1935-05-04 — Page 13

MAY 4, 1935.

HER MAJESTY THE QUEEN

REAL HELPMATE TO THE KING

TENDER DEVOTION DURING HIS MAJESTY'S ILLNESS

(By a Special Correspondent.)

POST &

TELEGRAPH

The carnent tone convinced the women that here was no mere perfunctory, polite Inquiry, but a genuine desire for Information: And na Ier. Majesty put moro questions, she was able to draw from the little group' a story of the distress that was going on in some of the meaner stronts of the elty-the drab, narrow thorough- fares, packed with tall, grey tene ment buildings which lay behind the wide, flag-bedecked roada through which the royal cars had been piloted.

SURPRISE VISITS

In nothing has the King been more fortunate than in his married life. Princess May was the first British-born subject to marry an heir to the throne-since-Ann Hyde, the wife of James II.ed the wish that they could age Already well-known to the public as the high-spirited daughter of that active woman, Princess Mary of Teck, she gained the deep sympathy of the public in her bereavement by the death of the Duke of Clarence soon after their betrothal was announced. It was recognised as the happiest possible development when, some eighteen months later, she found consolation in the affection of his brother.

There were those, of course, who regarded theirs as a mere marriage of convenience, but that clement, insofar as it was present, was soon merged in a more romantic atmosphere. They had been playmates since they were children, and they thus started their life together with a full knowledge of cach other. Except when public engagements or other duty required it, they have rarely and never for long been separate. A friend of mine was being shown renovations then recently made at one of the! royal palaces. He inspected and duly admired the Queen's bedroom. "Now", said his guide, " suppose you would like to see the King's; well, this is it."

As a girl the Queen was noted as the most studious member ai her circle, and so shrewd a judge as Lord Morley declared that of all the members of the Royal Family she had the neatest his- torical sense. In spite of the many family, and publie duties. which have been her lot, she has kept up her reading. She bore the King live rons and one daughter, of whom ali suve the youngest, an invalid from infancy, have runch- ed maturity in good health and strength, and, though three of there have married, til still look. Ing to their mother for advice and affection..

Some of her own sex. I believe, are fond of saying that the Qucen is "dowdy" in the matter of dress, but at least she has the sense to know what suits her, and to slick to it regardless of the vagaries of fashion. No-one who has seen her at the state opening of Parlia ment, of any other ceremonial function, needs to be told that she is a queenly figure, carrying her self with an ereel dignity which sets off the richness of her jewels and her, ribes. But, like her Cousort, she is happier in the domestic sphere. She is faith- ful to the scriptural injune- tion as to the ruling of her own household. She is familiar with the management of her kitehen, and in furnishing and decoration she has an expert skill

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A REAL HELPMATE

The King has recovered so com pletely from that illness that the detalls are apt to be lost in the mist of things which have panned. But few people are likely to for get the courage of the Queen dur- Ing those weary, nerve-racking months. In the beginning, when

is Majesty was unable to dedi with anything at all connected with affairs of State, she took upon her shoulders as many of the bur- dena as she had time for between the hours she spent In the sick- room and those she devoted to duties outside the Palace.

The King and Queen are fully alive to tho fact that on most occasions they are shown the best side of things. Thuir public visits, have to be timed. They must be arranged so far before hand in order to be fitted into diaries of engagements that there is plenty of time for organisers to ensure the royal visitors accing a thrilling, whatever it may be, at its best. had made were kept by the Queen.

group of people, or

Engagements which the King More than once they have expreat- One grey, foggy day, when rumours were rife everywhere of the King's danger, the Queen ap- the everyday state of affairs, in some bly Institution, or drop in peared with the Princess Royal to upon a group of workers when perform, some ceremony in the they were quite unexpected. But City. The streets were lined with sideration for other people forbids. was little nolic. Trate had been, their innate kindness and con- people all along the route. There their paying genuine surprise diverted. Men slood with bared valta, except in the ease of an heads, women spoke only in whis. exhibition of some similar fune-

pers. An occasional order came tion, There is no doubt that they from a policeman. For

the rest. feel they miss a good deal because there was a curious, uninturaj elaborate preparations are in-allence, as though people were variably made for their reception waiting for some and revelation. and they are unable to see for The mist began to reil nearby themselves the hardships and the balldings and to muffle the every dificulties under which an under-day sounds. The atmosphere grew staffed building, for instance, is run; the fun cheery workers have royal car came in sight, slowed among themselves in some big down, stopped, and the Queen institution; the amusing make alighted. No cheer for a member shifts that are improvised where of the Royal Family ever sounded is lacking for actual quite the same as did the muffled money necessities,

rear of sympathy which went up from thousands of throats us Ifer Majesty, self-possessed, calm, and dignified, walked across the wide

The Princess Royal, going over Yorkshire hospital age, turned to a nurse who was preparing a and spreading a beautifully em-

patients tray with elaborate care

more and more tense. Then the

rond to the building she was to visit-

The King and Queen cheered by children during a visit to Shadwell in 1922.

ones you use when there isn't a royal visit."

And faultless taste. When she glory to Holyrood by removing (broidered cloth upon it, and said: ↑ goes to. Edinburgh, or one of the there with the Court for a week ["What are the everyday ray- other older cities, she gañerally or ten days when the London cloths like, Nurge? I mean the contrives to have an afternoon Season is over. Scottish folk are browsing រ the antiquarian pleased about this, especially, as shops, whose owners find her n the visit is not merely a break discriminating judge as well as n In their journey farther North- earoful buyer.

to Balmoral-but is quite definite. l the removal of the Court from the Palace in London to that She delights in gardens, and Palace so full of wonderful his- often makes long journeys to toric associations, of tragedy, but compare her friends treasures at much beauty-which is one of with her own. Her interest in the the loveliest of many glorious old many benevolent and philanthropic taildings in Scotland's capital elly.

DELIGHTS IN GARDENS,

enterprises with which her name From this centre Their Majesties

is associated is of no merely full many important official or perfunctory ́sort. She insista on knowing what is being done, and why, and, many of her

programme.

engage-

The "girl blushed crimson, and. looked at the matron and the superintendent, who were with the Princess, as though to learn what she was to say. Each had a keen sense of humour, and the Princess's twinkling smile em boldened them to confess, amid laughter, that the everyday cloths were safely tucked away in kitchen drawer.

"I think it is very sweet of you to go to so much trouble, but why did you?" the royal visitor naked, "This is not an official visit, and I'd have

nurse. I have been a

ments, both in the city itself and on its outskirts, the Inspection af new housing estates being among friendships that of the late the more important items of their Mary Anderson among them--

For they are inter- with women of social standing far, ested in housing in every part of loved to see things just as they removed from her own have had the kingdom, and the inquiries the always are." their origin at Committee meet- Queen makes shout cooking ranges, Ings over which she presided.

that little protest the sinks, proper higher

and Princess

probably voiced the she has feelings of the King and Queen

When she visits a hospital, she indoor coal bins show

out,

#

In

these on

Inside the building she began immediately to speak of the objects of it, and to ask questions. She moved quickly from one point of Interest to another, as though that engagement were no different from

hundred others she had kept at different times. There was attempt to hurry away. All de tails were explained, and, from the questions she asked, it was obvious that the Queen was absorbing what she was told. Some reference was inale to a house associated with

the new building and, when she learned that it was only a few hundred yards, away, she and her daughter went to it, walking be tween the lanes of people, howing right and left as hats were raised and hands were waved.

had been carried out according Not until the whole programme

to plan did the Queen return to her car, still dignified, still self- possessed.

When the King and been re-

has disconcerting knack of studied cottage life from every too, but it is difficult for any group stored to health. it was said that detecting practical defects, and a quiet candour in pointing them angle since she began to interest. of people to accept royal visitors nsundy ever saw the Queen break herself in the conditions under as they would often like to down during the black days and accepted, and it is not always nights of his illness. Not only remembered. occasions, that as the

oficial | did she undertake what she could cloucester put it so aplly recently everything should go on as usual. Duke of of his public work, and insist that they are human beings, after but when things.

were at their worst she cheered and encouraged her children, declared the King's recovery would eventually come, and refused to consider any other That possibility.

faith and were wonderfully courage warded.

Some years ago, at the opening of a hospital wing, she had pre- sented to her wealthy citizen whose six-figure donation had made the work possible. She expressed her warm appreciation of his gen- erosity, and he retired covered in blushes. "Anyone else like to be presented on the same terms?" she asked with a smilo.

To quote Lord Esher again, writing nearly thirty years ago, "She has much of the force of character and tact, and a good dou! of the sound sense, of Queen Caro- line. In fact she reminds me of Queen Charlotte, only much hand- somer."

AT HOLYROOD

In the last few years the King and Queen have sought to restore something of Its old romance and

all."

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For moment there was an awkward pause, for none of the women was apparently, prepared with tu ungwer and all seemed tongue-tieil by shyness.

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