Ashburton Guardian Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit SATURDAY, APRIL 19, 1947. PRINCESS ELIZABETH

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 67, Issue 160, 19 April 1947, Page 4

Ashburton Guardian Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit SATURDAY, APRIL 19, 1947. PRINCESS ELIZABETH

On Monday Princess Elizabeth, who is at present on a tour of the Union of South Africa with her parents, the King' and Queen, will celebrate her 21st birthday, and the people of the Dominion will join with millions throughout the .Empire in extendig congratulations and hearty good wishes to the Princess. The pity of it is that the Princess is not in England to celebrate the event, for the British public who have a great attachment for all the members of the Royal Family, and particularly for the two Princesses, would have wished for nothing better than the opportunity of expressing their love and loyalty to their future Oueen. Doubtless the celebration of the event was in his Majesty s mind when planning the South African tour, but possibly other considerations weighed more greatly, and so it is the happy fortune of ■ the South African people to pay personal respects and extend greetings to the Princess. Although she will not be among her own people, the event is likely‘to be one long-remembered by Princess Elizabeth by reason or the fact that she is abroad. She has already made a recording of the broadcast she intends to make to the Empire on Monday, and a copy of it has been forwarded to London in case reception from South Africa should not prove of the best. She has already been the recipient of a number of valuable gifts, and doubtless many more will reach her in the next few days. These will be tangible expressions by individuals and groups of people who are in a position to help the Princess celebrate the occasion, but millions less fortunately situated, but who hold the Princess in equally high esteem will be able simply to offer tnc humble thought “Happy Birthday and Good Luck.” Few Princesses m the history of. the Empire have been brought so clbsely in touch with the people of the Empire as have Elizabeth and Margaret Rose. Throughout the war years they were privileged to meet thousands of men and women of the services on numerous occasions. and these contacts enabled the Princesses to gain a wide knowledge of the countries represented. Elizabeth, on hci part has not altogether led a sheltered life. Her training, designed to fit her for the high office she may one day attain, lias been thorough, but through all she has exhibited qualities which have endeared her to all the - peoples of the Empire, and because of. that the coming event in her life is likely to find extended to her the warmest-hearted expressions of love and loyalty.