SEARCH ENDED FOR ROYAL TEACHER

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 31986, 13 May 1969, Page 3

SEARCH ENDED FOR ROYAL TEACHER

(By

HELEN HOWARD)

Queen Elizabeth, during a recent informal afternoon teaparty at Buckingham Palace, realised that a long search was over. The solution to an urgent domestic problem had been solved by the presence of a neatly-dressed person of 40—Miss Lavinia Keppell. Before the afternoon was over, the two other Royal mothers there, Princess Margaret and Princess Alexandra, both agreed with the Queen’s decision.

For Miss Keppell had shown that she had two essential qualities for the role of Royal governess: affection for, and understanding of, children.

Miss Keppell was appointed by the Queen to fill the gap left when the previous Royal governess, Miss Katharine Peebles, died suddenly.

Miss Peebles’s death was a deep shock to the Royal family. Although the search for a replacement began immediately, it was conducted with extreme caution. Silent Classroom The Queen consulted her relatives and many friends, asking them for the names of suitable candidates. In the meantime, the small classroom on the second floor of the Palace, with its ten small desks and chairs, remained unusually silent and empty. It was the Queen herself who thought of Miss Keppell, and invited her to tea at the Palace to discuss the appointment. Apart from Princess Margaret and Princess Alexandra, the Queen Mother also attended the tea. for she takes great, interest in the nursery school. Though Miss Keppell has taught at a private school in nearby Kensington for the last 15 years, and is wellknowh for her love of children, her professional qualifications were not enough. The Queen, like her father before her, has always insisted that educational qualifications and experience were not enough in themselves for a Royal governess. Any candidate would have to prove that she loved children and could quickly gain their respect. For more than half a century, the Keppell family has served the Royal family in various important posts but this is the first time it has provided a governess. Miss Lavinia Keppell’s pupils include the Queen’s youngest son. Prince Edward, and his cousins, Lady Sarah

Armstrong-Jones and James Ogilvy, who have been waiting impatiently for school to begin.

A palace spokesman told me: “Her Majesty was de : lighted when Miss Keppell agreed to accept the post and that the school has opened again.” He also revealed that the classroom has been completely redecorated and that, unlike her predecessors, Miss Keppell would not be living in. Lives Out For personal reasons, Miss Keppell asked the Queen if she could continue to live at her Kensington home and go to the Palace each day. As Prince Edward is almost five, and there are no younger brothers or sisters, the Queen agreed. Previously, a governess has been more of a companion, to bridge the gap when the Royal parents were away from home. Later this year Prince Edward will be going to another school—and there are no Royal tours before this.

Lessons in the Royal classroom are left entirely to the governess. But at the beginning of each term she provides the Queen with a proposed timetable. Rarely, I understand, will the Queen alter it but she does spend at least an hour at the beginning of each week with the governess to find out how things are progressing, and what outings have been planned for the children. Miss Peebles often took her pupils out to explore London. They toured the Tower of London, Madame Tussard’s waxworks exhibition, and sat in the Strangers’ Gallery at the House of Commons.

After the lesson, there was always time for her charges to have some fun. A visit to Battersea Fun Fair or riding on the underground were Prince Andrew’s two favourites.

The Palace spokesman said: “This is part of the education programme. The

Queen likes her children to see things as they are. No doubt Miss Keppell will be continuing on these lines.”

The Royal governess arrives in her classroom, soon after nine o’clock each morning.

Brings Flowers

First to arrive, some 45 minutes later, is Prince Edward, who often brings a small bunch of flowers to decorate his teacher’s desk. The other children go to the Palace each morning in chauffeur-driven, cars but are often collected by their mothers at the end of each day.

On Wednesday afternoons, provided the weather is fine, two hours are devoted to games bn the Palace lawns. Last year, Prince Philip often stood in for the Royal governess, and organised the fun.

_He also- taught Prince Andrew and several of his schoolfriends to swim in the heated-pool at the Palace, and how to .play football. Reports Expected Miss Keppell will frequently meet all the Royal mothers and, like any other teacher, will be closely questioned about her pupils’ behaviour and progress. And at the end of each term, she is expected to produce a report on each of her pupils. She will always have direct access to the Queen and Prince Philip without having to make an appointment first, and will soon be looked upon almost as a member of the family. The Queen is very strict about good manners, so that the new governess will have been told not to tolerate any rudeness from Prince Edward.

For the last 15 years, the Queen has alawys been delighted to receive a very special home-made card on her breakfast tray on Easter morning which has been lovingly made in the nursery school. —Provincial Press Features.

Research On Women.—Officers elected at the annual meeting of the Canterbury branch of the Society of Research on Women in New Zealand: President, Mrs A. Hargreaves; secretary. Mrs A. Hercus: committee, Mesdames P. Ungar, J. Lunn, L. Ogier, K. Thompson, D. McKenzie, Miss D. Chapman.