Royal Family Has Busy Day In London

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28540, 20 March 1958, Page 11

Royal Family Has Busy Day In London

LONDON, March 18

It was a Royal London today with the Queen, the Duke of Edinburgh, the Queen Mother, and Princess Margaret all attending engagements at different parts of the capital, according to the “Daily Sketch.”

The Duke started the day at a fruit auction for the National Playing Fields Association in Covent Garden’s floral hall. Market porters crowded around his car shouting “Good ole Phil” as he arrived. Waiting for him inside, with fruit-dealers from all over Britain, was the comedian, Alfred Marks, himself a one-time London barrow boy.

As soon as the Duke entered. Marks pulled off a cloth cap saying: “I didn’t know it was going to be such an auspicious occasion, but 1 brought this along, luckily.” Marks then slipped on a gold spangled cap—“something Liberace left behind”—and the Duke rocked with laughter.

He promptly got his own back when Marks said: “It’s the first time I’ve been in a position to throw fruit at the audience without it being able to throw it back at me.” The Duke leaned forward in his chair, grinned. and exclaimed, “Oh. no?” pointing to boxes of fruit stacked up m front of the auctioneers’ stand. One hundred lots were auctioned by three auctioneers in all. As the Duke turned the page of his catalogue, Marks snapped: “Everybody join in the second chorus now.”

The Duke later left with nis 50gns purchase—a bid made immediately after a 35gns one. It was for a black felt 10-gallon stetson

Happy that charity had made £4OOO out of the auction, the Duke returned to Buckingham Palace to sit at the Queen’s side in the white-and-gold ballroom as 300 debutantes made their curtsies.

The party was the first of the final series of presentation parties and, according to the “Daily Sketch," the Duke looked well satisfied.

Tonight, the Queen and the Duke attended a special performance at the Old Vic where the Queen unveiled a plaque in the theatre's new annex.

The Queen Mother today followed up her Guildhall reception of last night by presiding at the Albert Hall when 350 London University students were handed their degrees. Princess Margaret, meanwhile, was in the London suburb of Camberwell. having tea with elderly persons after opening one of their new clubs.