MISS SHARMAN DOUGLAS

Press, Volume LXXXV, Issue 25994, 23 December 1949, Page 2

MISS SHARMAN DOUGLAS

FRIEND OF ROYALTY London night spots recently lost one of their best patrons with the departure of Miss Sharman Douglas, 21-year-old daughter of the American Ambassador. She has flown to New York with her grandmother, Mrs Zinssen, for the Christmas holidays. Since she went to Britain three years ago, as a schoolgirl, Sharman has become one of the most popular girls in England, writes a London correspondent. Her close friendship with Princess Margaret has brought her into the limelight a good deal more than any other daughter of past American Ambassadors.. Her regular escort in London is a nephew of the Queen, the Master of Elphinstone. They have been seen together at several social events and seem to share similar tastes. The 35-year-old Master of Elphinstone—“John” to Miss Douglas and his other friends —is heir to Lord Elphinstone, who married Lady -Mary Frances Bowes-Lyon, an elder sister of the Queen. Miss Douglas met him through Princess Margaret, her closest girl friend, who is the Master of Elphinstone’s cousin. The dark-haired, good-looking Master was a captain in the Black Watch and was posted missing after the 51st Highland Division was in heavy fighting. Two months later he was found to be a prisoner of war. and spent five years in Oflag IVC. A. fellow-prisoner was the Earl of Harewbod. They were two of a group of special prisoners whom the Germans hoped to keep as hostages and were released durinr the advance of the Allied armies after an 85-mile drive in German vehicles. . The Master of Elphinstone is a keen salmon fisherman and an artist. He illustrated a book for a fellowprisoner and drawings and paintings he did in Oflag IVC were shown in London in 1943.