QUEEN ELIZABETH

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 306, 28 December 1936, Page 2

QUEEN ELIZABETH

WIDE SPHERE OF INTERESTS ' CHARM AND GRACIOUSNESS The youngest but one of 10 children, Queen Elizabeth was born on August 4, 1900: The “youngest daughter” who marries the “King’s son” is a figure so glamorously reminiscent of fairy tales of our childhood that on her wedding day the Duchess could scarcely have failed to appeal to popular imagination, but the prominence of her position and the glare of scrutiny gave quite as much facility for failure as for success. The becoming limelight might well have turned to a disparaging searchlight. The fact that she has given such enduring satisfaction, and, in so doing, become one of the delights of the Empire, testifies to much more than her undeniable natural advantages. Queen Elizabeth is thus described by a personal acquaintance, who wrote a description of her for a London newspaper:—“She has little that is modern in her appearance, and yet she is always charmingly dressed, with a touch of the picturesque, and of her own individuality in her clothes. But what stands out more vividly than the beauties of her feature and colouring is her particularly happy, even radiant, expression. It 1 speaks of what all her friends know i her to be possessed of—an unselfish' nature, simple and affectionate; a mind and character incapable of unkindness of thought or action; a complete lack of affectation or pose; a candid sincerity, and an ingrained gentleness. These qualities form the basis of her personality.” Lady Elizabeth, as she then was, was educated entirely at home, and

it was in her home that her interests centred until her marriage. While she was still quite young her mother arranged for her to be taught at home by French and German governesses, and the fact that she speaks fluent French and German and was prepared for and passed various examinations set in connection with the Oxford and Cambridge Joint Board, shows that these arrangements were not made in vain. While her education was going on she moved about among the tenantry on her father’s estate at Glamis, in Scotland, and made herself generally loved by everyone. She was constantly out on horseback with her brothers, and later hunted very keenly. A Great Reader. She is a great reader—reading, in fact, is her chief recreation. History and biography also have a special interest for the Duchess. Poetry sne is not particularly fond of—perhaps because there is more of the practical than the idealistic in her nature. At the time of her wedding many of her friends gave her exquisite presents of books knowing how much she would appreciate them. Apart from reading, the Duchess has many interests. Her fondness for riding has already been noted. In addition to this, she is an enthusiastic dancer, having, indeed, the reputation of being one of the best dancers in English society. Golf has never attracted her; but she is a keen tennis player. In all these pursuits she ana her husband have common ground for enjoyment. The love of old china and antiques generally they also share. The Duchess is extremely musical. She was taught for some time oy Madame Mathilde Verne at the Royal College of Music; has a charming voice, and sings a good deal. Also, she is clever with her needle. But she has by no means allowed tennis and music and dancing to bound her outlook on life or her activities. As long ago as 1914, when she was still in the schoolroom, she made herself wonderfully useful in the private war hospital her mother organised at Glamis Castle. Most of the wounded who went to this hospital were Australians. After the marriage of her sister, Lady Rose, Lady Elizabeth underwent a course of training in a London hospital, and took an active part in the management at Glamis. She has had many letters from former patients, a great many of them reminding her of the cricket matches she used to play with them during their convalescence. Girl Guide Commissioner. In 1920 Lady Elizabeth followed Princess Mary’s example and became a commissioner in the Girl Guides. The secretary of the London headquarters of the Girl Guides later paid the following tribute to her zeal and efficiency: “Although she was only 21 at the time of her appointment as district commissioner, Lady Elizabeth has been responsible for the whole of the training, recruiting, and discipline of the Glamis branch for the past two years. She is an excellent officer, and has taken the very keenest interest in

her work.” She also interested herself in the Girl Guides troop at the village of Whitwell, which is close to her father's other country seat in Hertfordshire St. Paul’s, Waldenbury. It was there, report says, that the Duke of Y'ork proposed to her while spending a week-end at the house in January, 1923. Even after her marriage, the Duchess retained her office as Commissioner of the corps for Glamis, for she has been spending part of each autumn at her old home. A Competent Hostess. There was never any doubt as to her capabilities as a hostess. She constantly entertained large house parties in Scotland before her marriage. with the utmost ease and charm. It was in the autumn of 1921 that, on the occasion of the Queen's visit to Glamis, Lady Strathmore was suddenly taken ill, and left on her youngest daughter's hands the task of acting as hostess to the Royal party, which included Princess Mary and the Duke of York. The Duchess has always been a close friend of Princess Mary, and acted as one of the birdesmaids at the latter's marriage to Viscount Lascelles. During Lady Strathmore's long and severe illness, her daughter had to deputise for her in other spheres than the domestic, and this led to the discovery of a talent for public speaking. The Duchess is said to suffer, like most speakers, from nervousness before she begins; but once on her feet she proves entirely equal to her taik, and speaks with ease and finish. Before her marriage the Duchess had not been abroad a great deal, except for an extended tour through Italy. She was in Sicily at the time of the disastrous Messina earthquake, and did her best to help with the hospital and relief work that was at once organised there. Royal Blood. It was in 1372 that Sir John Lyon of Forteviot, Great Chamberlain of Lyon titles—Earl of Stratmore and Kingthorne, Viscount Lyon, Baron Glamis, Tannadyce, Sidlaw, and Scotland and Keeper of the Privy Seal, had a grant of lands in Glamis from King Robert 11. When he married Jean, the King's daughter, he obtained also the thanedom of Tannadyce, which appears in the roll of the i Strathlichtie. These titles were fixed by Royal Charter in 1677. The present Earl is descended in unbroken male succession from the alliance of Sir John Lyon and the King's daughter, and thus Royal blood flows in his veins, and in those of his daughter, the Duchess of York.