ROYAL TREASURES

Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue 108, 8 May 1937, Page 8

ROYAL TREASURES

DISPLAY IN LONDON

PERSONAL ASSOCIATIONS

WIDE VARIETY OF OBJECTS

(From "The Post's" Representative)

LONDON, April 14.

One of the most interesting exhibitions Londoners have seen for some time is that of the Royal Treasures. Collected for the primary object of aiding the rebuilding fund of Westminster Hospital, it offers -an opportunity of examining' Royal relics, all of which, with the exception of four, have never been, exhibited before. Valuable loans have been made by members of the Royal Family, and by distinguished peopla in all parts of the country. A proportion of the exhibits'are of a,kind to appeal to art connoisseurs, but the organisers have wisely emphasised the personal. interest associated with Royal relics and autographs. Pictures, plate, books, with heraldic and monogram bindings, jewellery and enamels, needlework, porcelain, furniture, MSS. and costume, the variety is as wide as could possibly be expected. It is appropriate that in this Coronation year the ; exhibition should be very preponderantly British, but there is a foreign section in which, Pourbus's portraits of Louis XIII and Anne of Austria are conspicuous. Portraits range from one of Queen Elizabeth by Gheeraedts and Zucchero to a miniature of Princess Elizabeth, lent by Queen Mary. Included in the exhibition are:— A portrait of Henry VII, lent by the Society of Antiquaries, which is a fine presentation of the King as a man of intellect, and the piquant declaration of Charles II "to all his loving subjects ... denying the false and malicious report" that he had ever contracted a marriage with Mrs. Lucy Walters, the mother of the Duke of Monmouth. : '■■"■ SIXTEENTH1 CENTUKIT - EMBROIDERY. " Among many fine examples of needlework is an embroidery by Lady Jane Grey.' It consists of characteristically 16th century embroidery in coloured silks and metal thread, with heraldic devices arranged in a floral design. The pathetic Queen v:ho reigned for eleven days was a skilful' needlewoman, as. well as being beautiful, virtuous, and a gifted-classical scholar.. . ' An; autograph letter (1838) of birthday greetings from Queen Victoria,is written' on pink notepaper, which has an elaborate, lace-like border. Paper, phrasing, and the plain signature, "Victoria," seem to yield the quintessence of Victorianism. : \ , Other relics of interest include a'redgold curl -from the, head of .Mary of Scots, Queen Elizabeth's baby cap and mittens, the Prince Regent's waistcoat whicli Mrs. Fitzherbert-kept to, the end of her iife, the scarlet military coat in which" Queen Victoria' reviewed the troops 'the diamond-studded box which George the Fifth gave to Queen Mary on her 1 wedding day. There is the silver crucifix which Mary of Scots gave.to her weeping women on the scaffold, and a ohe-eyedelephant which is the favourite toy of Prince Edward of Kent1' ' ; . A fIiONARCH'S PROMISE. . Relics-greatly: valued . - by; : a .wellknown ./family,," are Henry f , v Vlls feathered' hat and. Anne Boleyn's. little slippers lying together in-a case. They have a ;story attached to them. Riding one day with his young .Queen.and his favourite -courtier, Nicholas s ßristowe, the King passed the manor of Ayot St. Lawrence. The favourite admired it and asked whose it was. . >-■ "It is mine," said the King, "but now it shall be yours"—and to prove the «ood faith of the gift gave the young man the plumed hat he wore, and made the Queen take off her embroidered shoes- Ever since that day the hat and shoes have descended from father to son with the estate. _ The crimson velvet canopy made for Queen Elizabeth's chair when she stayed in Norwich is to be seen, the velvet and gold embroidery as bright Other treasures include Edward Vll's childish pigskin gloves .marked inside "P W " for Prince of Wales, which he gave to his nurse; the .portable harmonium with which- Queen Victoria and the Prince Consort enlivened Sunday evenings on the Royal yacht; the fan made for Queen Mary from the feathers of a woodcock shot by King George V; her little tortoiseshellcovered birthday book called "Leaves of Remembrance," in which miniatures of her family are painted on ivory pages; Princess Margaret Roses christening mug; ..Princess Alexandra of Kent's gold rattle. . Queen Mary has also sent a fine Hepplewhite chair, the seat of which was worked by herself in petit point.