margaret. Nor is them and still 19. Thus she just a stop-gap until Prin- views have value. cess Anne is of age to bear her share of the royal round.

the same basic elements?

Her home

feel

to

her

DUECS.

Her friends

like to try anything once,"

Increases popularity In

Now, after 21 years, Princess Alexandra emerges as.

link Victoria's stern auto- and PG casier, more informai attitude towards Crown that so many of her cousin's people prefer.

cracy

the

At this time of changing royal values, when the Queen herself seeks 10 broaden the Throne, Princess in a unique

basis of the Alexandra is

the position of value.

a birthday

with Lady days, for instance, Moyra Hamilton, her lady-in- waiting, she decided to vist J couple of friends just settling into a small London flat.

from the usual mis:epresenta- tive, no lady-in-waiting, na

tions which cloud every move special reception. of the Royal House,

She began in the mothercruft nursery wearing the blue overalls of the beginner, is now in the Out Patients Department. "The Princess has fitted in so well that already she's a part of "I the matron told me. think that she's enjoying it more than she thought.”

It was widely reported, for She and Lady Moyra arrived instance, that when the nurses without any prior warsing and heard she was coming they clapped their hands and cheered. rang the front doorbell.

the At first there wis no answer. This was just not so, for

the Then the man

reason that even house good arrived, stripped to the waist, matron only heard of the plan

before

Princess and, int he saw his visitors, shortly

the none too pleased at being dis- arrived. The nurses heard noth- turbed.

ing about it at all.

of the

He explained his odd appear- And there is no differentiation she says, but ke so many ance by the fact that he was re- between Nurse Kent, as she is. young people in this Welfare decorating the flat, There and called, and any other of the Ate uito is nol over-adven- then they all

down und trainees with whom she works turoun in her experiments.

talked over cups of ten, Eur. and eats.

sat

Tennis at Coppins or when rounded by paint pots and rolls staying with friends, reading, of wallpaper. sun-buthing in the brief English and church every

vich, summer,

Sunday wherever she may be Jas

these make up her "off-duty"

routine.

in such a casual way.

Her ear

18

* פן

Her future

0

child Princess VEN

Alexandra would dress up in a Red Cross uniform and put her dolls to bed. But she has no Intention of qualifying as a nurse she could not, even if she wanted to, unless she worked full-time and her growing pub.... lie duites prevent this.

She joined for one specific ̈ reason: when she marries and has children stie wants to be

No comparison between Prin-

A small incident, maybe, but WHEN one hears of a member ces? Margaret uni Princess E Kents Bre 1pt

it is unthinkable that either of W of the Royal Family doing Alexandra Is fair, for upart from Princess Alexandra

Princess Alexandra's royal cou- much a job it is often cynically their rogul birth and background never lived in a great estate-

sins. the Queen or Princess assumed that their interest they have so little in comman. which may be why she likes a

Margaret, would ever pay a call only superacial, and that some- able to look after them herself They are as unlike in took holiday in the more feudal and An evening out is still some

one else does the leg, work, In and not leave them to a nanny. Princess Alexandra Is all, fairy-tale atmosphere of Barelis- thing of an event to her. Storles But then love of informality Princess Alexandra's case this la

"The Princess loves children Princess Muraret le ting-as in court, Co. Tyrone, the family about her being frequent is not on integral part of their not so.

and is very good with them," outlook.

home of her lady-in-wulting, visitor to nightclubs are not make-up, while it is of hers.

says one of her closest friends. Again, Princess Alexandra's Lady Moyra Hamilton.

This simplicity 'characterises She arrives at the hospital in "She realises that nannies Idea of a pleasant evening la to Coppins, where the Princess Whatever she does where the few weeks she has spent her mother's Hillman shooting very well in their way, but they spend it at her plano. Princess has spent most of her life. Is a VET she goes, her personal nursing at the Hospital for broke, which collects her in the sometimes tend to rule the Margaret prefers a crowd of relatively small ploce, only just inclination is for informality, Sick Children in Great Ormond evening, because she cannot roost. She has no intention of carefully chosen friends in an in the country, and acres of new On one of the summer's few hot Street-a move that has suffered drive herself. She has no detec- letting this happen to her,”

true,

are

27fathoms down

·and ROLEX Oyster still

runs accurately as ever.

B

Since 1956'

all ROLEX and

Tudor Oyster cases equipped with Twinlock crown have been guaranteed waterproof to an underwater depth of 165 ft.

3

To be truly waterproof a watch must have

a screw-down crown.. ROLEX are the world's only manufacturer of screw-down doubla safety Twinlock

crown,

ROLEX

A landmark in the history of Time measurement

H. K. S. P. C.

Neoda Ananalal support for tha

aske of poor children

SANDEMA

CAREFUL, WE'VE HAD

THIS SORT OF PRESENT BEFORE

Peaceful and

Happy Xmas

from Bulganin

'Ah, a present from Moscow !"

"It's well packed

Phew ! Another wrapping.'

We're getting warmer.

"At last-er-nothing ! ! !!!.

Please

address communica tiana:--Socratary, Hongkong Society for the Protection of Children. P.O. Box BIOT Hongkong,

Pisano send us your unwanted, toya: Collection centre at Modiffusion.”

The King of Whiskies

Cummings

St. John Ambulance Brigado

Free Ambulance Service for Emergency Accident Cases

Tali Kawinan

52222. Thi How Roar 71111

Bola Azania: DODWILL.