PROBLEM FOR THE QUEEN

Press, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 27037, 12 May 1953, Page 2

PROBLEM FOR THE QUEEN

Use Of Make Up On Coronation Day

COSMETICS EXPERT TO GIVE ADVICE (Special Correspondent N.Z.P.A.), LONDON, May 10. Considerable feminine interest is being taken in a problem facing the Queen on Coronation Day—the problem of make-up. The Queen has a lovely fresh complexion which she inherits from her mother and the Windsor side of her family, and she always likes to appear as natural as possible. But on Coronation Day some artificial aid is likely to be necessary when she arrives in Westminster Abbey, where there will be trained on her. not only television cameras, but also cameras taking colour as well as black and white films. The photographs for all three media will not be successful unless make-up is used. At the same time the Queen will not wish to appear too heavily made-up as she drives in the gilded State coach along the processional route when sho will be the one figure that hundreds of thousands will want to see that day. t It is understood that to solve her problem the Queen is accepting the advice of the director of Britain’s oldest established cosmetic house. Mrs Thelma Holland, who is convinced that she can provide Her Majesty with make-up that will appear both natural and. at the same time, show the Queen’s features clearly on television and films. It is no secret, of course, that the Queen has. for some time, accepted advice on the care of her complexion which, like any other intelligent modern woman, she wishes to preserve. She does use cosmetics from time to time whenever she is in public, but her complexion is so attractive that make-up serves to give her the appearance of complete naturalness. The Queen will not be the only woman in Westminster Abbey who will have the problem of make-up. The peeresses will be equally aware of the television and film cameras and they are nlanning accordingly. Early Morning Make-up Mrs Holland, who is an Australian, is arranging for members of her staff to visit the London homes of peeresses on the morning of June 2 in the same way as she did on the Coronation morning in 1937. The most popular time for appointments was 6 a.m., and as the staff went from house to house —with special police passes, as all traffic was stopped after a certain hour—they arrived to find that many famous ladies had been sitting up all night, either on couches or chairs so that they should not disarrange their coiffures, and patiently waiting for their complexions to b° made perfect. Mrs Holland says that similar scenes will be repeated in the early morning of June 2 from 3 a.m. onwards. In addition to peeresses, many other women who will be in the Abbey will •be seeking aid from Mrs Holland and her staff, and they include New Zealanders and Australians who have already cabled ahead for appointments. There will indeed be what may be called a “make-up season” in London this summer, and it can be said to begin next Tuesday. For then the Queen Charlotte Ball will be held, and 332 debutantes, all dressed in white, will be presented to the Duchess of Gloucester. Most of them have lovely complexions, but it is 4 tradition that they will be invited to this London salon. And there they will also be offered advice. Mrs Holland expects her “makeup season” this year to last from next week until at least mid-July. She says the make-up required for English girls and those from overseas differs greatly. English girls normally have paler complexions and require to “tone up”; girls from the Dominions used to tne sun like to avoid a “tiger lily” appearance, and if anything have to oe "toned down.”