A BUSY PRINCESS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 10418, 23 March 1912, Page 4

A BUSY PRINCESS.

It was just twenty years ago that Princess Louise of Schleswig-Holstein was married at Sfc George's Chapel, Windsor, in tho presence of her august grandmother, the late Queen Victoria, and many other members of the Royal Family, to Prince Aribcrt of Anhalt. The marriage proved childless, and to euifc a new family law, such as probably only a potty German court could enforce, the marriage was dissolved, in spite of tho bride being a first cousin of the German Emperor. It still, of course, holds good in England, where tho ceremony took place according to the' rites of the Established Church.

Society at largo, and, of course, London society in particular, were very glad to welcome Prince Christian's younger daughter back again, for the Princesses of Schleswig-Holstein had from their-earliest years been popular in the land of their birth a-"d of their father's adoption. Her Highness at once resumed her maiden name, but, as this happened to bo identical with the name of her aunt, tho Duchess of Argyll, it was afterwards, to avoid confusion, inverted to Marie Louise instead of Louise Marie.

Princess Marie Louise of SchlcswigHolstein at once fixed on a. home in London, and wisely, not wishing to be ovorhouscd. took" 21, Queensberry Place, which was just largo enough to contain herself and her lady-in-wait-ing, who to begin with was Miss Mary Hughes, a former maid-of-honour to Queen Victoria. »Later on Miss Hughes resigned her post, and was succeeded first by Miss Crofton (a niece of Lord Crofton), then by Miss ilawkcs, who is now her Hiodiucss's constant companion.

Before settling into her new, homo, Princess Mario Louise stayed for some time with an old friend of her family, Mrs Keith Eraser, in Lowndes Square, where also Princess Christian is from time to time a visitor. Onco settled down in her own home, Princess Marie Louise remains there during the greater nnrt of each year, making occasional visits to her parents at Cumberland Lodge and to different friends in various parts of the country, but having all her interests centred in the metropolis, where her Highness is. like her kind-hearted mother, quite indefatigable in promoting the success of anv good work she takes up. Every form of philanthropy appeals to her, and (granted that it can be complied with, also, of course, that the object is a worthy one) no request addressed to Princess Mario Louise through her lady-in-waiting on behalf of a charitable object is willingly refused. The size of her house does not admit of entertaining on a large scale, but small luncheons and dinners often take place at 21, Queensberry Place, where there is much agreeable conversation, stimulated after the meal over by coffee and cigarettes. For Princess Marie Louise is a firm believer in the virtues of tobacco, as are many other members of our Royal Family. If I were asked to mention some subjects in which this granddaughter of Queen Victoria takes a special interest I should mention two that sound at first sight perhaps rather dissimilar —I mean religion in the first place, and everything to* do with the Army in the second.

It was quite wonderful at the time and afterwards, to hear her discourse upon the Boer War, and to see _ how keenly she had followed every incident of that strenuous campaign, which, of course, had a melancholy interest for all Prince Christian's family, it having co3t the life of that promising young soldier, Prince Christian Victor. Princess Marie Louise has never lost an opportunity of discussing military matters ivith any distinguished soldier she has happened to meet, and, as she has travelled widely on the Continent, in America, and in the colonies, most ot tho well-known military men of the day have the honour of her acquaintance).

Of late years her Highness has also, side by suit* with philanthropy, taken up manv of.the burning religious tonics of the dav, and is a constant attendant on weekdays as well as on Sundays at & very well-known West End church, where the vicar is a preacher of quite unusual originality, wit, and power. This church is situated at some considerable distance from Queensberry Place, but scarcely a Sunday passes, wet or fine, when the Princess is in London, that she and her lady-in-wait-ing are not to be found listening attentively from a pew fust beneath tho pul-

pit to a sermon that gives one furiously to think.

Whatever troubles there may have been in the past, one cannot doubt that life has now its full share of interests and pleasures for Princess Marie Louise of Schleswig-Holstein. Her lines lie within easy reach of many relations and <rionds, and she can watch growing up around her a new generation of descendants of the great Queen, her grandmother, whom she loved r=-o well. Meanwhile,, those who are fellow-citisens—possibly even near neighbours—of this philanthropic Princess, although perhaps they may not have the honour of a personal accjuaitanco, must feel a real admiration for one who spends so much of her time m helping to make better and brighter the lot of others, and in doing numberless acts of kindness, many of them quite unknown to the outside world.