The Auckland Star: WITH WHICH ARE INCORPORATED The Evening News, Morning News and The Echo. WEDNESDAY, MARCH 1, 1922. THE THRONE AND THE PEOPLE

Auckland Star, Volume LIII, Issue 50, 1 March 1922, Page 4

The Auckland Star: WITH WHICH ARE INCORPORATED The Evening News, Morning News and The Echo.

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 1, 1922. THE THRONE AND THE PEOPLE

For the cause that Jacks assistant*, For the wrong that needs resistance, For the future in th* dister.ee, And the good that tee <xtn da.

All England was excited yesterday because a charming and sensible young lady was marrying a gallant gentleman. The interest in the wedding extended all over the English-speaking world, even to the United States, while in France the greatest soldier of the time- made it the subject of a special addrees on the brotherhood of French and English. Charming young ladies frequently marry gallant gentlemen, but there was something very special indeed about yesterday's ceremony. The bride was the only daughter of the respected and beloved Sovereign of Britain and the British Empire, who had endeared herself to the people by her goodness, her simplicity, her genuineness, and her typically English characteristics. She was marrying, too, no foreign Prince for reasons or caste or State, but as Englishman of her choice. The English are incurably sentimental, co it ie no wonder that in a time of anxiety and stress they put tneir troubles behind them for a while and rejoiced most neartlly at this Eoyal romance.

The sincerity and breadth of the public interest in thie wedding is interesting and valuable proof of the genuine affection in which the Royal Family Is held. This means that it is proof of the stability of the Monarchy, for in these days it could not be calculated with certainty that that institution would last in a free country if kings and queens and their families were not popular. It is not too much to cay that the Royal Family enjoys more popularity now than at any other period in England's history. When we cay this we are thinking not only of King George and Queen Mary, but of their family. Thia, generation, accustomed to kings and princes who are both revered and respected, may not realise that even in comparatively modern times these feelings were not alwaye entertained for the Royal Family. Victoria's accession to the Throne may be said to have saved the monarchy; England would not long have tolerated the highly objectionable alternative. The popularity of the Queen herself was dimmed in the middle of her reign, criticisms of her wete published that would eeem to be impossible to-day, and Republicanism began to make headway. It was in the evening of her reign, when she was both venerable and venerated, and when the Throne was lit by the new enthusiasm for the Imperial idea, that she became the august Victoria of one's recollection. King Edward successfully explored other fields of popularity and reepeet; England regarded him as the beau ideal of a gentleman and a clearsighted statesman. King George, with an equipment very different from that of his father, continued the good work.

Then came the territte ordeal of the war, which, while it shook down thrones in Europe, left that of England more firmly based than ever. The King and his family are more English than any of their predecessors. None of them is brilliant; indeed, none of them would be called intellectual. This euits the English, who are apt to dietriist brilliant people, especially when their gifts are of the "showy" order. But the King and the Queen and those of their children who have entered on public life have displayed strong common-sense, character, sincerity, courtesy, and devotion to duty. They are people of the middle clase who happen to be members of the House of Windsor. "A plain, direct, straightspeaking man, taking his office seriously, hating display and flummery, governed by a et-eng sense of duty, thoroughly obedient to the constitutional tradition of the Monarchy." Such is a faithful estimate of the King by one of his subjects. The Prince of Wales has inherited hie best characteristics, and has added to them a charm of his own. There has never been 6O popular a Prince of Wales. Ncr has any daughter of an English King ever endeared herself so greatly to the people as Princess Mary. The war did a great deal to bring these two young people into contact with the world, and the qualities of frankness, simplicity, and charm were already there to be developed. The Mary over whose marriage England rejoiced so spontaneously and heartily is not the haughty and exclusive prineesg of tradition, but a capable, attractive, and fine-natured English girl who has been born into the purple and has remained unspoilt by the t.rperience. If yeu were to tell her that ehe was helping to make history by strengthening the hold of the Crown on the people she would probably laugh and deny it, but tjiat would be the truth.