QUEEN CAROLINE

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXV, Issue 18629, 26 July 1930, Page 14

QUEEN CAROLINE

ENGLAND’S ILL-USED QUEEN. In “Queen Caroline” Sir Edward Parry thells the story of Caroline the Woman rather than Caroline the Queen. With something of judicial discrimination and insight he has sifted the truth from the shroud of gossip and untruth that has ever surrounded Caroline’s name, and has drawn a portrait of this injured Queen of England that has a genuine ring of authenticity and all the vividness of life. The appeal of Caroline's story lies in the very natural claim she has on the sympathy of all who hate injustice. Her courage against almost overwhelming odds was undaunted, and its very quality is alone sufficient to call up an answering thrill of admiration for its possessor. Her father was the Duke of Brunswick, whose reputation as a famous soldier was world-wide. Caroline worshipped her father, and as her later life was tc prove, she had many of the characteristics she so blindly admired in him.

Caroline was lively, witty, kindhearted, and sensible. She lacked, perhaps, from the point of view of the English court, something of dignity and reticence, nor was she particularly interested in clothes. She went to England to marry the Prince of Wales, young, full of good intentions and determined to fulfil her high office. He had agreed to the marriage under pressure of his debts, and had no intention of changing his profligate life. From the moment of Caroline’s arrival in England she met with nothing but •slights and insults from her future husband. However she showed her good sense, shed no tears, and made the best of her difficult position.

The Prince was indeed his wife’s evil genius. From the day of her marriage until her death he persecuted her with insult and cruelty. After the birth of her daughter he separated from her. She was given Montague House to live in, and she accepted her lot with no thought of malice, or injury to her husband. This scandalous persecution of an accepted queen is a most shameful blot in English history. Many good and great Englishmen sought to protect her, but so strong was her husband’s influence as Prince and King that they were practically powerless. He separr. ; her from her daughter, after which she decided to travel abroad.

When George 111. died, Caroline announced her intention of returning to England. George sought to divorce her, but sh& was a true daughter of Brunswick and never wavered in her determination to return and defend her honour. At least she had middleclass England on her side. With few individual friends, but the courage cf innocence, she defied the King her husband. Her judges dared not find