THE BIRTHDAY QUEEN MARY

Press, Volume LXXII, Issue 21792, 26 May 1936, Page 11

THE BIRTHDAY QUEEN MARY

CELEBRATION TO-DAY

CHIEF EVENTS IN LIFE 0£ SERVICE I Queen Mary celebrates her sixty, j ninth birthday to-day. She was the I first child of the Duke and Duchess | of Teck, but she was born in England, during her parents’ stay at Kensington Palace, London, on May 28, 1867. I Much of the Queen’s early life was spent in England, for early in her childi hood ‘Queen Victoria presented to the i Duke and Duchess ot lecK tne celebrated White Lodge in Richmond Pane. In September, 1883, when Princess May, as she was Known to her lamiiv was 16 years of age, the Duke and Duchess took her to Florence, where she lived for the next 18 months. Her already deep interest in painting was encouraged by close study of the art treasures of the city. On the family’s return to London she showed little taste for society, but the year 1886 was an important one, as it marked her ccmmg out. . In her twenty-fifth year the Princess became engaged to be married to the Duke of Clarence, but only a few weeks before the marriage was to take place the Duke suffered an attack of influenza, from which he died. After the funeral the Princess retired to the White Lodge, and later to the South of France with her mother. Marriage Celebrated On May 3, 1893, the engagement was announced of Princess Mary and Prince George. The marriage ceremony was held at the Chapel Royal on July 6, 1893. Eight years after their marriage came their tour, as Duke and Duchess of York, of the Empire, in the Ophir. Soon after this Queen Victoria died, and the Duchess became Princess of Wales.

The Edwardian years were happy ones, and in the intervals of her domestic and official duties the Princess acquired a deep knowledge of period furniture and old china, on both of which she has since become an acknowledged expert. The year 1910 was a sad and anxious one for all members of the Royal Family, King Edward’s death occurred at a time of political crisis. After the Coronation ceremony and the exhausting social engagements that followed it, the new King and Queen, with their family, took up residence at Buckingham Palace. The four years before 1914 were diversified by many State functions and by visits to India and the Continent.

In the trying years of the war the Queen put herself at the head of women’s endeavours to contribute their share. One of her first actions was 9 to establish a central committee to organise the sending of parcels to the soldiers at the front, and this committee. under her direction, widened its scope until it was fostering women's activities of every kind. The Needlework Guild was one of her subsidiary activities, and in addition she visited hospitals, hostels, nurseries, and creches, went for a tour of inspection of military hospitals in France, and was Commander-in-Chief of the Women’s Auxiliary Army Corps. in Recent Years With the ending of the war the Queen s efforts to help and console did not cease. She has taken a special interest in education and in housing conditions, and in the supervision of *“ e estates at Sandringham. During the difficult years of the depression her sympathy has been active for the unemployed, more particularly as their distress affects their wives and children.

In the sad days that followed the death of King George in January last the sympathy of the people of the Empire went out in particular to his Queen. The King and the Queen had been so^closely associated in the minds People that it was difficult to think of her alone.

King Edward’s announcement, soon after his accession, that his mother wou!d continue to be known as Queen Mary, and not as “the Queen Mother or by any other title, was welcomed by all his subjects. The Queen, who now lives at Marlborough totte Kiris. 3 '* ln fUtUre " hostess CONGRATULATIONS FROM NEW ZEALAND GOVERNOR-GENERAL SENDS MESSAGE ' (PRESS ASSOCIATES TELEGRAM.) . WELLINGTON, May 25. His Excellency the GovernorGeneral (Viscount Galway) has sent the following message to her Majesty Queen Mary: “Lady Galway and I join with the Government and people of New Zealand in tendering your Majesty respectful congratulations and good wishes on the occasion of your Majesty’s birthday.”