A GRACIOUS ACT.
FAVOURED BY THE QUEEN.
When the King and Queen were driving out of Buckingham Palace recently the Queen stopped tho car at the gate and beckoned to a little girl who was curtesying and waving a big bunch of roses. The crowd which had gathered outside the gates saw the footman jump down and open the door of the Royal car. They saw tho child walk up to the car and the Queen put her hand out and help her in. The excitement of the crowd grew when they saw the Queen accept the child's roses and the King raise his hat and shake her hand.
The pretty incident ended with the child leaving the car and curtseying in the gateway and tho Royal car moving off with the Queen holding the girl's roses in the air.
Nobody in the crowd realised that the incident was a definite appointment, which the child had made and Her Majesty had confirmed by telephone. The little girl was a visitor from South Africa and had written the following letter to the Queen: My Dear Queen,—l am from South Africa. 1 am 7J, years old and 1 am sailing again for South Africa on Thursday, the 23rd. Perhaps Your Highness would be gracious enough to let me know when I may come and stand at the gates of the palace and see you pass through the gates for a drive and then I shall carry some roses by which Your Highness will recognise me. With best wishes and prayers for Your Highness, I am one of your little people. —Thaphne Messina. To this came the reply: The Queen is leaving the palace at 2.45 to-day. Come to the palace gates and I will tell the inspector to look out for you and give you a good place. "When 1 saw the Queen coming in her car I waved my roses," said Thaphne, "I didn't think the Queen would stop, but she did and beckoned to me. I ran to the car and Her Royal Majesty drew me inside and said, ' How nice of you to write to me.'
"So 1 handed the Queen my roses and said, 'Will Your Majesty accept these roses with n.y love ? ' "The Queen did, and I was so pleased. Then Her Majesty admired my fur coat, and the King raised his hat and said, 'How nice and kind of you to bring those roses for the Queen.' The Queen said, '1 will write to you in South Africa. I will get your address from the South African Bank.' "
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Bibliographic details
New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19717, 17 August 1927, Page 7
Word Count
432A GRACIOUS ACT. New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19717, 17 August 1927, Page 7
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