THE QUEEN'S LILACS

Evening Post, Volume CXXV, Issue 69, 23 March 1938, Page 17

THE QUEEN'S LILACS

(From "The Post's" Representative.)

; . LONDON, March 5. ;'■ Because white lilac is one of the Queen's favourite spring flowers, especially for decking her private apartments, many more lilac trees are to be planted in the gardens of Buckingham Palace, Windsor Castle, the Royal Lodge at Windsor, and Sandringham. Another favourite flower of the Queen is syringa or "mock orange blossom," as it is often called by'country folk. A great deal of attention has also been given during the past few months' to the Eoyal nurseries at Frogmore where so many of the flowers for the Eoyal tables are grown. Arrangements are being made at 'Windsor Castle for the arrival of the Court at the end of this month for a 'six weeks' stay. At Easter the King and Queen will entertain a family party, including Queen Mary and- the Duke and Duchess of Kent. Towards 'the end of the visit ambassadors and 'diplomats will be among the guests at the Castle.

The Queen, who in May last year presented the Football Association Cup to the captain of the Sunderland team, has just learned of the fulfilment of

a gipsy's prophecy in 1892 that Sunderland would not win the Cup until a Scottish Queen came to the Throne. Mr. William Perry, one of the oldest supporters of the Sunderland Club, recalled the incident and his description of it was sent to the Queen. i DUCHESS LEARNS TO TYPE. I The Duchess ; of Gloucester used a typewriter for' the first time when with the Duke she visited the British Industries Fair at Olympia this week. She was shown the smallest and lightest typewriter in the world. It is no higher than a matchbox and is made in all kinds of pastel shades likely to. appeal to women. The Duchess was wearing a threepiece suit of primrose yellow with a primrose-coloured ' felt hat to match, and a primrose-coloured typewriter was selected for her to test. "I have never used one of these before," she said, and then typed the word "cat/1 while the . Duke stood , watching. •■■-... . The Duchess enjoyed another new experience when she looked in on the All-England badminton championships and became so enthralled that she overv stayed her scheduled twenty.-minutes. "I simply must stay to the finish of this," she remarked as she watched a fast, exciting match. "I have never seen anything like it before." She admitted that as a little girl she had played something like badminton, but the modern game • completely astonished her. NEW SPORTS CLOTHES. I Women who are choosing racegoing I modes for the Grand National on March 23 were interested in the new fashion in sports clothes launched by the Duchess of Gloucester at the week-i

A GIPSY PROPHECY

end. A practical idea that other women ■will adopt is that of the zipp fastener running right down the front of her three-quarter;length fur coat. The coat, of grey kid, looks striking with blaclj crepe piping, spaced in panels about eight inches apart. • White and turquoise blue make one of the evening colour schemes selected recently by the Duchess. , Mauve and wine are combined in a new day ensemble. Her choice of ball gown at a dance the other night;was white lace embroidered all *• over with turquoise and pearls and worn with a matching coatee. Navy blue, soft tones of yellow, and shades of mauve are included in. her spring wardrobe. In addition, she has some black and white ensembles, as she finds these so practical. ; QUEEN MARY MEETS! "ME. BROWN." Queen Mary had a shock during her tour of Westminster Hospital's new nurses' home after she had opened it recently and named it "The Queen Mary Nurses' Home." While in the educational unit the matron pressed a button and a cupboard, door sprang i open revealing a skeleton, known to; the nurses as "Mr. Brown." It is used for demonstration purposes. Queen

"Sport and General" Photo.

Mary was momentarily startled, and then joined in the general laughter.

Princess Margaret has selected a pretty blue lovebird from the Buckingham Palace aviary as a gift for her cousin, Princess Alexandra of Kent. It is not generally known that' Buckingham Palace has* a fine aviary, in which Princess Margaret takes a great interest. It was started by" Queen Alexandra, who was fond of budge; rigars and parakeets. King George V decided to let the aviary remain in his mother's memory, although neither he nor Queen Mary was specially attracted to these birds. The late King's favourite feathered pet was a parrot. Now that the little Princesses are at the Palace, the budgerigars are .coming into their own again. Princess Margaret is especially fond of them, and has a green one which she is teaching to talk. THE DUTCH CHRISTENING. Arrangements are being made for the christening/of Princess Beatrix of Holland. The Wjabe will be wrapped in a fine rbbe-otßtussels lace, with a sash of orange saftrf ribbon. An erminetrimmed satin cloak and bonnet of hand-made lace will complete the outfit. The bonnet, in accordance with Dutch custom, denotes not only the standing of her family but ■ also'her religion. ; Although she cannot yet wear, them; the Princess will also receive formally on this occasion some of the heirloom jewels which go with the. traditional Dutch head-dress of a high-born lady. . Queen Wilhelmina wishes, the ceremony to be as simple as possible; and, if present decisions hold, it will be very much a family affair, though the infant Princess will make her first journey to The Hague for it. . , .