The Royal Family

Dominion, Volume 31, Issue 98, 20 January 1938, Page 5

The Royal Family

How They Spent the Christmas Season

‘‘Dominion” Special Service. —By Air Mail.

(By

Fenella. )

London, December 31. QN the morning of Christmas Day, the Royal party attended church. One of the few remaining places in London where the cutsom of family prayers is maintained every morning is Buckingham Palace. The service, which takes place whether or not their Majesties are in residence, is conducted by the King’s domestic chaplain in the private chapel of the Palace. The custom of family prayers at the Palace is a direct link with the reign of Queen Victoria, and nothing is permitted to interfere with it.

Family parties have been the order of the day. Over the Christmas and New Year holidays, England’s country homes are full to overflowing, for the example of “family” gatherings, which has been set by the King and Queen at their Sandringham estate, is being widely followed. At Sandringham, just now, their Majesties are entertaining one of the largest parties which have ever been gathered there. In addition to the King and Queen, visitors to Norfolk include Queen Mary, the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester, the Duke and Duchess of Kent, whose little daughter’s birthday, it will be remembered, falls on Christmas Day, Princess Elizabeth, Princess Margaret and other Royal children.

During the holiday the King Intends to play golf and do a little shooting. Incidentally, he has been playing a good deal lately and has been coaching the Princesses. They have a set of small clubs of their own. The Princesses, I hear, have just added to their list of pets. They have acquired a pair of rabbits, which they have left behind them in a hutch in Buckingham Palace gardens. When they are in town they visit this hutch at least once each day. Princess Elizabeth was one of 1500 children who, at a London theatre, sang with great enthusiasm a special

new children’s verse for the National Anthem.

With the Queen, the'Princesses went to a matinee of the children’s play, “Where the Rainbow Ends,” now having a Christmas season at a London theatre.

The new verso which was sung with “God Save The King,” had been specially written for the occasion by Miss Italia Conti, and had the official approval of Buckingham Palace. Here it is:— We who are children weak, We for the future speak— Rainbow, we bring. Children of Empire rise! Hope—Faith, our battle cries. Who lives if England dies? God Save The King!

No one sang more enthusiastically than the Princess. She ston'd erect, with head thrown back and shining eyes—a charming little figure in her neat coat of cherry-coloured velvet. She followed every line of the performance with pure childish enjoyment, and broke into fervent applause when St. George triumphantly killed the dragon. “I loved it all—it was wonderful,” she said afterwards. After the performance Princess Elizabeth was given two copies of the music of “Where the Rainbow Ends” —one for herself and one for Princess Margaret, who stayed at home with a cold.