MARY OF ENGLAND

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23339, 6 May 1939, Page 13 (Supplement)

MARY OF ENGLAND

Concluding the Life Story of Our Beloved QUEEN MARY

Recounted by DIDA (Her Nurse) To her daughter-in-law. ELMA ADAMS

In this concluding instalment of the life-story of our beloved Queen Mary, the biographer treads reverently through jhe Royal Household during the stressful months of 1937 when England , was ruled by three kings. Just what she endured as a wife, then a widow, then the mother of the abdicating monarch, and finally os the Queen who was stepping down graciously to give her place to her daughter-in-law, is told with simple dignity, and leaves an indelible impression of the true greatness of Mary of England.

weakness," which" must be regarded with some disquiet.—Frederick "Willans, Stanley Hewett," Dawson of Pcnn."

On Saturday morning tho bulletin spoke of anxiety. The little Princesses were sent back-to London, and on Sunday were taken by their nurse to their mother, who was still too ill at Royal Lodge, Windsor, to travel to Sandringliam. The Queen's sons, tho Prince of Wales, the Duke of York, and tho Duke of Kent, all hnstened to the Queen in this hour of stress, though tho Duke of Gloucester was suffering from a sore throat and was advised by his doctor not to travel unless necessary.

For Queen Mary every'moment was frought with misgiving and anxiety; she was with the King in his every waking moment—she hung upon the doctor's words. Everything a wife could humanly do the Queen did for her husband. A hush fell over the great house. Those who served Queen Mary spoke in whispers, tryd on tiptoe, longing to offer the sympathy they felt. The first official statement on Sunday said: "In spite of a restless night His Majesty the King has maintained strength"; but-further bulletins were disquieting.

ACCORDING to custom the A Royal Family, with the excep- -*■ of the Duke and Duchess of .York had spent the Christmas of 1935' at Sandringham. The Duchess was confined to her room at Royal Lodge, .Windsor, with an attack of influenzal ? pneumonia. Influenza was prevalent, for it was a cold winter, and the little Princesses Elizabeth and Margaret Rose were at Sandringham in Queen Mary's care. On Christmas Day the Enghsh-speak-in<r world heard for the last time King George's voice, when he said in his broadcast 'mess.age to his people:— "I wish you all, my dear l'riends. a happy Christmas. I have been deeply touched by the greetings which in the last few minutes have reached me from all parts of the Empire. "Let me, in response, send to each of you a greeting from myself. My words will be very simple, but spoken from on this family festival of Christmas. . , "The year that is passing—the 2oth since my accession—has been to mo most memorable. It called forth u spontaneous offering of loyalty and. may I say, of love —which the Queen and I can never forget. . . It is the personal link between me and my people, which I value more than I cau say. . ~ I add a heartfelt prayer that, wherever you are. God may bless and keep-you always." The King's Chill . It was noticed that the King's voice was tired, and we remembered then that for seven years since his illness in 1928-29 he had carried on unremittingly" the duties of his high office. Th«» Etrain of that former illness inevitably remained:." That distinctive vigour • socharacteristic of tho King was lacking in his voice.

The treacherous weather following Christmas had prevented his usual outdoor pursuits, and frequently Queen Mary was seen driving alone. One by one the members of the King's family had departed from Sandringham to fulfil the duties that claimed them.'

For three days Queen Mary never left the house. Sleep was a remote thought. Theresare those who know how she paced the corridor outside the King's room, wringing her hands but bravely controlling the anxiety she felt. Princess Mary tried to console her mother, _ but God alone was her comfort in tliat time oTmental anguish. Heavily wrapped against the wintry weather, lor one brief half-hour they walked in the garden together; the.v were there when the Duchess of Kent arrived. • ' -

Though King George had not taken a great part in the Sandringham shoots, he had walked through, the gardens, and on every Sunday morning that frequent«d" q uarter-m ile to the littln eLurdh- 6rt"ihe'^estate." It was cold, "the air was crisp, but the sun shone. Snow was covering tho vast stretches of the Sandringham grounds with a white pall as His Majesty stood at his window watching his granddaughters snowballing in front of the house—he had caught a chill and dared not venture out. JThen, on the Friday night, January 17, came the first indication of hfs illness. A bulletin from Sandringham House was issued: "The bronchial catarrh from which His Majesty the King is suffering is not severe, but there has appeared signs of cardiac

Tjarge crowds waited outside Buckingham Pala.ce to read the bulletins that were posted on t'he palace railings; while outside the gates at Sandringham many people knelt down and prayed. The thoughts of the nation went out to the Queen in that great house to which she had gone as a happy bride more than-40 years earlier.

.Then came the news that: "The condition of His Majesty shows signs of diminishing strength." Later; agaiu and yet again, that poignant message: "The King's life is moving peacefully to its close." ' Queen Mary refused to leave him; she waited with her sons and her daiy;hter. Kneeling by the bedside of her husband, his hand clasped in hers, she was with him at the final moment of passing. Then, broken-hearted, she wept bitter* tears.

Tho final bulletin was posted soon after midnight: "Death came peacefully to tho King at 11.55 o'clock to-' night, in the presence of Her Majesty tho Queen, the Prince of Wales, the Duke of York, tho Princess Royal, and tho Duke and Duchess of: Kent." The New King His successor, Edward' VIII., so blessed with the attributes that make a monarch popular, made no secret of his early rebellion against the ties of kingship. Preferring the freedom of less exalted rank—freedom of life and love—of' his own will ho eventually broke the shackles that bound him. Late in tho year 1936 it had become known already to many that a "crisis" in the lifo of the new King was imminent; but so far the country as a whole was oblivious of it and was not then prepared for what was to follow. For many months the American press had made free with the name of Mrs. Simpson in connection with the King of England, and when early in December she obtained a divorce from her husband at the Ipswich Assizes, their headlines screamed it aloud. They

predicted a marriage between Edward VIII. and Mrs. Simpson as soon as the proper time should elapse. In England details were meagre, but began openly t6 be discussed. Excited curiosity, restrained at first, now seethed over the country. Mr. arid Mrs. Simpson had figured in the social life of London. They had been entertained by prominent people-in the immediately previous years, many of whom enjoyed the friendship of the then Prince of Wales.

It was through the introduction by Mr. and Mrs.'-Benjamin Thaw that the Prince became acquainted with the Simpsons in 1931. Quite plainly he found the lady a very charming person. Realising this, hostesses arranged funotions so that the Simpsons were invited when the Prince would be present.

On Derby Day of that year, for the first time their names appeared in the

Court circular (the, friendship had existed for five years). They dined with the King that night. Mayfair raised its eyebrows. Westminster thought profoundly about, what it regarded as an indiscretion; and the result was that the King gave a dinner party at York House to which had been invited the following guests:— The Marquess and Machiones# of Willingdon, the Lady Diana Cooper, the Karl and Countess of Stanhope, the Countess of Oxford and Asquith, Major the Hon.. Alexander and Mrs. Hardinge, the Right Hon. Winston Spencer Churchill and Mrs. Spencer Churchill, the Rt. Hon. Sir Samuel Hore, the Rt. Hon. Sir Phillip Sassoon, Bt., M.P., Captain the Rt. Hon. David Margesson, M.P., Sir Edward and Lady Peacock, Lady Colefax, and Mrs. Ernest Simpson. Her husband was not present.

That was the King's reply. But at home the mother of England's King, who knew of his absorbing love and who must have suffered when she thought of its inevitable result, went bravely on performing her regal duties, hour bv hour and day by day. What, anguished moments were hers: what sleepless nights she endured! Yet never once did she falter —never was one duty neglected. Unavoidably the position became public and the whole story was eventually imparted by the Prime Minister to Parliament on December 10.' The Abdication Strictly adhering to procedure, Mr. Baldwin walked toward the Speaker, bowing three times: "A message from His Majesty the King, signed by his own hand," he said. Then in one of the most tense scenes ever known in Parliament Captain Fitzroy, the Speaker, read out the. abdication of Edward VIII., which is now history. When the Prime Minister had told the members of the House of his several interviews with the King and the details which led to the result it had, he said: . . Let us not forget today the revered and beloved figure of Queen Marj', what all this time has meant to her, and think of her when we have to speak, if speak we must, during this debate. . ." So at last it was over; the shortest reign of any British monarch since Edward V. was murdered in the Tower.

Queen Mary herself addressed a poignant message from Marlborough House: —

"To the people of this Nation and Empire,— "I have heen so deeply touched b.v the sympathy which lias surrounded me at this time of anxiety that I must send a message of gratitude from the depth of my heart. "The sympathy and affection which sustained me in my great sorrow less than a year ago have not failed m« now, and are once again my strength and stay. "I need not speak to you of the distress which fills a mother's heart, when I think that my dear son lias deemed it his duty to lay down his charge, and that the reign which had begun with so much hope and promise has-so suddenly ended. - "I commend to you his brother, summoned so unexpectedly, and in circumstances so to take his place. I ask you to give to him the same full measure of generous loyalty which you gave to my beloved husband, and which you would willingly have continued to give to his brother. "With him 1 commend my dear daughter-in-law, who will ho his Queen. . . . "MARY Jt." God alone was her comfort in those moments of heartbreak and mental anguish. (The End.) -