Elizabeth, The Queen Mother THE “LITTLE DUCHESS” N.Z. REMEMBERS

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28492, 23 January 1958, Page 9

Elizabeth, The Queen Mother THE “LITTLE DUCHESS” N.Z. REMEMBERS

“Bertie A Lucky Fellow,” Wrote King George V

IBy

MOLLIE McGEE]

VX7HEN she visited New Zealand in 1927 the ’’ Duchess of York was 25 and mother of an eight-months-old baby daughter who is now Queen Elizabeth 11. The Duchess wore head-hugging cloche hats and suitably dignified versions of current waistless, shin-showing fashions. She was new to the role of Royalty on tour.

And yet, those who remejnber the smiling little Duchess will find that she shared much with the dignified and still smiling Queen Mother of 1958, who might have met millions since then, but is no less interested in the one she is meeting.

The Queen Mother’s kindly qualities prompted cockneys to call her the “Queen Mum.” She Is matronly and approachable, but she is also extremely capable. It is worth noting that she received only praise in that recent and much discussed critical article on British Royalty published in an American weekly. She was, the author wrote, “most able.” When George VI and his Queen Elizabeth came to the Throne in 1937 it was still shaking from the impact of the abdication. The Prince of Wales had been the people's idol. The new King and Queen were little known. New King “Retiring” Hie Duke of York had been the most retiring of the three Royal brothers, and the Duchess did not join the social whirl of that hectic, between-the-wars era. Interested in their family and each other, they arranged their lives in their own manner. “Bertie and I are not fashionable," the Duchess of York remarked casually to a friend. Among statesmen and older Court officials, however, she was quite at home. Many were her father’s friends, some were family connexions, others she had met in the great houses neighbouring her homes at Glamis Castle in Scotland, or St Paul’s Waldenbury in Hertfordshire. Men important in the Government had known her since childhood. Aware of her intelligence and charm, they were quick to realise that she would supply the support her shy husband needed when he took on the unexpected and exacting duties of a monarch. Misery For Duke In the early days of her husband's reign, when there was a speech to be made, she went with him. This had been her habit since their first public engagements during their visit to New Zealand, and Australia. Then much of it must have been miseiy Tor the Duke. He had not overcome his impediment fn speaking. During that New Zealand tour, It was more often she who made polite conversation until officials were set at ease. When she was seven and spending the summer at her familys’ ancient castle, the future Queen Mother was told by a Gypsy for-tune-teller that she “would become a Queen and mother of a Queen.” Repeating this to her governess, little Lady Betty Bowes-Lyon said she thought the woman was silly. When the governess—lessons in mind—pointed out that “constitutionally, of course, it would be impossible,” the retort from the young woman concerned was: “Who would want to be a Queen, anyway?”

Mimic Of The Pompous

Her tout* of New Zealand with her young husband was one of her first spells of Royal duty. Far fonder of outdoor life than formal entertaining, a mimic of pompous people from days of charades in the nursery, she must have found those first stretches of rigid, Royal routine very trying. The Queen Mother grew up in a large, happy family. There were 10 children and she was the ninth. Her mother taught her to read, later she had lessons with governesses and there was a short, unhappy interlude at boarding school.

Her family, the Strathmores, owned estates but were far froip rich. Little Lady Betty knew the value of money—she had 9d a week allowance until she was grown up—and was familiar with expenses of housekeeping and repairs.

“Send For Elizabeth”

L»dy Betty liked to remain outdoors, riding or walking. One of the keepers taught her to be a good shot, but she preferred fishing to shooting. She was never oyer eager to join guests in the drawing room. However, elder sisters recognised that "sending for Elizabeth” was a successful method of dealing with difficult guests and it became a procedure. She once told a bored statesman: "We must find somewhere to talk alone,” took him away

from a party and kept him In animated conversation in an adjoining sitting room for over an hour. She was then under 10. Since she was a girl, she has been the one who "thought things up.” There was the occasion when she and a friend who was to be a fellow bridesmaid at the Princess Royal’s wedding, were driven to their station after a wedding rehearsal in one of those old, lofty royal Daimlers. Up Went Umbrella Sitting in the back seat in this high-ceilinged grandeur, Lady Betty could not resist a temptation. Up went her umbrella—open under the roof, then, bowing to right and left, in fairly accurate imitation of a very great lady, she and her friend went on their way to the interest but slight puzzlement of passers-by. Lady Betty was the envy of her friends, for the Prince of Wales was among visitors to her home. Beau Ideal of every young girl, he found her natural gaiety refreshing. There was even talk among members of his family that they might make a match, but they were temperamentally unsuited, though they remained great friends. Queen Mary Took A Hand Bertie, Duke of York, paid court to Lady Betty, but she was in no haste to make a decision and kept him waiting. Queen Mary knew of this, and she thoroughly approved of the young girl, who was sensible and kind and often took on the management of the large household and entertaining of important guests when her delicate mother was indisposed. The old Queen went to call on Lady Strathmore, as she had done many times before. Then she had a talk with her son, Bertie. Her advice was, to bring matters to a head. , 1’ The Duke of York drove to St. Paul’s Waldenbury for 'a weekend visit- He and Lady Elizabeth went for a Walk in the lovely little wood. He proposed and! was accepted. She was 22—he*jvas 27. They had known each other since they first met at a children’s party. Learning Royal Duties Though the new Duchess of York had been a friend of Princess Mary and had frequently been at the Palace, being one of the Royal Family was a different matter. Queen Mary decided the* easiest way for her to learn the wide Royal connexion was to help with private correspondence. The Queen Mother thus became acquainted with Royal duties and the place occupied by the Crown in British under the kindly tuition of this remarkable lady, surrounded by the formality and ceremony in which she was soon to take a most important part They got on well together. The old Queen was thankful that “Betty is not one of those modern girls.” She had not “shingled” her hair, she did not own a long cigarette-holder and, though she loved dancing, she could not do the Charleston. George V’s Assessment “She is a pretty and charming girl,” wrote King George V in his diary. “Bertie is a lucky fellow.” The Duchess whom New Zealand met in 1827 was serious and grown-up, but there was still a twinkle under the gravity—and she never lost it.

Millions cheered in hope and encouragement as she went to her crowning in the golden coach with George V’s second son; tens of thousands waved and sang when she and her husband appeared on the Palace balcony the day the Second World War ended; more millions cheered in affectionate recognition as she drove to her daughter’s coronation.

Background Of Pageantry

Multitudes in everyday clothes standing watching have formed the background for pageantry that has been part of the Queen Mother’s life for 20 years; .for scarlet thrones and crimson-clad Yeomen at openings of Parliaments, scarlet uniforms at troop-

ings of the Colours, scarlet poppies at the Cenotaph, jewels and brocades of State occasions, cloth-of-gold of church vestments, golden filigree of Mayors’ chains. These have been a long way from the dancing welcome of Maoris at Rotorua, from fishing expeditions at Russell and Tokaanu, from the little country towns in New Zealand where the local population—two to three hundred of them—placed carpets on a dais by the track and waited in their best to shake hands, from the carcases of two Canterbury lambs flanking the Duke on the Ashburton platform, from the Hamilton “digger” who broke the crowd’s silence when the Duchess unexpectedly stepped aside to lay her bouquet on the soldiers’ memorial by calling, “Thank you, lady.” She Has Her Answer Will those who wait to see her find her much changed from the little Duchess Auckland greeted 31 years ago in the rain? Has being a Queen taken away her enjoyment of simpler things? She has her own answer. When the daughter of her former French governess called for the first time at Buckingham Palace, she told the Queen Mother that the vast splendour rather frightened her. The Queen Mother, placing her hand kindly on the girl’s arm, reassured her: “Only circumstances change; people stay the same.” In many ways. New Zealand will find she proves it.

(To be Continued.)