PRINCESS AND FAMILY

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21919, 1 October 1934, Page 11

PRINCESS AND FAMILY

I INTEREST IN ART VISITS TO ENGLAND LOVE SECRET WELL KEPT [from oi;r own correspondent] LONDON, August 31 A writer in the London Star narrates some interesting impressions and recollections regarding Princess Marina and her relatives. He says:— "There is one interest; that should form a great link between Princess Marina and the Queen —her interest in art. Talk turned much upon the art gallery that Prince Paul of Yugoslavia has founded at Belgrade. It is his greatest hobby. He is continually adding to it—the El Greeo portrait, for instance, which is at present cin temporary exhibition at the National Gallery, has been bought by Prince Paul for Belgrade. Both his wife and his sister-in-law have always taken the greatest interest in it, and are quite as pleased as the Prince that it is now regarded, by experts as a perfect example of a national gallery in miniature. The section devoted to modern British painter;! is particularly strong. Pr meess Marina has much more knowledge of modern British painters than the average well-educated English girl. . . . Roy.il Friendship "Little is known of that very remarkable man Prince Paul of Yugoslavia in this country. His frequent visits to England are always informal holidays, and the only people who know him really well are the art experts he consults about his collection. Jn the Balkans, however, his name is a household word as King Alexander of Yugoslavia's only real friend and adviser. The friendship between the cousins is amazing. At almost any public function of importance, immediately behind the King and Queen walk Prince Paul and his wife, Princess Olga. Alaxander, rigid-minded dictator and tremendously hard worker, has not got the gift of friendship. His Queen, a Rumanian Princess, concerns herself chiefly with her children and domestic matters. "Without his cousin Paul, King Alexander would be one of the most ; lonely men in the world. Prince Paul's amazing influence has caused bitter jealousy, but both he and hiis wife are such masters of tact that nothing has ever made the slightest rift in his i friendship with the King. Living largely in such a household, it is not surprising that Princess Marina should have also acquired the same gift. Where Prince George Proposed "It Mould be a mistake to think of Princess Marina as a town-bred girl, happiest at Court functions. The life she prefers best of all is when she spends long summers at Prince Paul's lovely summer residence in the Slovenian Alps. It was here that Prir.ce George proposed to her, and certainly no better setting for a romance could be found than the lovely place on the banks of Lake Bohinska, which is one of Yugoslavia's greatest beauty spots. The Princess is a great walker and climber, and usually accompanies Prince Paul and his friends on their long shooting expeditions into the mountains, and never gets tired. "Prince George has always been considered the 'ladies' man' of the Royal Family. How, many girls he has been j attentive to. his favourite brother the Prince of "Wales may have some idea. How many i;;irls have been in love with him must be a figure far more difficult to estimate. Prince of Wales and a Story "I remember hearing Edgar Wallace make his famous joke at the expense of Prince George at a dinner where the Prince of Wales and Prince George were the guests of honour. In proposing Prince George's health, he said that hundreds of girls found him so fascinating that they made a habit of hanging his picture lit the head of their beds, and tried to dream about him. Tho guests laughed delightedly and cheered the blushing boy, and the Prince of Wales dug his brother in the ribs and almost fell out of his chair with amusement at his discomfiture. "Next to the Prince of Wales, Prince George is now the best after-dinner speaker in the Royal Family. He has entirely overcome the embarrassment which 011I3' a year or two ago used to half overwhelm him when he had to rise and propose a toast or respond." The Prince's Equerry, referring to the development of the romance, related that Prince Paul had invited Prince George to stay with him in Slovenia. When the Prince was in Cowes not long ago, he sent a telegram to Prince Paul asking if he could come. "When he arrived we had no idea that he would propose to Princess Marina, but within five days of his arrival he did so. It was a great surprise to everyone." She has been to Ascot more than once, • and with the Royal party. But she and Prince George have kept their friendship without their especial liking for each other being noticed, even by intimate friends and other members of the Royal l'amly, who had no idea that the young couple were enjoying a romance, which the world now shares."