UNLUCKY BELGIUM.

Taranaki Daily News, 31 August 1935, Page 6

UNLUCKY BELGIUM.

With the sadness of the loss of a beloved king still hardly departed Belgium is again plugged into mourning through the untimely death of her young and beautiful queen, no country more than Britain Will there be a wider and more genuine feeling of sympathy, for the two nations have mUch in common. Although Belgium is as small in area as the British Empire is large they are two of the comparatively few countries in which a monarchy still survives. In trade the two countries have close contact, and the ties that bind then/ in other ways were given eloquent expression in the fateful days and decisions of August, 1914. -Yet whereas to-day is a time of rejoicing for the British monarchy, Belgian royalty is experiencing a dark hour. By rather a strange coincidence, at the very time Britain was preparing to celebrate tiie jubilee of King George’s reign King Albert of Belgium lost his life in a Climbing accident, and now on the very day that ‘One of King George's softs announces his betrothal comes news of the snatching away of the life of Belgium’s queen in a tragic motor accident. Royal personages are, of course, just human like the rest of us, but their welfare is always of profound moment to the nations over which they reign, not so much for what they are, but for What they represent and signify. In Britain and Belgium they typify A type of government Which has stood the test of time, and in their personal conduct and endeavour they have given added strength and lustre to the monarchic system. The Sudden loss of Queen Astrid is a severe blow not Ohly to the reigning house but to the whole nation, and even in far-away New Zealand Will be followed, by feelings of deep sorrow and regret.