Princess Elizabeth And Upbringing Of Her Children

Greymouth Evening Star, 29 September 1950, Page 6

Princess Elizabeth And Upbringing Of Her Children

With tiie nows of the birth of a second child to Princess Elizabeth and the Duke of Edinburgh, this time a daughter, public interest in the Royal children, always keen, is likely to be intensified, writes a 1 jondon corresponden 1.

The upbringing of Royal children is of national importance and that of the small Princesses, Elizabeth and Margaret, was followed with eager interest. Theirs was a happy childhood, secure in affection and the intimacy of a closely-knit family circle. As far as possible, Princess Elizabeth and the Duke have tried to ensure the same serene childhood for their son and, no doubt, a similar pattern will be followed for the ’ new Princess.

Prince Charles, second in line of succession to the Throne of the British Empire, walked at the age of one year four months, but his first steps were not allowed to take him into the news.

Sturdy Prince Charles The baby Prince Charles is a sturdy child who from birth has never been coddled. Whatever the weather, except thunderstorms, he is taken out of doors for several hours. Y z et Princess Elizabeth is strict in her rule that no one suffering from a cold shall ever go near him. . Prince Charles spends his days, when he is not out in the garden of Clarence House or in nearby Green Park, in a simply furnished day nursery. It is. perhaps, indicative of what plans his parents have made for his future that among the pictures on the nursery walls are three chosen specially by Prince Philip—all of them to do with the sea. They are a coast scene showing Englishmen marching out of the shadows of past eras to answer the call of Drake’s drum, minesweepers at sea, and a harbour scene. Even if the boy is not destined to go to sea like his father, there is little doubt that both his father and mother are anxious that he should be interested in sport when he grows up. Already Prince Philip has presented his son with a tiny cricket bat, and he make no secret of the fact that lie hopes one day his son will be a first-class player. He has often been heard to remark that he wants his son to be a “man’s man.” If the present progress of the infant Prince is maintained he will more than fulfil the wishes of his parents. He is already above average height and weighs over two stone. He has sturdy limbs and the bright blue eyes of his mother and the firm chin and nose of his father. His hair, not quite as fair as his father’s, is not curly like Princess Elizabeth’s was when she was a child. In fact, he is every inch a little boy.

Quicklv Growing

And he is quickly growing up. Princess Elizabeth, anxious that he should learn grown-up manners as soon as possible, dispensed with the hi'gh-chair stage when Prince Charles started to eat solids. Instead she had a special tiny table and chair made which seats two, so that the Prince can have a little playmate to tea occasionally. , . , Like other children he loves to bang his unbreakable mug with his spoon, and is not above throwing the whole lot on the floor’ when he is finished. , , As soon as Prince Charles coula crawl he made friends with Shandy, his father’s terrier, who also accompanies him. on his daily trips through St James’ Park, where the infant Prince takes great interest in the swans and ducks on the lake. After his full day of play comes his bath. At first he didn’t take too kindly to the water but now, with the aid of his favourite duck swimming in it with him, it is a job to get him to leave. If he gets the chance he will try to eat the soap. And so to bed —no longer in his first small cot, but in the night eryFuture Planned While the baby Prince sleeps his future is being planned for- him. One day he will be King Charles 111. He is second in line to the Throne, though until his mother becomes Queen he will not be Prince of Wales. His grandfather and grandmother are playing a large part in his upbringing. Already it has been decided that Miss Helen Lightbody, his nanny, will educate him until he is five, then he will have a resident nursery g°Y el ’ _ ness, supplemented by visiting tutors as he grows older. Later he is to go to Eton and possibly afterwards to Oxford for a few terms.