ROYAL LOVE MATCH.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18342, 7 March 1923, Page 11

ROYAL LOVE MATCH.

DUKE OF YORK'S FIANCEE.

STRENGTH OF CHARACTER. "THE INDUSTRIAL PRINCE." [from our own CORRESPONDENT.] LONDON. Jan. 26. From Sandringham came the official intimation : "It is with the greatest pleasura that the King and Queen announce the betrothal of their beloved son the Duke of York to the Lady Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon, daughter of the Earl and Countess of Strathmore and Kinghorno to which union the King has gladly given bis consent." Lady Elizabeth Angela Marguerite Bowes-Lyon, the youngest and only unmarried daughter of the Earl and Countess of Strathmore, was born on August 4, 1900, so that she is five years younger than the Duke. She i» extremely pretty ond was one of the most admired of Princess Mary's bridesmaids. The Duke of York has on several occasions been the guest of the Earl and Counters of Strathiuore at Glamis Castlehis most recent visit having been in September iast —so that he t-nd Lady Elizabeth have seen a good deal of each other. Lady Elisabeth, who is very popular in society, is a very fine dancer and a favourite partner of both the Prince of Wale* and the Duke of York. The Duke of York has been called "the industrial Prince," and a personal friend, writing of him, observed: "Perhaps no other title would be more to his liking." This title the Duke has won for himself Oy the keen and continuing interest he has taken in Labour matters. He lias an insatiable appetite for knowledge concerning the conditions of industry and the workers. He pays many- private visits to factories, mines, mills, and all kinds of works, and enjoys discussing problems of work and wages with both employers and workmen. He is a zealous president of the Industrial Welfare Society—no mere figurehead—and never misses one of its meetings. He keeps in touch with Labour leaders. reads Mr. Sidney Webb's and other books, for knowledge of Labour policy and aspirations, and probably knows more than any other man of his own age of the industrial conditions of to-day, and of the views of workers and employers with regard to them. When he went to Cambridge in 1919 his studies were in history, economics and civics. To the national work of breaking down the barriers of suspicion and lack of knowledge between class and class, the Duke made an important contribution, all his own, when, in 1921, he invited 400 boys, half from the great public, schools and half from purely workingclass homes to join in the friendly intercourse of a " Play the Game " seaside camp. The experiment was so great a success that he repeated it last summer. An All-round Sportsman. The Duke is as keen at sport as at study. He hunts, shoots, fishes, stalks, sculls, plays cricket, swims, dances,' and steers an aeroplane with thorough enjoyment. He is a first-class shot, and a fine, lefthanded player at squash jackets and tennis. During the war he served in the Navy, and was present at the Battle of Jutland. Everywhere the news was hailed with delight that the Duke of York had foundhis future bride in one of Britain's most ancient of nolle families. The Times remarks of the Duke: "He is to most people, whether they know him or not, just a young Englishman, brought up like others of his kind, devoted like them to the manly sports and pursuits which help to make them what they are—what they showed themselves to be in the warand, in the more serious purpose and business of life, strenuomlv desirous to do his duty in that state of life to which it has pleased God to call him. His betrothed is a friend of his sister's, and much loved by all who know her." Amusing and Pretty. Lady Elizabeth is described by a friend as one " who combines great amiability with great strength of character and determination. No one could possibly help liking her, she is so lively and amusing, •is well as being exceedingly pretty. Unfortunately, though, her photographs don't do her justice, for it is her expression that is her chief beauty, and it is quite impossible for the camera to catch it. She is essentially an unselfish girl. For th« last 18 months she has been away very little, owing to the illness of her mother. Ever since her operation in 1921 the Countess of Sirathmore has been more or less an invalid, and Lady Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon, the only jrirl left at home, undertook all the entertaining and housekeeping in her mother's place. This is no light task, I can assure you, especially at Glamis, where it is not at all an uncommon thing for 100 people to be entertained and provided for.

"Lady Elizabeth never went to school but has been educated by governesses at home under the supervision of the Countess of Strathmore. She was so quick and intelligent at learning all subjects that it is difficult to say what was her especially strong point. She is what might be called an all-round girl, at both work and play. She plays a creditable game at tennis and golf, and although she does not shoot much herself, there is nothing she likes better than a tramp over the moor with the guns at Glamis."