THE QUEEN AS A LITTLE GIRL

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLIII, Issue 20782, 17 July 1937, Page 13 (Supplement)

THE QUEEN AS A LITTLE GIRL

Who, of all the hundreds of young people In this Circle, does not love playing "Let's Pretend,” and how often is it “Let's Pretend I am a Queen or a Princess”? When she was a little girl at Glamls Castle, our Queen Elizabeth’s favourite game was “dressing up.” Her mind was full of memories of the past, and no wonder it is, for her ancient home, Glamls Castle, and the surrounding countryside is rich in history. So, the little Lady Elizabeth’s games were usually about beautiful Scotswomen. She would dress up in costumes belonging tp little ancestors of the time of James VI (James I of England) and would call herself "Princess Elizabeth” after the Queen Elizabeth of Bohemia, James's daughter, the toast of her time.

Another favourite pastime was to wander through the woods near St. Paul's, Waldenbury, and there people the glades with pixies a- .1 fairies; Cobweb, Pease-blossom, Mustardseed, and the rest. The child had a strong sense of humour, and her face was often wreathed with smiles at the comic antics of these creatures of her imagination.

Then the time came for Lady Elizabeth to start her lessons. She had always bean fond of stories and she took to reading very readily. Books provided food for her vivid Imagination. Music, also, became one of her greatest loves, and guests would notice the girl’s flushed cheeks and bright eyes as she listened to her mother playing her beautiful harpsichord. At the age of eight Elizabeth and her brother David Joined a music school under Madame Mathilde Verne, and It was planned that they should be the “star turn” at the first children’s concert. The children were all very excited.

The day came, after endless practisings. Elizabeth was dressed in blue, and "'avid had a new suit for the occasion. They sat at the grand piano for their duet. The start was magnificent and the teacher gave a sigh of relief. Then Elizabeth hesitated, frowned, and stopped. David was thrown out. They stared helplessly at each other; it was going to be a complete fiasco. Then someone clapped and the two crept off the platform.

Later, we hear, the Lady Elizabeth sang and played charmingly. Out of doors the little girl was also accomplished. She was very fond of walking and developed a fine stride, tramping with her brothers over the heather. She was early acquainted with horses, being placed on the back of a pony almost as soon as she could walk. She became a fearless rider, but she was always too sensitive to be much attracted to hunting. Fishing in the Highland lakes and rivers was a great hobby of her brothers, and Elizabeth often accompanied them. Tenr’’, began early—and so did golf. There was plenty to fill her time out of doors; Elizabeth was always in great demand.

One day at Glamls her father broke some great news. An invitation had arrived from one of her grandmothers. The old ladv lived at Bordlghera in the Riviera and she wanted to see her grandchild, whose prettiness was obvious even from a photograph. Mother was overwhelmed with questions. “How many miles is it?” “Shall we stop in Paris?” “Shall we see the Alps?” Then came the great day when the girl saw the intense blue of the Mediterranean, and felt the warm sun and laughed for sheer joy. When she returned her parents recognised that Elizabeth was no longer a little girl She was speaking a little French and German. She was more self-possessed. The last but one of their ten children was growing up. They began to wonder what the future held instore for this beautiful young woman.

Years afterwards, in the same old Hertfordshire house, the Earl and Countess of Strathmore watched a young man and young woman setting off for a walk through the plxlehaunted woods. They smiled at each other, thinking of the little girl Elizabeth. They knew that she was destined for high position and for the love of many people. But even their loving foresight could not have told that their adored daughter was, in less than fifteen years, to ascend the historic throne of her Stuart forefathers, as a beloved Queen and Empress.