ROYALTIES

Hokitika Guardian, 14 August 1937, Page 6

ROYALTIES

WHO POSE FOR CAMERAS.

SOME INTIMATE STORIES.

Royalty , and riches do not often - go. together—at least, nowadays. -Yet) there is a young Royal Princess Ills Europe wlio is perhaps one ot the l idlest girls in the world, arid whose per-' soiinL fortune, it would be difficult ao- 1 curately to estimate. • .. . She is well-known and popular Pi in - cess Juliana, of Holland, wnose recent romance, aroused great .enthusiasm al. over the world. Princess Juliana owns* iarge areas of land in the Dutch Colonial Empire, and draws extensive revenues from home as well.

Brought up iu the rigid traditions of the House of Orange, and with .her many financial and social advantages, jr girl with a less fine nature might well have become haughty and spoiled. All who know the young Princess, however, will tell you that hers is a truly lovable character, and that her chief characteristics fire generosity and simplicity. • 1 was curious to meet her when 1 was informed that she was to visit us during hex; stay in England for the wedding of the Duchess of Kent. She came quite alone, well but simply dressed, find hurried into the room where I was waiting; just before we went into the studio, she turned to «*o. with a rueful smile. “1 wonder if you could .lend me a comb?” she asked. “I am afraid my hair has got terribly spoiled.” So 1 lent my comb to one of the richest girls in the world. Perhaps the most tragic Royal figure ever to visit the studio was the beautiful Queen Helen of Rumania. , I saw her first soon alter King Carol’s return to the throne, when the Queen was practically an'' exile, and public feeling all over the world was roused by her separation from her son. the Crown Prince Michael.

A Sorrowful Queen

1 have seldom seen a more beautiful woman. Tall,, stately, and with perfect features and a gentle smile, she radiated kindness and humanity. Bui, it was her eyes which caught and held my gaze—-eyes in which: the tragedy of her life was clearly and poignantly written. The Queen was very interested in some old pictures of Queen Victoria, and spent some time with me while 1 showed them to her and told her something of their history. She told me other;. things about the great old Queen, and I was as interested as she was.

Suddenly, l said; ‘‘What a pity youlittle boy isn’t here. He would be very interested.” ; . , ; _ I .regretted the v words as soon as they were uttered. For. a moment the Queen sighed, and into those lovely dark eyes came a look of ineffable sadness. Then she smiled very slightly.

“Yes; but 1 do not see him very often nowadays,” she said; lin'd the words recalled the tragedy of this Royal mother, parted through misunderstanding and ill-fortune from her only child. One of the loveliest. of our young visitors was Princess Marina of Greece, years later to become the Duchess of Kent. I took an instant liking to this quiet, pleasant-spoken- girl with her long hair and happy smile, and I thought at the time that here was a princess who would grace any Royal household.

Distinguished Visitors One of the most distinguished-look-ing men to visit the studio was the late Duke of Orleans, pretender to the throne of France and a direct descend ant of the unfortunate Louis of Bourdon, who died on the guillotine.

He was the last word in old world courtesy, and his peculiar little bow whenever lie spoke to a woman I shall not easily forget. I remember on one occasion he came to see some pictures, and for several minutes looked veryythouglifuHy at one of the. prints. Jt was a picture of himself in morning dress. “You have made me look quite important,” he said. “I am sure I don’t really look as smart as this.”

As I looked at the?descendant of one of the greatest houses in the world, J wished that some of the really unimportant people who" are so conscious of j their own dignity might have seen the • Duke and overheard his remark! One of the most beautiful Royalties to visit the studio was the Grand -Duchess Ivyra of Russia. This lovely :golden-haired girl is the daughter ot the man who wOukLbe sitting on the Russiaii throne had' the revolution not driven the Romanoffs from the country.

Tall, golden-haired, and extremely pleasant to talk with, the Grand Duchess was a great friend of Princess Juliana, and on the day when the latter borrowed my comb, the Grand Duchess Kyra paid us a visit.

Both girls were to.be bridesmaids at the Royal wedding, and they were in very high spirits. I heard them laughing and joking in the studio, and afterwards saw a picture which, on the spur of the moment, they‘ had had taken in each other’s company. I have never seen a happier pair of girls.

It was my privilege to arrange a sitting for the present head of the oldest dynasty in the world—His Royal Highness Prince Hirohito, now thfe Emperor of Japan.