Princess Elizabeth

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXVI, Issue 110, 22 April 1936, Page 7

Princess Elizabeth

TENTH BIRTHDAY No Child Could Be More In Love With Life FUTURE BURDENS The most popular child in the British Empire, Princess Elizabeth of York, celebrated her tenth birthday yesterday. With the accession of Edward VIII., she has also become the most important, as she is second in the line of succession. Should King Edward VIH die without issue, the crown would pass to the Duke of York, and next in line are his two daughters, the Princesses Elizabeth and Margaret Hose. If, however, the duke should have a son in the future, the latter would succeed in priority over the tw'o princesses. The Princess was born in the London bouse of Lord and Lady Strathmore, after the late King George had disapproved of the intention of the Duke and Duchess of York to rent a house in London, as lie did not wish a possible heir to the throne to be born in a rented house. Lord and Lady Strathmore therefore placed their house at the disposal of the Duke and Duchess. Particular attention has been paid to the little Princess’ upbringing, and in consequence she is quite unaffected by the responsibilities of her birth. “1 have never met a child who seemed

more in love with life,” wrote one biographer. ‘‘However heavy a burden royalty may be, this little Princess has not been allowed to feel its weight Whatever the possibilities of her destiny, her mother is determined no shadow from the future shall invade the bright present and shorten one day of what should be the birthright of every child—long years of happy irresponsibility.”

Nevertheless, she has to make a number of public appearances, nnd at the Silver Jubilee last year her duties were particularly heavy.