"THEIR MAJESTIES"

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 165, 15 July 1939, Page 2 (Supplement)

"THEIR MAJESTIES"

By---Seymour Berkson

V (a) King George and His Queen TIir.RF. arr frw loopholes in thr rnnslitutional hmitationn plrUffi upon a British Kiny, pvtp trouali thr Rriiish C '(institution. unliUr ih.il of thr- I niter! StalrH, is ,m iinwriltrn mass t>l HcciiniuLi! r-r ] iradilion*.. Should I'arlia mrni orrlrr thr kiim It) br behfrirlrd, he would br cxpfi'trd und"r thr constitution to signify Ins Royal A*«irnt. In fart, about ihr finlv I him; th" Kins; can deride for himsrlt Willi thr ancient air of absolutism in whrn hi« birth- , ("lay shall br ( ■ Irlnated by his sllbi r < Ix, l,v<?ninthis, CjeorgcVl. ' followed n\ ri rrlctit. i-:.i«.n.i \ ii ... .i. .1 i=i • i ■> iilm-i - i I I.mi v... ,•:,., '„. ~j -.v I,.i| ! i< u.i* !l .... i , .1- ~ • ■■', ill « in. ll 1., "\pe, I the |. .1.1 < I-. ,-i-Ipl. ,i l>-'\ .il l>ii : Inl.iy « it :i ll'l'.'i '!■_' .1 pp- ■ •;!■ Ii I 'I'j I'll' 1111-i.l -111, SO 111' ■ ii :■!• i ii ih i'li ii.-I'll Mi.' .liiti- i.f [•clcliiii- ! lin lii . r 1111 <•, I hut I lie climate 1.M. , '. riiini' ,ni-|iiiiinit iiir tin , traditional 'I i ■ i< ■ i■ i r nf i In , fnlii.ir ii honour of thn ,i n n n>ll HiiiiiM'i-Miy of t lit: British Monarch's arrival mi earth, fieorge Vl.'s rcil birthday is DiM'Piiihpi , 14, but, like hi- grandfather, ho has decreed thnt it lir celebrated in .Miiip. Sn the iM-gun Miluti'. tin' birthday j in i; i (I (■. ami mililitry fanfare take jiltifL* in this month. (Jeorge Vl.'* father, the lute Kinj; (Jcorgp V., niiiv .•i.Mliili'il In Wtilter Page, wartime Ampi'ii'iiu Ambassador to Rrit.'iiii. \Nli.it hi , thouylit of his position an Kinjf. It whs iliiiin^. , ii fripndly «mo|<irii.' riioni I'hat a nil tlio Sovereign floihirpil : "Knowing thp ililTlciilticß of n, limited Muiiiii'i'h, I thiink Hp<l veil I am sparpd bciiiL.' mi iilisnliitc oiip." Kin , , while the Ri'itish liu- ft'w powers, he h.is 111. m> i1111i..-. (i 11.l thr-r hi" 11111-t JKTfriiin wiili pi'iM'i-iiin, leyiiliirity anil j;oiml yr.ii'c. lii'iii»i. \'l. is usiirilly liii-y nt j11 -* (li-k in Biii-kin-rhimi I'.ihiVe l»p'toi« 10 ii.in. H.\- thnt time lip luis sc-hiiiipil most of the mornin™ pupi'is iiiul rcml intpiisivolv "'l'lip Times," the Homi-official in; w-|«.ippc thnt enrries tlie greatest politiciil ueijjht thn.iiyhmit thp British Kinpirc. I'ntil lunch tiine. lie pliinifes throuirh ins ticmeiidoiis dnily vohitne of ruiiespniKlpnce with the aid of a staff of M'cretnnes. Somet iines there arp letters from cranks thnt have to he turned over to Scotland Yard Iwmiae of their threatening tone, letters from ardent tuns, autogmph Ininters—some such iii.sortniPiit of mail as arrives almost e\ery day for n Hollywood matinee idol. All such letters must lie sorted out from the important ones having to do with the King's business. Then there is the parade, of State documents and decrees brought to Buckingham Palace; from the various Ministries for the Royal signature of "i.eorjtp, R.I. (Rex et Iniperator)," which transforms the. acte of His Majesty's Ciivernirient into law. This job in itself ii-ed to consume six or sevpn hours of the working d.iy of the late King (Jeorge V., who. though lip made no pretenre of questioning the acts of his Ministers,

nnvi'rth' , '.' - mad' , ;i point nf familiarising 11 i i ■ i ~ • ■ 11 -n iniet ill v ui'h uhat ;ie .-:l.'|iin| (hut .Hi iilip i>rc«(«i(in he amazed an impiuiHiii Miiiiiter by quoting verbatim ;i 1.. i pji--;i'ji- from one of the St.lte pi pel- "I'llt to him for IIU --IL.MI it iii i< ..ii t (in pri-vii'iH \ \ . ' ... .-<■ \ I i- .i- rniiTi, :itiniis in lii-> II" ~ Ti urn- ,ii,..,n In. |~|, m n.l ilete:ii i "<! ... 1, ,i ii ,| lii-t I v .ill he .-.in .ilioiit : .■ , ff.i i, ~{ ~,- I, , inn, Mi l. » ii iiMiil i' • ml i-j i I.ii .i K.lu .i i-.l \lll ili.l into : '~■ :i ; ii.. I ,i.|mi;.i.| i >i! \\v I )e| iin-nl - I I, .l.i ..i i; ■■ Kin■_• i- ii lolly mil'. li. i. , ■ ■■ in- i ■ >if- i. line i\o-k, I ■■ ii.ii-i i. i !■. " olli.-i.il \ i-ii-i fr..in \.iii..i..,.|.... .mil Indian nuih.ir.ijah-.. ' i . in 'i "i • h.i hi pi in. -.■- .i ii.l i ioveininciit \l iii-' ■ -. Ii" inn-l jtti'iid many formal I ii!i'-' •••ii — . -I'lnetimes n,liking rapid ili.iir.-e- horn mufti t>. uniform (ieorjjv \ I. l-"l- in"-: ioinfo|-t«ib|p in his naval '""'"' in .ind bai-k again to mufti or in • \ ■imi'.' .li— Id' must piepiirp benign liuli' -p.-'ill.- that skirt all the pitfalls hi p< liiii-.il .-..nil o\ er-\ . He mii<t allow liiin-i'lt' l.i be seen in public—on parade and m||" ---iiHii-ieiitlv to personalise the flown. 1-Vu biisiiieas magnate-" have a day Ini-H'i Ilian the King's or more crowded with re-pon-ibilities. !(.• i- never <iff duty. K\ I'M when tie goe* «wav for a week end or for a sniiimer's \a.-ation he. ;iikl only. he. is still None can perforin his functions for liirn. His is no eight-hour day, yet every time he is

seen in public lio niii-t appear fresh, gcniul. jjr«i'inu<, without the slightest tr.ii-p of futiyue it boredoii' even when it. i-i.iiii'- to -h;ikin- ha mis with iiimmi gue»ts at the traditional si.miner garden parly in the giirdi'iis uf liiickinghani I'al.ice, The Kind's gala performance in public i< the .-el-emonial with whicli he otticially opens I'ariiatneut. The King and Queen i iile friiiii Hiickinghani Palace to West-in'm-ter in the ol<| painted State coach drawn by fight bay [Minies. They ere attended by lords arid ladies of tlie Koyal Household; ail e*i'ort of the famed Life (liiards mounted on prancing steeds, plumes tossilljr. breastplates shining; the "Beef eaters" in their Tudor uniforms, medieval halberds in hand. The route is lined by the Kim it <<'uards in scar Lit uniforms and bearskin hats. (ienrge VI. maintains all of the traditional pomp ;in<l dignity of the Kin^ , . but he is nut fond of ostentation and is always glad when ilre*s parades are over. His |H'rs«>nal tastes are aim pie ami restrained. He dislikes liipior of any kind, even the mellow brandv his late father,* (ico'ge V., was so fond of sipping after

(lintior: and he only touches his lips to a ;.'];)" rit whip when compelled to Ho so in drinking a. toast at an official banquet. He smokes a pipe in private, an occasional cig«relte in public. The King eats sparingly and the £:t.IMK).(KN) -dlid gold dinner plates of -Kiii kingham Palace are ni'Vi'i , ii-ed except for Stall , li.ill!|tiets. On Mich occasions, tin- menu i<. of pinirse, elaborate. When the King and Queen dine alone, they pref'.'r old-fashioned home rooking, in which the Queen hn-clf is an exjieit. Their favouriti" nieiil is the midday repast which ;i|it to comprise a bit <>f salmon, <i little liiinli or venison, and strawberl ics in civil in. After lunch, whiih is eaten leisurely, tlie Kin , .' and (..liicen usually h«ve official functions to attend, either together or -cparatclv; l>y tea-time, they are together again, and this is usually the occasion for a family reunion, at which <,)iieen Mery an<l the little princesses—lili/.abeth and .Margaret Rose—are prewnt. Unless fliev are compelled to attend an (pftnial Uampiet or have accepted an informal private invitation from one of their small circle of friends, the King and Queen dine quietly at home. Once in a while, they go to the theatre or to the cinema, but mostly they prefer to remain at home. Both the King and Queen are extremely fond of reading, hut His Majesty usually alternates he- • twe«'ii a iMiok and a cross-word puzzle. (ieorge Vf i* as conservative in his

taste for clothes as K<l wind- Nil I was during. Though tailor and broader than K<l ward, (Iporjre wears the ipiii'tost patterns and shades lie can find. Once )io ordorcd six suits of identical pattern and cut. The Kin£ lias a hard time keeping his hair in [dace, because its blond texture 19 so fine it einipiy won't <tay down oven with the aid of pomades. Clean shaven, his facial muscles taut. Ocorjre VI has an ascetic, appearance accentuated by liis simple manner tit" speech. In hin accent and choice of phrase, there are none of the Ainei iianir-ms acquired by his elder brother; vet he speak* less affectedly in the BritUh tradition of Kton and Oxford than his own Court aides. (Ituirjje \ Ts favmnito holdiie* arc <rardenin;r, tennis, ;>o|f and hunting, in all of which he is equally proficient. [!,• Ie al««t keeping up the stamp collection, one of the world's greatest, which was the hobby of his father, (ieorjje V. As he looked down from the window of St. .James" J'alare that day in Dccein Ikt. l!»:(ti, when lie was proclaimed to sn«'cee<l his brother, (ieoiL r e \" I called to his side his two daughters, l'rincti-* Kli/abeth, who may some day be of Britain, and I'rinces-, Margaret lv>i><'. the youngest. It was a father showing his daughters tlie goin<2is-aii in ihe «tr<'et where the |iroclamatioi; .ceremony wns under way in accordance with tradition il ritual. The herald in medieval emblazoned robes, trumiieters ju«t ;i - • 11 ui i n 11 v costumed -a riot of pageant i v and colour, scarlet, azure and jiold crowds pressing on all side-; hn the fair ful words proclaimed (ieorpe \I '-11 il; 11 and lniffhty prince . . . our only lawful and rightful lie<;e lord.' , (her the Kind's shoulder peeped tlit* new Queen, who triod to keep their tun little from jumping out nf their -kins from sheer excitement. A family ensemble that clmractei i*e<l letter than word* the new reign that w,i* about to Ix'jjin. K\en hail lie known when he married her thnt some day he would Ikmiiih* , Britain's sovereign, (ieurge \1 could not

i have chosen a Queen more acceptable to liis jteoplu than Klizabeth. Sh<; lias the ( same virtues of simplicity and tradi- , lioiial conservatism as her husband, end [ *he m lining much t.. make their reijrn 1 popular. She N the first commoner to become (..Jueen. «>f Britain since Catherine I'arr became tlμ- <i\i!i wife of Henry VIII in 1.'>4."». and I lie first Scotswoman to In , so honoured since Henry 1 married , MatiiilH of Scotland in 1100* i I.adv Klizalieth Howes-Lyon, however, uiis ~nl\- ii'cliiii ally a common- ,, . i>c-ciu-e lu-r father's titie as Karl of Struthmore, one of tlie <;n 1«-^t in Seotlii-h aristocracy, u.is one which conferred no nobility on .my of iiis ciiildn-M as Inn;- [ ;t- lie lived. By pure eoineidoncp, Ceorjie \'l ami his both trace their aiicc»i rv li.uk in the same S< - 'ittisli Kinu', Hubert 11, who mounted his throne in l.tTll. Klizabeth is definitely a woman after (.jHum'ii Man's own hea:t. The King and ■ (.Mifeil have known ertch other since they were children. Her jftrcntu were on the friendliest terms with the Royal Family. 1 It was not until the end of the World War that there be-all to l>e of a ' match. Kiizaheth was virtually unknown in London society; short, chubby, ' witli merry, twinkling eyes, and a |«'Hches-anii-cream complexion, she had the "eneral aspe<-t of a j;irl who had ; lieen liioiitilit ll|i in the Country. As a matter of fact, she did cppiul most of her ti'iii' in the country, and much preferred the rilntk" life to the whirl of tlie 1 city. ' The nas 2."> and she was 20 when they li"m,ui to bo seen together. CJeorye ■ V had already announced that all of i his children <-\iv[>t the heir to the throne, • the Prince of Wales, would he permitted to abandon the old (Jerman rule of i marrying only their Royal e<|iinls. and L would lie allowed henceforth to choose their consort« from the ranks of the Hritish p<'erajre. KlizabethV fumily estate wh«i in Scotland, picturesque old (IlamU Castle,

where legend Las it the original Macbeth of Shakespearean fame lived. It was from (Mamie Castle that Bonnie Prince Charlie —another Royal personage who crossed the water as an exile like Edward Vlll—made a spectacular escaj>e in the 17th century with euch haste that lie left his watch under his pillow. The relic is kept in the castle to this day Kli/.aheth was a familiar • iijrurc to her father's tenants around the castle, and when it was turned into a hospital for wounded soldiers durinjfthe war, sin- served there as a nurse. The yiiiinji jjirl was so tender and sympathetic one of the convalescing soldiers under her care once exclaimed: "Why. she and my fiancy arc as alike as two peas.' , (ieorjie Vf. (lien Prince Alliert, visited tlie hospital toward the end of the War. ami he and Klixabel h renewed their childhood liieii(Nhi|i. In l'.liii when his sister. Princess Murv, was married, Kli/.abeth came to London to Ik , a bridesmaid. Then Queen Mary accompanied her son on a visit to Klizabeth's family at (Mami* Cattle, and it was no lonjrer possible to hide the fact that a Royal romance was in the makinjr. The next year, the Court Circular of Buckingham Palace proclaimed the pleasure of Kinjr fJeorfte \" and Queen .Mary in a nnoiincin<* the betrothal of their son to Lady Klizrtbeth. (In April 2ti. l!»-2:l. tlie couple were married with elaborate ceremony at Westminster Abbey. At the time. Elizabeth little dreamed that one day she would be Queen.- She devoted herself wholeheartedly to making a honie for her husband and to raising a family. Trained by her mother since childhood in all of the domestic duties of a houeewife. she provided a well-manaped household and still found time to help her husband in the voice exercises he was takinj; to overcome his handicap of speech. (Concluded next week.)