OUR KING-EMPEROR

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 54, Issue 3899, 10 May 1937, Page 9 (Supplement)

OUR KING-EMPEROR

KNOWLEDGE OF EMPIRE. STUDENT OF SOCIAL PROBLEMS. King George VI. and Emperor, formerly the Duke of York, succeeded to the Throne at the age of 41 years. He was bom at York Cottage, Sandringham, on December 14, 1895, and through his visits to his overseas Dominions has a close and intimate knowledge of the conditions and peoples in the far-flung Empire over which he must now rule. He has a catholicity of interests and pursuits, and brings to the Throne a practical experience of men and affairs. After service in the navy and air force, he went, in October, 1919, with his brother, Prince Henry, into residence at Cambridge, as an undergraduate member of Trinity College. At Cambridge he took a special course in history, economics, and civics. The choice of subjects is significant. His line of activity, the work with which his name and personality are now intimately and eagerly connected, was chosen. Indeed, there had been hints of his choice before he went to Cambridge. In May, 1919, he became president of the Boys’ Welfare Association; in

that year, too, he paid a surprise visit to works at Deptford, spoke to the children of the Foundling Hospital about the team-spirit, and the nation’s needs. He went over a vast engineering factory at Barrow, and everywhere kept his eyes wide open for ex-servicemen. And such has been his public life ever since. The newspapers show him to us now at this factory, now at that, all over the United Kingdom; down a coalmine in Wales; driving an engine; opening a laboratory or an infirmary: speaking to schoolboys or to workingmen’s clubs. Of a freer intercourse between class and class, he is a warm advocate. He believes that in the break ing down of artificial barriers lies a key to the solution of many industrial and social problems. In this he has given a. striking object-lesson. In the summer of 1924 on his own initiative, he organised a seaside camp, to which he invited 400 boys, half from the great public schools and half from the working class homes. Under his personal guidance the boys met in the friend- * liest spirit, and the experiment proved so successful that he has repeated it on numerous occasions.

His public career began in earnest when, on June 3, 1920, he was created Duke of York, Earl of Inverness, and Baron Killarney. On June 21 in the same year he took his seat in the House of Lords. During the later half of the same year he spoke at Westminster on industrial welfare; at the London School of Tropical Medicine on research in tropical disease; at York on local patriotism,

and took an active part in the “Our Day” functions of the British Red Cross Society. He opened KingGeorge’s Home and Institute, Poplar, and the Jubilee Fair of Dr Barnardo’s Homes. He also unveiled the war memorial to London troops outside the Royal Exchange. QUEEN ELIZABETH. Known affectionately among her own Scottish folk as “ the Little Duchess,” Elizabeth, the new Queen, has created in the hearts of all British subjects an affection and regard that are in no way assumed. She is decidedly attractive and graceful, with a low-toned speaking voice; but what stands out more vividly than beauty of feature and delicacy of colouring is her particularly happy expression. It speaks, and truly, of an unselfish nature, simple and affectionate; a sympathetic mind; a candid sincerity and an ingrained gentleness; a lively sense of humour, and a deep joy in life. The youngest daughter of the fourteenth Earl of Strathmore, she was born in her father’s Hertfordshire home at St. Paul’s, Waldenbury, on August 4, 1900. If big families make for happiness, then she surely had a good chance of a bright childhood, for she was the youngest but one of 10 children. One guest expected for the Forfax ball at Glamis in 1921, an important social event of the year, was the present King, whom she had met only once before al. a children’s party, when she was aged five and he was 10. Now began a chapter of pure romance, set in the grey old castle that was far-famed in song and history. They explored the countryside together, visiting all the points of interest. In these long walks they found time for quiet, intimate talks which gave them a close knowledge of each other. It was on Thursday, April 26, 1923, that the marriage took place in Westminster Abbey. The day dawned wet and dull, but later a pale sunshine filtered through the greyness. The crowds deserved the comfort of its warmth for they had not waited to see what the weather might hold in store. The glamour of the occasion was sufficient invitation. Young and old came forth in their thousands to share in the joy of these two, made memorable by the pomp and pageantry so dear to the English. 'On April 21, 1926, was born the world’s best-known baby, Princess Elizabeth Alexandra Mary. The second daughter, Margaret Rose, was born on August 20, 1930. As a mother the Duchess has won the hearts of all the mothers in the Empire. Absorbed though she is in her children’s pleasure and happiness, she is fully alive to the more material side of things and every detail of their surroundings is her immediate care. Not without reason are the children of the Queen and her life work classed together.