Queen Mary’s New Residence

Manawatu Times, Volume 61, Issue 145, 22 June 1936, Page 11

Queen Mary’s New Residence

Queen Mary is naturally taking a keen personal interest in tho preparation of Marlborough House for her reception in September, for from that date this stately mansion will bo her Londoti residence, states a correspondent of the Sydney Alorning Hsrald. Her Majesty has already paid several visits of inspection.

Marlborough House has been empty for sevoral years, and there is consequently much to do in tho way of redccoration, alteration, and making modern structural additions. Sarah Churchill, should her ghost revisit tho scene of her triumphs and ultimate eclipse, would not recognise the interior. The house is really a palace for size and magnificence, but Queen Mary’s chief idea is to change it into a “home,” while preserving its dignity'.

Behind the white blinds, that can be seen from the Mall, men and women are scrubbing and cleaning, fixing new decorations, measuring and fitting new carpets and curtains,- - stripping the walls, and redecorating tho fireplaces. It is II years since curtains hung at the windows of Alarlborough House, and, though it was afterwards prepared for the use of the King—then Prince of Wales —it has not been lived in since the death of Queen Alexandra. Only the servants' quarters and garages have been occupied, and they form the most up-to-date part of the house. The servants’ quarters, occupied Dy some of the King’s small staff at York House, will be enlarged to their old size to accommodate tho Queen’s larger staff.

Tho garages, however, with room for six cars, were completely renovated after Queen Alexandra’s death for the then Prince of Wales, with tho latest washing and greasing devices, which have been constantly kept up to date by the King’s chauffeurs. The telephone, which at present connects the garages directly with Buckingham Palace and York House, will be altered to communicate with Alarlborough House onco more, and minor alterations will bo mado to enable the Queen’s big limousines to'bo more easily handled.