WHEN ROYAL BLOOD IS A CURSE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20292, 28 December 1927, Page 11

WHEN ROYAL BLOOD IS A CURSE.

I Queen Marie of Rumania contributes an article to the September number of Pearson’s Magazine which, in view of the dvnastic quarrel in her country, is of special interest now. “ Is" royal biood a blessing? ’ she asks. And here i s her Majesty's reply: “Yes, and No 1 It is a blessing as long a s jou stick to your guns, as long as you believe in your royal rights, which means nothing else but your royal obligations, nothing else by the fine old noblesse oblige. Then, indeed, if with jiTuor out grand self-denial you moan to live up to the highest conception of your duties, royal blood is a blessing. Xn| If you deny that birthright. In that case it becomes a curse. For (his I have seen The one who believes ho can buy freedom by denying his caste, by throwing his royalty away, finds no real rest no real compensation, no real satisfaction, no real happiness, not even peace, because the royal blood within him is for ever hankering back for that which ho was brought up to and that which, in spite of the sacrifices imposed, and a glamour that even freedom oannot give him.’ His royal blood holds him, it flows in his vein s in spite- of himself, and with it all the memories of something that was perhaps irlr-oine. stein, and lonely, lint was also noble, worth while, and which sends out formidable root-. lie wn- born to the chains of royalty, born to its traditions, to its honours, to its special outlook. He cannot get away from it ; be is no more free— In that case indeed royal blood is no blessing, but a curse.’'