LESSONS GO ON

Opotiki News, Volume III, Issue 324, 22 October 1940, Page 3

LESSONS GO ON

THE TWO PRINCESSES ROYAL “EVACUEES” NO BREAK IN DISCIPLINE LONDON, July I.—At separate writing-tables in a large country mansion “somewhere in England,” two dignified little girls are seated. Though the elder girl scribbles at full pressure, her sister is staling at an almost blank sheet of paper. “What shall I put?” Princess Margaret implores. Princess Elizabeth stops writing for a moment and smiles sympath-. etically at her sister. ✓She remembers the time when she, too, found letter-writing a bit of a bore.

“Oh, there’s heaps and heaps to write about! Have you told Mummy about our tea-party yesterday, or. how Dookie nearly got lost? She’ll' want to know about our lessons too.”

Princess' Margaret isn’t “pen: tied,” really. Just a little puzzled by this evacuation business, which has brought so many changes into her life, and that of her elder sister, during theTast few months. “Safe Area” Since these two Royal daughters became evacuees, early last September, their activities and surroundings have undergone big changes. First, there was the journey to Scotland; then the happy reunion with their parents, the King and Queen at Christmas; and now the two Princesses, are living in a “safe area” nearer London.

Accompanying the children on each of their evacuation journeys has been Miss Crawford, their governess. She, as a close confidant of the Queen, was made' avvare oE Her Majesty’s wishes regarding the education of the Princesses in wartime.

“Princess Elizabeth will celebrate her coming-of-ago when she is 18,” Her Majesty emphasised. “That doesn’t leave any opportunity for relaxing her educational programme. She was 14 years old in April.” Debut at Eighteen Her studies and upbringing were long ago organised with her “coming out” prominently in mind. When she is eighteen and has officially celebrated her . coming-of-age Princess Elizabeth will be a fully fledged royal personage. She will begin to appear at public functions, unaccompanied by any other member of the Royal Family. She will have her own retinue of Ladiesi-in-Waiting and her own business staff. She will probably take over the Duchy of Cornwall, which at present is being held in trust for her. And she will be entitled to have a residence of her own —though she may not take advantage of this privilege immediately.

So the piles of lesson booksi in the pre-war Buckingham Palace school-room have accompanied the Princesses throughout their evacuation travels. Every week-day from 9 till 12.30 and from 2 to 4.30 these royal children are continuing their education.

Mastery of French Princess Elizabeth has continued to make specially good progress in her studies of foreign languages and British constitutional history. She nowadays listens to French broadcasts, to perfect her knowledge of that language and achieve the proper accent. In the closer co-operation between Britain and France, which future years promise to bring, she will have an important role. Her mastery of the French tongue is therefore highly necessary. The Princesses history lessons have benefited, too, Since Queen Mary, a few years ago, introduced the idea of lqttiug them visit places connected with historic incidents, they have seen many such spots. But their travels as evacuees have enabled still more to be doiie,. in this direction.

But'“all work and no play” makes dull Princesses as well as dull boys. Queen Elizabeth_has not overlooked this fact. The j.-ruicess-es let out a cry of glee, when, they learned that Jane and Dookie, their doggie pets, were to become evacuees, too. There are new studies to be introduced into Princess Elizabeth s programme, now that she is in her teenth year. Before her coming-of-age, she will be confirmed. Thus her training in the immediate future will include intensified instruction for her acceptance into the church. Despite all the difficulties and trials) of to-day the general principle in the upbringing of both the Princesses is to look forward to happier times.