KINGS AND QUEENS.

Auckland Star, Volume LV, Issue 248, 18 October 1924, Page 53 (Supplement)

KINGS AND QUEENS.

AND SOME COMMON FOLK. A NEW ZEALANSERS EXPERIENCES.

(by V..M..M.)

We o\erseas people arc having a splendid time iii London this season, ;uid are being entertained royally by r-vcryone interested in Empire building. Titled luiiies invite us to At Homes in palatial residence;-, bhake us warmly by tlie hand, ask which delightful colony we grace, and then leave us to nmuse ourselves. It is pleasant if one meets friends, otherwise rather boring. | Certainly there is occupation jn discovering many well-advertised faces, in tracing relationships more or less correctly, and in trying to separate possible duke thct'p from probable socialist goats. The select clubs are 1 much more attentive to their visitors,; for they introduce them to each other j and to the members present. At intervals there is a sort of general post, in which we change partners, but keep the ball of conversation rolling. One seldom catches a name, but I have met some perfectly delightful people in this way,, who have asked mc to their houses and helped to make my stay here doubly enjoyable. We from New Zealand are considered very fortunate in our High Commissioner, who takes a personal interest in each and all, and does so much to make the "office ,, a real "home from home." We are always being told that we get more than our share of jruod things, and why not, when ours is : uch a beautiful country and ■we are all charming people? London lias seen quite a plethora of during the last few months— probabiy all the royalties left to Europe now; one might go further and include the world. The King and Queen of Rumania were the first to arrive officially, and I was one of many thousands of spectators who gave them a welcome as they drove to the Palace. I must admit that, personally, these people interest mc very little, but the State coaches, mounted bands, Household Cavalry, and troops forming the imposing procession, were worth much inconvenience to see. I love a proper London crowd, they are so good tempered and absolutely fair, never standing in front of a first comer or jumping one's claim. But if you go a step higher and engage a park chair, then politeness is much strained. Well-dressed ladies who come late, request you to move just a ioot, or a yard, or a mile along. They encroach on your preserves, try to stand on your chair, and one large person with outsize feet offered mc 2d for half my seat. I said she could have it all for 5/, but nothing doing. Just as the gorgeous procession comes in sight everyone makes a last desperate effort to get a good view. We old hands stand on our chair-backs and hold on to the iron railings. It is a precarious position for the elderly female, especially as one must kick out behind when the presßure of the, large-footed one threatens to upset the cart. There are times when o?ie almost realises one's ape-like descent. Thus have 1 assisted at Ihe arrival of the King and Queen of Rumania, and later, their Majesties of Italy. We also have met, at a Palace function, the tall King of Denmark, with his consort. The Queen of Spain has been with us now, and the Belgian family come and go. Queen Marie of Rumania is a very interesting personality. Besides being a beautiful woman she has considerable success as a writer of prose and verse, and has the gift of many tongues. Her grasp of European politics is wonderful, and there is no doubt that in her adopted country she is the power behind the throne. A daughter of the late Duke of Edinburgh, she prides herself on being British, and, in a little speech one day, she said, commenting on her marriage at seventeen, "It has taken mc thirty-two years to reach the top, and during the war years our very existence was threatened. Some say I have made good, and I bless them for it. But if I have it ie the Britieh spirit in mc that has enabled mc so to do." It was as a member of one of our Empire Leagues that I really met her. She arrived in a wonderful creation of brigilt rose-colour, with magnificent diamond's on her neck, and crowning her wealth of fair hair. • Her sister, the Infanta Beatrice of Spain, accompanied her, and she laughingly apologised for her under or overdress, as she was on her way to an official dinner at the Embassy. She expressed a wish to meet personally some of the members from overseas, and being given n, card with my name and colony on it, V found myself propelled. towards the qudiance chamber. The impeding crowd of visitors was told that "no English need apply." I had no time to murmur "this is so sudden," but had sufficient presence of'mind to throw my useful f!amp and bag under a sofa. Next moment I was passed through the door, was clasping a white-gloved hand, and looking up into a beautiful, smiling face. The Queen said a few nice words about my lovely country. I thanked madam and endeavoured to curtsy pracefully, and to include the entourage in my retrograde movement. Alas! the new walking skirts were never meant for court functions, and I fear my exit ; ,vas far from dignified. Our own much-loved Royal ones are always with us, living amongst their people, sharing in our work and play. Wβ may watch them driving in golden roaches, wonderful shining figures of Royal State, to whom we pay homage, as in duty bound. They invite us to Buckingham Palace, and as kindly hosts say charming things to us about our particular corner of their great empire. We may purchase useful things at the same counter in a large shop. Striking a luqky day, we may rub shoulders with Royalty in the courts of Wembley, or chare with them the awful thrills prolided by the amusement park. I overboard one day a very human dialogue between two conifortable ; looking dames from the East End. We were watching the Royal coach papsing with the Queen in a glitter of cloth of silver and diamonds. One said, "Don't she look _ a pieter, eettin' up there all a shinin' loike. Nbthin' to do but smilin' an' noddin' and everyone cheerin'. I wouldn't be 'er, not 'arf." 'Well, if yer arsks mc, Mrs. Jones, I reckin she 'as "er peck o' troubles jest the sime as the rest of us. Xot wishin' to speak onrespectful, yer carn't 'aye 'arf a dozen childer and a nusbin without knowin' it. ,, "That's roight, Mrs. 'Arris., and yer ought to know, 'avin' done yer dooty by three mens all aloike, an' the best of 'usbins 'as their narsty wys. But they're that good tliey are. Talked to my wee Jessie in orspital she did, an' give 'cr a flower, an'-she rlied that 'appy." So wo •find the touch of nature that makes us all of kin, joined by our devotion ta our glorious Empire, its King pad Fle.Sk . J