QUEEN'S MOTHER

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23073, 25 June 1938, Page 12

QUEEN'S MOTHER

[LATE COUNTESS' LIFE

SOME FAMILY HISTORY NOTED DUTCH ANCESTOR THE HOUSEHOLD AT GLAMIS The death of the Countess of Strathmore, mother of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth, in her 76th year, has removed a lady who maintained the highest traditions of the older English and - Scottish nobility. Very little social limelight ever fell upon her, even after she and the Earl beeamo associated by marriage with the Royal Family, but no figures'in the Scottish peerage havo been more revered north of the Tweed, and specially by the inhabitants of their county of Forfarshire, and the tenants of the estate surrounding the famous Glamis Castle. The countess belonged to a family whi6h has played a not inconsiderable part in English history. A daughter of the Rev. C. W. F. Cavendish-Bentinck, a grandson of the third Duke of Portland, she was a descendant of Hans William Bentinck, a Dutchman of noble birth, who was, perhaps, more than any other individual, responsible for the safe installation of William of Orange on the throne of England. Picturesque Career Bentinck, who belonged to a noblo family in the Duchy of Guelder, was page of honour and, later, confidential adviser to William, and in 1677 was sent to England to solicit on his master's behalf, the hand of Mary, daughter of James, Duke of York, later James 11. When James whs forced to flee from the throne and ' William was invited to succeed him, Bentinck superintended the arrangements for the expedition. Given various high posts at court, he was granted in 1689 the earldom of Portland, which had become extinct the previous year. He fought with distinction as a lieutenant-general at the Battle of the Boyne, and later at Landen and Kamur, and helped to arrange the Peace of Ryswick. In later life he carried out a number of important diplomatic missions. Descent From Royalty Bentinck married in England and his children divided their allegiance, some settling in Holland and attaining distinguished careers. His eldest son, who inherited the title, was granted a dukedom. On marrying a daughter of - the Duke of Devonsnire, the third duke •was allowed by special Act of Parliament to adopt his wife's surname, Cavendish, as a piefix to his own. This Duke of Portland was twice Prime Minister of England, in 1783 and again from 1807 to 1809, and ono of his sons. Lord William Cavendish-Bentinck, was Governor-General of India from 1827 to 1835. It was once said with doubtful accuracy that if tho Countess of Strathmore had been born a boy she would have become Duke of Portland. A point, of greater interest is that on the distaff side she was a descendant of King Edward 111. of England. The Earl, for his part, could trace the descent of the Bowes-Lyon family to a daughter of Robert 11. of Scotland. When their youngest daughter, Lady Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon, married the Duke of York the match thus seemed to all historically-minded Scotsmen a by no means unequal alliance, since the bride had Scottish royal blood in her reins and could claim an English royal ancestor, in common with her husband. Simple Country Life Before her marriage to the earl at tho age of 18 the countess had been simply brought up, and the rest of her life, in spite of rank, and title, was spent in a homely fashion, for the most part in the country. Tall and good-look-ing, with remarkable dignity and grace of bearing, she aided her husband in his many duties as a Scottish and English landholder, and later as Lord Lieutenant of Forfarshire. The task of bringing up her large family of six sons and four daughters kept her fully occupied for many years. The household divided its - time between Glamis, the Scottish seat of the fan)ily,' and St. Paul's, Waldenbury, near Welwyn, about 25 miles from r . London, where the future Queen, youngest but one of the children, spent most of her girlhood. . - Although Lady Elizabeth attended a school in London for two years, most of her education was carried out at home, her mother being chief governess. It was a tribute to the countess' own culture thnt her daughter jbecamo proficient in French and German and mastered many other accomplishments, at fhe same time gaining a wide and discriminating knowledge of the arts. Glamis War Hospital When the Great War broke out four of the sons—all who were of military age—joined the colours and the fa'mily moved north to Glamis, which was converted into a hospital. Lady Elizabeth, who was' only 15, was too young to become a nurse, but she worked hard in many other ways, under her mother's very capable direction. New Zealand 6oldiers who spent their convalescence there came away with the happiest memories of the Strathmore household, all the members of which won their regard and admiration. The war dealt the countess a heavy blow in the death of her fourth son, Fergus, who was killed in action in 1915. Another son was wounded and spent a long time as a prisoner of war in Germany. Iri 1921 King George and Queen Mary, accompanied by the Duke of York, paid a visit to Glamis, being the first reigning sovereigns to do so since Charles 11. Her mother being then seriously ill, Lady Elizabeth acted very capably as hostess. The visit was the beginning of a lasting friendship, and, when the Royal was married in February, 1922, Lady Elizabeth was one of the bridesmaids. Her own engagement to the Duke followed in January, "and the marriage took place in the following April. When the earl and the countess celebrated their golden wedding in 1931. they received many gifts, including two pieces of gold plate from the King and Queen, and their portraits, bv the celebrated painter Philip de Laszlo, given respectively by their children and the tenants of the Scottish estates. The . ' ast public appearance made by the countess was on the proud occasion of the Coronation last year. She and the earl viewed the cercmonv from honoured places in tho Royal box within the/Abbey.