KING AND QUEEN

New Zealand Herald, Volume 79, Issue 24281, 23 May 1942, Page 4

KING AND QUEEN

SETTING AN EXAMPLE SIMPLE LIFE IN WARTIME NO SOCIAL ACTIVITIES SYDNEY, May 21 Some people in Australia and New Zealand may have been wondering why they have not heard so much about the King and Queen lately, writes the London correspondent of a Melbourne paper. The plain answer is that Their Majesties are living in complete accord ■with the spirit of their people. They have given up all social life to become simply hardworking British citizens — harder working than most in the days of peace, when there was a succession of events yielding a stream of publicity. Courts, State dinners, balls, reviews and Roj'al visits have all vanished, and with them the gay liveries of Palace servants, tlio are now dressed in black. The bright clothes and uniforms formerly associated with Royal occasions are no longer seen. The King is practically never out of uniform now, and the Queen wears plain dresses. They insist that their household adhere rigidly to the normal food ratious. The only way they are able to supplement the meat ration (Is 2d a week) is for the King to shoot game and bring it to the table like his medieval predecessors did. He does this occasionallv. Actually Their Majesties and their staff usually'have two meatless days a week. In every room of the Royal residences is a printed notice signed by the equerry exhorting all to save fuel, light and hot water. One of the few exceptions to the elimination of entertaining is the weekly dinner at which the Prime j Minister (Mr. Churchill) is guest. Other exceptions are the occasional entertainment of distinguished visitors such as Mr. and Mrs. R. G. Casey. FOOTBALL ATTRACTIONS Football competitions will bp continued in Auckland this afternoon. Two Services teams. Garrison and M.T.P., will contest the principal Rugby match at 'Eden Park. The Kngbj League attraction at Carlaw Park is set down between Manukau and .Richmond, while the chief Soccer match at Bhuidford lark will be played by Eastern Suburbs and North Shore.