Mechanical Man Is Cause Of Amusement To Princess

Wanganui Chronicle, 11 May 1948, Page 6

Mechanical Man Is Cause Of Amusement To Princess

London, May 7. “Godfrey,” a talking mechanical man made Princess Elizabeth laugh when she opened the Health of the People exhibition in London. "Godfrey” is eight feet tall, and weighs scwt. He is controlled by an electronic "brain,” which is operated by a voice. His job at the exhibition is not to talk about himself, but to tell vsitors how the human body works. He talked in a low, confidential voice to the Princess for more than five minutes. Occasionally, when he strayed from his subject—which was the working of his “brain”—he had to be called toorder and apologised profusely, much to the Princess' amusement. When he demonstrated his ’brain” recalling one of her recent speeches, she heard a record of her own voice. At the end of his talk "Godfrey” apologised again for not being able to bow to the Princess, and added that he would wish her goodbye by closing his eye instead. “I hope,” «.e said, in some agitation, "that my gestures will not be misunderstood by Your Royal Highness.” The Princess was greatly amused. An unexpected opportunity was given the Princess while opening the exhibition to prove she has a good speaking voice. The microphone broke down, but this did not worry her, and she was heard clearly throughout the building—a cinema. The Princess will shortly broadcast in French. It will be when she attends the opening of the exhibition in Paris on May 14. It is entitled "eight Centuries of British Life,” and the Princess' broadcast will be on the 8.8. C. Home service. Neither the Princess nor the Duke of Edinburgh will be troubled by language difficulties during their stay in Paris. Both speak French fluently. The Princess has never been to France, but for 10 years, with Princess Margaret, she studied French under Madame Vellaigue. During recent weeks she has been brushing up her "conversation,” in readiness for speeches she will have to make.