A CHARMING PERSONALITY.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 7132, 22 June 1901, Page 4

A CHARMING PERSONALITY.

— « — — THE DUCHESS OE YORK. ! A BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH. Th-i ..Duchess of Cornwall *>nd York is the eldest child of the Duke and Duchess of Teck, and wus born at Kensington Palace an May, 1867. On her father's side Primoess Viotoria MaTy of Teck is -a direct descendant from King George 11.,' while her mother, the late Duchess of Teck, was the daugbfesr. of Adolphus Frederick, Duke of Cambridge, the "seventh son of Gto-rge III.', whose f*t_-&'t?a» -Frederick, Prince of Wales, the eldest son of George 11. and Cairo-line Aaispachi George 11. had three sons and fire daughters,, and of "these latter, Anne, tbd Princess Boyal, maarijed William V., Prinoa of Orange. Thoy had a daughter, Caroline', who married Charles, the reigning Prince of Nassau-Wellburg, and- a daughter of this marri-aige-, the Prinoa-ss Henriette; w-as united to Duke Louis, the second brother of Frederick 11., Elector, a/nd afterwards 1 King, bf Wurtemiberg. Tthe only son of Duke Louis s»d has wife was Dubs Alexander, who married dauditwe Countess of Rhediey, in - Hungary, and by her became >the fatSher of Prince Francis Paul Louis Alexander, who was bom in. 1837, and in 1863. received the princely appellation of Teck— from am. old castle near the Danube— with the -title of Se-r-en*--Highness. Princess Ma.ry, who was 'born n-t Kensington- Palace, on- May 26..' wa-s -ths first Koyalv baby bom in the old Pal-ace , sines tlie eventful day when th-e Duchess | .of Kent gave birth there to -the Royail infant who was destined to occupy the British throne. j Following the usual Royal habit, the [parents of thie future Duchess q£ York dowered her with- an imposing list of j names : — Victoria .Mary 'Augusta Louise [Olga Paiiiiri© Claudine Agnes, and the laite Sovereign, wh-o was Warmly atfeched to bet" cousin, Prinoess Mary of Teck, acted as chief god-mother to her future granddausrhter. / x Little is known of the Princess's early ohildhood, except tihab she Was\ educated wader- tbe personal direction of thie Duke amd Duchess of Teck. The Prinoess was taken to Florence, when die was about sixteen years of age. Bere she gained practical know-ledge of the fine arts. Her parento about thia time wisre oj_Wed White Lodge 'as a rewdisaioe, and- at -this charming residence the young Princess grew to womaai-foood, working wth zeal at he-r studies, and by her bright qind kind dsp-os-ticn winning .* the affecton of all who knew -ber. Around Bichmond hex faoe was knowm to all who needed he&p ami sympathy, and she- was always to , actively support or aid p charitable institution, or grace a concert for tha* purpose with her presence. The cause of the Home for the Dying at South Hannpstead appealed mostb strongly to her. The Duchess of York is distinctly clever. She has bad a thorough musical education, her voice having been trained by Signor Tosti. She <plays the pianoforte and harp like a professor, speaks • Germairb and Frenoh fluently, amd is an artist of com'sideriible talent. She . rides and drives well, 4 and plays am- extoeHent game of lawn tennis. Her favourite authors are Tennyson, Catlylte, Emerson and George Eliot, amd on her bookshelves t oooupying prominent positions, and, no doubt, alpo on board the Ophir, may be seen the wories of Macaulay, Lamb, Froudle, Motley, J-oha. Morley, Moliore, .Goethe, Dante, and others. Prinoess May was confirmed by Dr C_attghton, Bisfco'p of St Albaais, and in 1886, ever memorable as the year oft-tlbe Colonial aiid Indian Exhibition, she Went to her first drawing room, and during the season attended two State functions. Her engagement with the Duke of York took place whale she was <xn a visit to Madame de Falbe, at Luton Hoo. She wall have beeo. married eight years on July 6. The Duchess's wedding ring and keeper are rather exceptional, tihe former being made of Weteh gold, while the latter is of Scotch -gold, the design being takea from the arms of Scotland.