BALMORAL

Timaru Herald, Volume CXL, Issue 20261, 9 November 1935, Page 11

BALMORAL

ITS MANY ASSOCIATIONS Every year the King and Queen spend a restful holiday among the Aberdeenshire hills to which they both always look forward. Balmoral has a Royal association of four generations, since 1848, when Queen Victoria and Prince Albert first took up residence in what was just a pretty little place in the old Scottish style. Before long they built the present castle, the Prince inspiring its architecture, and now its comfortable Victorian simplicity has been made modern and elegant. Without there have not been many alterations. Peace and Rest King Edward and Queen Alexandra changed a good deal within, and Queen Mary’s artistic and domestic tastes have achieved the rest. Balmoral’s atmosphere is that of a private home, where peace and rest from the busy world are sought and won. King George might be the Scots laird looking round his estate with his commissioner, or planning a day’s shooting for his guests. Himself one of the finest shots of our time, he has also been geuninely fond of the rest to be found in the daily life at Balmoral. Similarly, Queen Mary is the Lady of Balmoral, keenly concerned in the welfare of the local people, saluted by them as she drives or walks about, and nodding back, the laird’s kindly wife

rather than the Queen. Into the quiet, intimate family life of Balmoral Castle the Dqke of Kent, when he became engaged last year, brought his bride for the blessing of father and mother. Not a Highland serving man, not a farmer in valley or glen, but saw in this a happy compliment to the Deeside Highlands, and for that reason, and in common sympathy, rejoiced exceedingly. A Royal Romance Old men and women—and there have been centenarians on Deeside—recalled another Royal romance which also had its chapter among the heather hills. It was that of the Emperor Fredrick of Germany and Queen Victoria’s eldest daughter. He proposed to her while on a visit to Balmoral, by plucking a sprig of the rare white heather, on which they happened to light, and asking her to accept it and its declaration.