SIX YEARS OLD

Evening Post, Volume CXXII, Issue 68, 17 September 1936, Page 19

SIX YEARS OLD

PRINCESS MARGARET ROSE

"A VERY CHARMING PERSON"

Princess Margaret Rose, younger daughter of the Duke and Duchess of York, was six years old on August 21 'states the "Sunday Express"). "Our Princess,"' as she is called in i Scotland, spent her birthday at her birthplace, Glamis Castle.' This ,is how her happy day was occupied. In the morning she received her presents and afterwards paid calls with her. mother, for Princess Margaret Rose | has a strongly developed social sense. | The afternoon treat was a picnic-tea on a neighbouring beach. Her companions at the picnic were Princess Elizabeth, "Nurse," and Yorkie their pet terrier. One of the last,things the King did before leaving for his holiday was to order a present to be sent to his niece at Glamis.. Queen Mary gave her a workbasket. SURPRISES. Not a present to be opened before breakfast is the only rule enforced on birthdays in the: household. Princess Margaret Rose is an excitable child, and-the Duchess-of-York knew that prunes and cereal would be pushed im r patiently away once a little girl caught sight of all the birthday packages arrfanged ori a table in her mother's- room. There were surprises among those packages. One was a lovely length of tweed • for' Princess: Margaret Rose's winter coats. It had' been specially woven for her^-a reddish gold to suit her colouring. ■ What kind of a child /is Margaret Rose? She is merry, witty, with'a.dash of devilment. ;She : makes up stories, and is a "ready imitator.- ..She- is entirely unconscious of her position. Both her parents are determined that this clever little girl shall riot be spoilt. That is . why. few stories ' about her have ever appeared in newspapers." She speaks beautifully..' ■ Baby talk has always been discouraged in the nurseries. Nicknames are taboo. When quite a baby Princess Margaret. Rose called her parents Father and Mother and her sister by her beautiful name —Elizabeth. ■ Milliners and dressmakers^ all^want the honour of dressing the little princesses. Princess Margaret Rose, is the pet customer because she is : never bored by fittings, and when Elizabeth's feet begin to move restlessly she will stand like a, statue until the last pin is in place. ; ~ DANCING A GREAT JOY. . Princess Margaret Rose is musical •and has a charming clear soprano voice.. She has her own piano, and takes her five-finger exercises seriously. Dancing is her great joy, and she will drop the prettiest good-night curtsy to her mother's friends. She is a real blonde and her soft hair is brushed night and morning to encourage the natural curl. She has her mother's dark blue eyes and well-de-fined eyebrows and her lively intelligent expression. Princess Elizabeth is happiest in a ■jersey and skirt. Princess Margaret Rose loves a dress of soft yellow or blue'silk. !Triey only wear hats'on special occasions. White socks and gloves -and sturdy brown shoes complete their every day\ outfit. Princess Elizabeth delights in a romp with "her friends. Princess Margaret Rose, with her air of quiet detached amusement, prefers to play on her own. But she can be most amusing at parties/; and the friends she does make are devoted to her. She is mechanically minded like the Duke of York, and loves something that "goes," such as her electrically propelled motor-car and her toy cycle. She is not interested in dolls. An independent little girl who does not copy her elders, but devises her own way of doing things. VIVID INTEREST IN LIFE. Princess Elizabeth has a vivid interest in life, in people, in things. Margaret's interest must be caught and held. Ponies and dogs do not mean so much to her as her piano, and "Uncle George" (the Duke' of Kent) is a favourite uncle because he will sit down at her own miniature piano and play to her. Both the little princesses are healthy children and have hearty appetites. Breakfast .consists of egg, milk, cereal, and fruit. Lunch is a hearty meal, and the birthday one was her favourite—chicken, fruit, and ice-cream. For tea they have milk, bread and butter, home-made jam, and cakes. And, of course, there was a pink-and-white cake on her birthday. Sometimes the cakes are made by Princess Elizabeth on her own cooking stove, and then little Margaret will wrinkle up her nose and tease her more practical sister by dropping a cake on the floor and pretending it's as hard as the stones on the beach. Elizabeth's protests will evoke screams of laughter until "nurse" intervenes. There are nursery quarrels, of course. A story is told of how Margaret Rose in mischievous mood put salt in her sister's tea' and tapioca in the bath. But they always kiss-and-be-friends before bedtime. An August child is Margaret Rose. Mercurial. Lovable. Artistic. Intensely interesting. "She's gifted," says her nurse, with pride. Altogether a very charming person. •