A MAID IN MAYFAIR.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 230, 28 September 1935, Page 3 (Supplement)

A MAID IN MAYFAIR.

GOSSIP FROM LONDON.

QUEEN ASTRID,

(From Our London Lady Correspondent.)

Vot for many years has London been S o profoundly shocked as it was by the news of the Belgian tragedy. Queen Agtrid was not as well known in this country as Princess Ingrid of Eweden, who has been so often amongst us as j[ cuicst °f the Duke of Connaught. But tlie manner in which she liad endeared herself to the Belgian people had been watched with sympathy and appreciation, and her great beauty and personal charm made her an outstanding figure in the courts of Europe. Since the traffic death of Albert, King of the Belgians, little more than a year ago, she' jj„d King Leopold have identified themselves with every department of the Jives of their people. It is a tragic coincidence that the Royal couple should have been in Switzerland when they were summoned home by King Albert's fatal mountaineering accident. It is not too much to say that all Europe is mourning the second tragedy which has befallen this ill-fated Royal house.

crathie church. Every Sunday morning, whilst the Court is at Balmoral, the King and Queen, with members of the household, attend morning service in the parish church at Crathie. At this time of the year the oak pews of the little granite building aro filled long before the service begins, and tourists come from all over the neighbourhood to catch a glimpse of the Royal party. Queen Victoria restored the church when she first went to Balmoral, and made many handsome gifts to it during her reign. Queen Victoria had a spartan disregard for cold, and in several books of Victorian reminiscences reference is made to shivering mornings spent in Crathie Church by the ladies who attended Her Majesty. Special regard for the King's health has resulted in a new and efficient heating system being installed. BETROTHAL ANNIVERSARY. The Duke and Duchess of Kent spent the anniversary of their betrothal at Bled. This happy event took place on ■August 28 last year at Bled, the home of Prince Paul of Yugoslavia and Princcss Olga, the Duchess' sister. The Duchess has not gone far afield since ehe arrived at Bled, but has, nevertheless, spent many happy hours among the haunts of her former days. The Duke has done some shooting, but this programme has been curtailed somewhat bv reason of the demands upon the time of his host in connection with the tense political situation in Middle Europe. Naturally, His Royal Highness has kept himself entirely aloof from all such matters, in conformity with the rigid rule of the English Royal Family not to give any opportunity of becoming involved in any politics, either abroad or at home. The Duke and Duchess will bo returning home at the end of the *nonth, and after a few days in London will go on to Balmoral to stay with the King and Queen. MAKING MOVIES.

The Duke of York is the most enthusiastic amateur photographer in the Royal family, and spends much time during the holidays with his cinecamera. The little films in which his children and their friends feature will not only make • pleasant personal records, but will have a definite historical value. The cine-camera is becoming more and more popular, and enthusiastic owners arrange "locations" and "sets" in their own gardens, and call upon the histrionic talents of the family to act the story. The operating of the camera is no more difficult than the taking of an ordinary snapshot. Many film folk run cine-cameras as a hobby, and make experiments that prove valuable to the industry. Mr. Cecil Beaton is one who has produced some interesting results. BACK FROM BLED, The house of the Duke and Duchess of Kent in Belgrave Square is being put in readiness for their return at the end of the month. It is the only one of the Royal town houses that has not been delivered over to cleaners and decorators this month. The Duke and Duchcss only moved in during April, and everything is still too new to require renovation. The Duchess chose many of her curtains in the silvery and off-white shades which are so fashionable at present. The Duchess of York changes her rich silk winter hangings to organdie muslin for the summer, and they give her rooms a cool, airy appearance. The Duchess of Kent has a great love of flowers, and all her rooms are filled with bowls and jars of the blooms in season. Every morning a florist arrives at Belgravo Square with the day's supply and arranges them in the principal rooms. The Duchess prefers cut flowers, changed frequently, to growing shrubs and plants, however beautiful they may be. ROYAL GUEST. Princess Juliana of Holland has been invited by the Duke of Buccleuch to stay at Drumlanrig Castle, in Dumfriesshire. The Princess and her mother enjoy the simple life they have experienced during their Scottish holiday, and the Princess especially appreciates its freedom after the formalities of the Dutch court. The Duke of Buccleuch has been ill in London for some t'.me, but has recovered sufficiently to travel north. His sons, Lord William and Lord George Scott, and his daughters, the Ladies Angela and Alice Scott, have already arrived there. Lady Alice and Princess Juliana should have much in common, since they share a love of sketching. Lady Alice has held several important, exhibitions in London of her studies of Rhodesia and Kenya, and she find her Roval guest will find many attractive subjects in the glens around Drumlanrig. PRINCESS LOUISE. Princess Louise. Duchess of Argyll, ['as chosen the unusual course of spending the summer officially at Kensington Palace. She finds it a convenient centre from which to make flying visits to her 'ranv friends near London and yet keep "i touch with her varied interest' w. 'own. Now that her brother, the Duke "f Cnnnaii'lit. lives at Bagshot Park -he pops down frequently and has taken a house close bv. RaTshot Park is full "f visitors, and Ladv Patricia Ramsay is acting as hostess for her father She is arranging small parties for her six-teen-year-old son. who is spending part f'f his holidav there before going north to Scotland The Crown Prince of Denmark and Princess Ihgrid have been staying at Bagshot and left last week to pav some further vis : ',a.