Princess Knew Exile

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31770, 29 August 1968, Page 3

Princess Knew Exile

(N.Z.P A.-Reuter —Copyright) LONDON, Aug. 27. Princess Marina, who died yesterday, was one of the most popular members of the Royal Family. The Greek-born Princess played a prominent part in public life in Britain and endeared herself to people in all walks of life. She had beauty, grace, and charm and was for years ranked as one of the world’s 10 best-dressed women. The Princess was president of the All-England Tennis Club, which stages the Wimbledon tournament, for 26 years. She had a great love of the game and attended the tournament regularly. Her appearance on the centre court to present the trophies to the winners became a tradition of the tournament. Princess Marina was born

in Athens on December 13, 1906, the youngest daughter of Prince Nicholas of Greece. She twice knew exile—first from 1914 to 1918, when the Greek Royal Family had to seek refuge in Switzerland, and again after World War I, when the family lived in Paris. She had affinities with England from an early age. She and her two sisters had an English governess, and Princess Marina visited England several times as a child and a young girl. During the First World War her family lived in Switzerland in greatly reduced circumstances. After the war, her father was again forced to leave the country and they lived in Paris. Princess Marina attended a finishing school and continued her study of languages. She could speak English perfectly and was also proficient in French, German, ' and Italian. The Princess inherited a .

love of drawing and painting from her father, who was an artist of repute. She was married to Prince George, third son of King George V, in Westminster Abbey, on November 29, 1934. He became the Duke of Kent on the eve of the wedding. Their first child, Prince Edward, the present Duke of Kent, was born on October 9, 1935. Princess Alexandra was born on Christmas Day, 1936, and Prince Michael on July 4, 1942. On August 25, 1942, the Duke of Kent was killed in an air accident on active service with the Royal Air Force. During the Second World War, using the pseudonym “Sister Kay” she trained for three months and enrolled as a member of the civil nursing service. She was one of the first to volunteer for service on the outbreak of the war and afterwards was awarded a special defence medal. She took a particular interest in child welfare.