ROOM IN COMMONS FOR PRINCESS ELIZABETH

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 8, Issue 44, 30 January 1945, Page 3

ROOM IN COMMONS FOR PRINCESS ELIZABETH

It was written of Queen Victoria's prerogative that "she could disband the Army: she could dismiss all the officers from the General Command-ing-in-Chief downwards; she could dismiss all the sailors too; she could sel; off all our ships of war and all our naval stores . . . She could make every citizen in the United male or female a peer; she could make every parish in the Unit e(d Kingdom a University' The Queen of England could do a; ltJiat—taut she could not enter Hie floor of the House of Commons where the. chosen representatives of her people sat. Nor, for that matter, can the King. That is the law in England. .But notaody can prevent the British Sovereign or the heir to the throne from visiting Parliament as a guest ? and Edward VIIT when Prince of Wales. Avas a frequent visitor to tlie Distinguished Strang, ers' Gallery. Now however that a new House » 9 of Commons is being planned in place of the bombed old Chamber, the future .sovereign will for the first time in English have a permanent place in the House of Commons, even if it is a listener's place." It is perhaps a symbol of modern times that the first heir apparent to occupy this place is a woman. Princess Elizabeth will have a small self-contained room of her own in the galleries to which access can be gained by a private elevator. This small gailcrv is situated behind the public galleries and opposite the Speaker's chair. Princess Elizabeth will be atale to enter the House unseen by members who might never be aware of her presence, as she can sit out of view if she Avishes. The purpose of the new arrangement is to gi\'e the heir to the throne the opportunity of listening to debates on constitutional questiors.